“I don’t know if it’s a dream or if it’s reality”

Dakar 2019 | Stage 5 | Moquegua > Arequipa
January 11 ^th 2019 - 17:14 [GMT -5]

The American rider has reached the rest day leading the Dakar and at the same time has become the main man in the Honda team in their quest to dethrone KTM.

“I don’t know if it’s a dream or if it’s reality. It’s pretty wild. I would like to have a big margin on the overall, but it’s only one minute right now. So, I’ve just got to manage that for the next few days and just make it to the motocross start on the ninth day. The Dakar is never easy but I never thought that I actually could be in the overall physical lead. I have high expectations and I’ve put a lot of work, a lot of time and a lot of money into training in the last couple of months for this race. It’s clearly paying off and I’m happy with the bike. My comfort on the bike and in myself is really good right now. I’m really happy with my result today so that way the day after the rest day I'll be in a good position to push. I’m hoping and crossing my fingers that I can win the stage after the rest day and make up some time, just trying to make it to the motocross start with a good lead. It would be making history on two counts: 1 – being the only American to win the Dakar and; 2) breaking KTM’s win streak for so many years. There's a lot of weight on my shoulders there, but I’m not going to let it get to me – I just want to go and have fun, enjoy the moment and hopefully we can make it happen over the next five days”.