No rest for the weary

Dakar 2026 | Stage 6 | HAIL > RIYADH
January 9 ^th 2026 - 22:36 [GMT + 3]

Finishing the Dakar is never a given, as David Brock has learned the hard way. The Australian, a latecomer to the race, had to throw in the towel before the rest day after underestimating the challenges lying in wait. Not that this will dampen his spirits…

Down but not out. David Brock, who withdrew from the race tantalisingly close to the halfway point, is already plotting his Dakar comeback. "I want to finish the job", he insisted after he was taken to the finish of stage 6. The 55-year-old fireman was making his debut appearance in the Dakar. As the nephew of Peter Brock, a nine-time winner of the legendary Bathurst 1000, held east of Sydney, David has had petrol in his veins since he was a boy. However, he only entered his first competition two years ago. "Up until then, bikes had been just a way for me to go on an adventure and travel around", he admits. "I wasn't the competitive type. I just liked to ride without having to see how I measured up against others or the clock." Then, in 2023, he went on a tour of Saudi Arabia and discovered the Dakar. He landed as a mere spectator and left as a competitor. "I just wanted to give it a go", says the Australian. After testing his mettle in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and the bp Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal, David Brock punched his ticket for the toughest rally raid on Earth. "Unfortunately, I got injured on day one", he explains. "I hurt my hand and my back. A few too many spills eventually frustrated my ambitions. The pain just kept getting worse and, in the end, I was struggling too much to pick the bike up in the dunes during stage 6 to be able to carry on. At some point, I saw the writing on the wall. It's tough to pull out when you've sacrificed so much to line up for a race like this… I'm very disappointed, but I also have no regrets. I've had a fantastic first week, with incredible landscapes and great company in the bivouac. I've met wonderful people from around the world. And I've also learned a lot." David now understands just how hard the Dakar is on the body. "You never get any rest", he explains. "Nothing is easy. There's always a challenge to face, a dune to clear or rocks to climb. Today's special wasn't even that long, but it was extremely tough." If he had one piece of advice for a rookie looking to take on the Dakar, it would be this: "Get your physical preparation right and train hard on the bike. To finish a Dakar, you have to be capable of covering huge distances while staying comfortable in the saddle for twelve or fourteen hours a day. You have to be able to ride in conditions you won't always enjoy. When you go on a ride, you usually pick routes you like, where you feel comfortable. So, if you don't like rocks, go and ride on rocks. If you don't like sand, go and ride on sand." Nothing can be left to chance if you want to go the distance in the Dakar.