The ideal opportunity


January 5 th 2019 - 18:22

Emanuel Gyenes, a two-time winner of the Marathon category, is about to start his ninth Dakar. The Romanian rider, considered one of the top private competitors in the rally, signed up for the Original by Motul class. "I've been dreaming of tackling the race without assistance for quite some time", he explains. "I was tempted by the prospect of going back to the spirit of the first Dakar rallies in Africa. The characteristics of the 2018 edition convinced me to take the plunge. At just ten days of racing and a length of 5,000 kilometres, it was the ideal opportunity to try my luck without assistance." Apart from the fact that the rally is shorter than in previous years, the 34-year-old KTM rider expects Peru to be less demanding than Bolivia. "No cold, no rain, no mud… It should be easier to keep the bike in good condition and tackle the race." The lack of deserts of Romania does not mean Gyenes is afraid of the sand. "Sure, there are only mountains back where I come from, but I like the dunes in Peru." The rider from Satu Mare is determined to win the Original by Motul race, so he has left nothing to chance. "Being used to having a mechanic at my side at all times, I spent the year learning to fix things on my own to prepare my bike. I'm riding a brand-new machine, so I hope to be fast. However, I'll take it easy on the first three days and then we'll see how it goes."

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