“The end of a trilogy”
En resumen
- A former mechanics who operated in WRC events in the 1990s, Giuliano Bergo sold his business to do what pleases him, which meant heading to Saudi Arabia and taking on the Dakar Classic.
- The Italian first participated in the Dakar Classic in 2024… And he left the event with “unfinished business” after a spectacular crash on day 4. It made for a short but emotionally intense participation that called for more.
- In 2025, Bergo made it through the desert aboard a truck. It allowed him to share deeper experiences with other contenders as he supported them in the desert.
- Now he aims to complete a personal trilogy aboard the same Mitsubishi Pajero Evolution he raced with two years ago. To overcome the challenges of the Dakar Classic 2026, he will be accompanied by his compatriot Francesca Gasperi.
- Francesca Gasperi invites everyone to “never stop dreaming”, which suits well the energised navigator as she returns to Saudi Arabia for a second consecutive participation.
- An ambassador for the Italian Motorcycle Federation, Gasperi had also been in the Dakar to support Maurizio Gerini. Now she lives her dream as she takes her skills aboard cars to venture in the Saudi desert.
- After a short lived first in the Ultimate class with Agostino Rizzardi (withdrawal on day 5), she faces a very different challenge in the Dakar Classic alongside Giuliano Bergo.
Ambición
G.B.: “For me, Dakar 2026 marks the end of a trilogy. First year, I was in the H3 class, I crashed. Second year was on the truck which was very important to me because I come from the lorries world. And now I'm going to close the trilogy again with my car, the one from the first time. I really want to drive it again because it performs very well and I enjoy driving it in the desert.
It was a great feeling to make it to the end of Dakar 2025 after 14 long days. I've gained experience and now there are certain mistakes from the first year that I shouldn't repeat.
The only important thing for me is to have fun and enjoy the excitement. Then, if we can aim for a result, we'll aim for a result too. But for me, it's about being with friends, meeting new people, sharing time with them in the bivouac... Helping others in the race is also very exciting. Last year, that was the best part with the truck.”
F.G.: “Coming from the world of motorbikes, I know more or less what it means to spend 15 days in the desert, so I was super excited with my first participation, last year, and then really sorry about the withdrawal, and so was everyone else. So, for me to return this year, in a different class, is a beautiful challenge. Being a navigator in the Dakar Classic will be completely different. So, I'm very happy and can't wait to get started.
It's a very special life that takes place during the Dakar Rally, but also in the months leading up to it. So, it's not just January, but also the preparation that comes before and then experiencing it after all the sacrifices you make to find sponsors, to prepare yourself physically, mentally, etc. When the race starts, it's one of the most beautiful emotions you can experience, in my opinion.
It is truly a dream every year. This year, Giuliano called me and said: 'Look, I need a navigator and they gave me your name because they told me you're good and that you're cut out for this kind of adventure'. I asked him to give me two days, but it took me just one day to say yes.
I'm really passionate about it, I'm happy to be back at the bivouac and, I repeat, the challenge of doing a regularity race is huge. I hope to do my best, of course, like everyone else.”
