“Attracted by hell!”

After racing on home soil in Russia, all around Europe and in Africa, Dmitry Agoshkov decided to take the big step up and was on the start line of his first Dakar in Lima. The experienced rider from Tolyatti in Samara who finished 3rd of the 2018 Africa Eco Race was enjoying a fine race in the Original by Motul class (11th) before he was forced to quit for mechanical reasons with just two stages to go. After competing in the Hispania and Panafrica rally this year, the strong 38-year-old, returns on Saudi Arabian soil fully focused on this time finishing the Dakar but well aware that he will again suffer.

“I was so sorry not to be able to finish but the bike gave up on me. The issue was all the dust in my air filter. I had already had such a problem on day 3 and had to change the filter but that was the only one I had left. It really is a shame. Of course it was a first experience and I know it’ll be useful on such a race. The Dakar is the ultimate race. You really have to understand what you’re capable of. There’s a Dakar phenomenon: no matter how hard it is, no matter how exhausted you are, you’re still attracted by racing in hell when sweat is mixed to dust, when you have just a few hours of sleep, when you don’t have the time to eat. That’s the spirit of the Dakar.”