The dream of a lifetime

January 4 ^th 2019 - 22:32

Several days before his 45th birthday, Miguel Caetano is savouring the wait for the big day by striding through the Las Palmas air base. “It’s my lifelong dream,” admits the Portuguese rider as he collects the last of his navigation instruments. From one scrutineering stand to another, the Portuguese biker is drinking in the delight of experiencing his first Dakar. “I’ve been imagining this moment for twenty years. I’ve seen many friends take part when it was in Africa without ever being able to join them. But today, it’s my turn”. Miguel Caetano is taking part in the Original by Motul category for unassisted bikers and as a result he intends to experience the spirit of the Dakar’s origins. “I was lucky enough to see the race come to Portugal and I know that what you see on television doesn’t fully bring across the values that it conveys. It’s the unknown competitors who make the Dakar what it is - they are the ones who experience a genuine adventure”. After racing in California and Qatar, the Portuguese restaurant owner decided to jump in at the deep end. “I’ve been preparing every day for the last year, training at home and in Morocco, studying navigation… Of course, my sole objective is to reach the end: the end of each day and the end of the rally”. If he manages to reach the finish, his dream will have come true.