“The world becomes so small, with only one target: to finish”
En resumen
M.W.
- Maik Willems has always loved sports, from childhood. He competed in running and speed skating, a discipline that is hugely popular in the Netherlands -including an iconic 200-kilometre speed-skating race held every year! But for more than a decade now, it has been motorsport that has truly captured his dreams.
- Maik has eleven Dakar Rally participations to his name, with his best result being 24th overall in 2018. He has always relied on highly experienced former bike riders as navigators: Robert van Pelt sat on his right-hand side from 2013 to 2024, followed by Marcel Snijders last year, and now double Dakar bike finisher Jasper Riezebos.
- When he began his professional career, Maik built his business by acquiring underperforming companies in order to restructure them. Later, in 1995, he entered the hotel industry, which he steadily expanded over the years. Today, Maik owns 34 hotels across the Netherlands.
- His Dakar idols are Carlos Sainz and, naturally for a Dutchman, Jan de Rooy. But Maik himself has become an inspiration to many thanks to his remarkable longevity: at 76 years old, he is one of the oldest competitors in the Dakar caravan! The secret to his endurance? A healthy lifestyle, regular training, and above all, a great deal of passion.
J.R.
- Jasper Riezebos is one of those navigators who first learned how to read a roadbook in the toughest and most formative conditions: as a motorcycle rider. A lifelong Dakar enthusiast, he made his debut in the event in 2015 (54th) and improved in 2016 (52nd). He did not earn a third finisher’s medal in 2017 due to a gallbladder infection.
- One year later, he found himself inside a rally truck, this time as navigator for Gerrit Zuurmond. He competed three times with him until 2020, then once with Adwin Hoondert, whom he guided to a solid 12th place in 2023. He also did other races in the car category, becoming a regular and trusted navigator for Michael van Eikeren.
- A truck-loader crane driver, Jasper is also mechanically skilled and is not afraid to get his hands dirty; he even works at home on an old rally car. Dakar 2026 will be his first in the Ultimate division, the fastest one, alongside Mike Willems. The two have known each other for about ten years and have already been teammates, competing in smaller rallies as part of the same team.
Ambición
M.W.: “We finished decently in 2025. We spent a lot of hours in the dark in the Empty Quarter, and that was a really nice adventure. Nowadays, Dakar is more a race than an adventure. In the past, you could drive at night, take a cup of coffee, and start again the next day. Now it’s more an FIA-type race. But in the last days, we still had a really nice adventure, very old-fashioned -shouting, cursing, everything in the dunes. I’m looking forward to the 2026 edition. I have a new navigator, but he’s Dakar-experienced as a bike rider and as a truck navigator. Every year, it’s a new adventure, a new race, a new route. Seeing the people is also important, because 60 to 70% of the competitors are a fixed group and it’s nice to meet them again and have a lot of fun for a couple of weeks. The beautiful thing about Dakar is that the world becomes so small for a couple of weeks, with only one target: to finish tonight. Tomorrow is another day. Anything can happen in the world, and you’re not aware of it. I only started a few years ago, but I can’t imagine the year starting anymore without being at the Dakar. Then you’re fresh for the year! Physically, I train every day for this, so that’s not a problem. I think the most important thing is the fun you have in the race. It’s beautiful, and to finish a new stage very day is a nice feeling.”
J.R.: “As a little boy, I always watched the Dakar Rally on TV; I thought it would be a good idea to do it. From then on, I always kept this dream alive and started training to get there. By competing on a bike, I learned to embrace adventure and to be able to survive by making my own choices during a desert ride. As a motorcyclist, I learned to navigate well. With a car or truck, you make the choices together, and you’re not alone. This makes it a shared and fun experience. I’m curious about the adventure with the car in the ultimate rally that is Dakar. I hope to have a great Dakar Rally with Maik and to reach the finish in good health.”
