“I need to learn everything”

After one year developing the 450 XEF Rally competition kit with the Dakar legend Franco Picco, Fantic has recently announced a multi-year deal with Alex Salvini as both a development rider and an ambassador, like Picco. The 2014 E2 World Champion and twice runner-up in the following two years made his rally-raid debut this winter at the Andalucía Rally and he finished 14th on a Husqvarna. Even if he won’t be as comfortable with the navigation than his more experienced rivals, Salvini, who will race for the first time in Dakar, could be a contender for the unofficial title of the rookie of the year and fight for some good results.

AS: “In my past, I have been motocross rider. I have been twice Italian Motocross Champion, and then European Supercross Champion. After that, I have been twice runner-up in MX3. I did the Motocross of Nations in 2008 for the Italian team. During that period, I was selected for the International Six Days in 2007. It was my first real experience in enduro. They called me like one week before the race because there was an injured rider. We won the title, and I finished third in the class. So strange and so happy about it. After that, I had been selected two more times for the Enduro Six Days in both 2009 and 2010. I had been the best Italian rider for the team. In 2011, I switched full-time to enduro, and I finished Rookie of the Year. Then during my career in enduro up until this year that I announce my retirement, I have been World Champion in 2013 and three-time runner-up. I also clinched 15 national titles.
Basically, this is not a real racing project, it’s more a fun project for me. I will race in all off-road disciplines because I really love to get new experiences and enjoy. I’m able to ride everything like supercross, enduro, motocross, endurocross. I even did the X Games as well. My goal is to enjoy and racing with no stress. The Dakar is a completely new adventure. It’s how I feel, how I want to do, like an adventure. Fantic released a new bike, and they want to do the Dakar with me. It’s been unpredictable, but I accepted. I’ve never seen the desert in my life yet, and I’ve never navigated in the desert. So, I need to learn everything during the last month. It’s going to be awesome for me to finish the Dakar. My goal is to finish and get experience and enjoy as much as possible.”