“This Dakar will also be very emotional for me”
RIDER FACTS
- Ottavio Missoni, inspired by the Caviga Lucky Explorer and his childhood dream shared with his father Vittorio, finally took part at the Dakar in 2023, ten years after his father’s passing.
- In 2023, Missoni achieved his goal of finishing the race on his first attempt.
- Preparing for his second Dakar in the Original by Motul category, Missoni has focused on motocross training and studying every detail of his bike.
- During the race, his girlfriend will be eight months pregnant, but she accepted him to line up for his second Dakar.
2025 AMBITIONS
O.M: “My last Dakar was in 2023, which was also my first one. It was probably one of the wettest Dakar ever, with rain and mud. Despite this bad weather, it was a great experience. My main goal was to finish the race on my first attempt, and I achieved that, so I couldn’t have asked for more. This year, I was very busy with my work, and it didn’t allow me to participate in any international rallies. I was only able to compete in a few stages of the Italian Motorally Championship. I’ve spent a lot of time in my garage studying the new bike. Being in the Original by Motul category, knowing the bike inside and out will make things easier during the race. This will be my first Dakar in this class, so I’ll need to focus on preserving the bike during each stage. The goal is to minimize maintenance work at the bivouac, giving me more time to rest. Reaching the finish line without taking unnecessary risks will be my top priority. This Dakar will also be very emotional for me. My girlfriend will be eight months pregnant during the race, and I can’t thank her enough for letting me take part in this edition, even though I know how she feels staying home worrying about me.”
