Paulo Marques: “A challenging project with an eye on the future!”
CREW FACTS…
Y.I.
- Twenty-seven years after first competing on the Dakar on a bike, Yoshio Ikemachi returned on two wheels last January and even managed to finish in 56th position at 52. But between those two dates, the Japanese has witnessed so much on the rally. And the journey continues with a completely new project: Hyse and Dakar Future Mission 1000.
- He actually first came on the event a year before really participating. He was then the co-driver of a press car discovering the landscapes of Africa and getting ready for quite a challenge. A solid rally-raid specialist who started on two wheels, Ikemachi managed wonders for his first appearances, finishing 16th in 1997 and 10th a year later when the Dakar ended in Cairo.
- He then turned to cars, supported by Nissan, also reaching the finish twice in the same exact position: 22nd (including 2nd place in the T2 class in 2006).
- For 2025, the Japanese from Kobe will no longer be on a bike or in a regular car, he’ll be in a prototype SSV powered by hydrogen and will be taking part in the Dakar Future Mission 1000 event. The goal will be to cover 1000kms in Dakar conditions (100kms a day) with a sustainable vehicle.
- At his side in the vehicle designed and supported by five major Japanese brands (Suzuki, Kawasaki, Honda, Toyota and Yamaha), Ikemachi will have another Dakar legend in Paulo Marques, also a veteran who is becoming a pioneer.
P.M.
- After he last took part in the Dakar in 2007, little did Paulo Marques know that he would return 18 years later in a hydrogen powered SSV.
- The Portuguese from Famalicao first appeared on the rally in the nineties when he was then a promising bike rider. His moment of glory came in 1997 when he managed to win a stage on his KTM before finishing 8th of the Dakar.
- Several years later Marques turned to four wheels switching from the co-driver’s to the driver’s seat and back, finishing the event four consecutive times (25th in 2004).
- The 62-year-old takes on a brand new challenge in the navigator’s seat. After testing out the Hyse Hydrogen powered prototype in Portugal, he’ll be hoping to show that it’s a vehicle for the future of the Dakar in the deserts of Saudi Arabia.
AMBITIONS 2025
Daichi Kai (team manager): “We have decided to participate in the Dakar Rally with HySE-X2 which has the engine and the chassis that are progressed from those of HySE-X1. We would like to contribute to the establishment of technologies for the small hydrogen mobility engine, by verifying the effects of the countermeasures for technical issues found with HySE-X1 this year and by challenging more severe performance area of the engine.
Y.I.: “When I was younger, I competed in the Dakar as a rider and then as a professional driver, but at 50 years of age and still having the stamina to do so, I wanted to do the Dakar again on a motorcycle.
1997 was my first challenge on a Dakar bike! I met a lot of friends and I'm still friend with them to this day. I believe that in 1997 I had an important experience that shaped my life. Everything comes back to me as if it happened recently. The Dakar taught me how to think… Last year was my first time in Saudi Arabia, and it was a challenge to my mental and physical strength, as well as patience.”
P.M.: “Driver Yoshio Ikemachi challenged me to come, and I said: why not! I still do a lot of motorsports and ride my motorbike off-road. I met the whole Hyse team during testing in Portugal and I quickly understood that everyone was really professional and passionate. It really is a challenging project with an eye on the future. I really like it. And the car seems to be efficient. Globally we’ll need to do all the stages and cover the most kilometres possible in the car. The atmosphere is great in this very international team including people from Japan, Portugal, Belgium. We absolutely must reach the finish.”
