Harith Noah: “I tried to not have any expectations”

Dakar 2024 | Stage 12 | YANBU > YANBU
January 19 ^th 2024 - 10:33 [GMT + 3]

The Sherco rider, who was impressive in the second week of the race, was the fastest of the Rally 2 bikers and becomes the first Indian to win a Dakar category.

“I’m happy that I’ve finished. That was the main goal, to reach the finishing line and we are here. I’m really blessed to be here. I learned a lot this year, especially during the second week, I felt really strong and it’s something to build on for next year. I don’t know if I won my category. If I have, that’s good. I knew I was somewhere in the top 3, but I didn’t know anything more, that’s nice. I tried to not have any expectations. I just tried to ride every kilometre one at a time. I tried to navigate and not look at the results, just riding the bike. I think the most surprised I was was on stage ten, I think, when I was leading for some time and then I got fifth overall on the scratch. That really surprised me. It’s a really nice feeling to know that you have it in you. I don’t know what happened. I think on the second week I just felt better on the bike, the bike was working perfectly. It was the same bike until the finish, still really strong, so I was really comfortable on the bike, it was good. It feels good to win. I hope it motivates other riders, younger riders, to do the same or try to pursue the same and grow the sport. I never thought when I was a child that I would be here on the Dakar. Then I did my first Dakar, then I finished in 2021, which was amazing, and now here I am finishing, well I don’t know where I’ve finished, but I’m happy. For the next step, we will see and we will talk, plan and, for sure, I’ll be here next year. That’s obviously the goal”.