“A mindset for success is more important than winning”
RIDER FACTS
- Murun Purevdorj will become the latest rider from Mongolia to discover the Dakar when he makes his debut in the bikes in 2025.
- The 27-year-old from Ulaanbaatar followed in the footsteps of his father, who also used to race motorcycles. He began riding at the age of 6 and did his first competitions as a teenager.
- After several years starring on the domestic scene in enduro and motocross, he took a break between 2016-2020 to study at university in Australia. Upon his return he developed a taste for marathon rallies and began working towards the Dakar.
- A 7-time Mongolian champion, Murun has had several class wins at the Silk Way Rally and finished 2nd overall in 2024. He also impressed with 7th place in Rally 2 at this year's Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, which earned him his ticket to Saudi Arabia.
- He's hoping to join the handful of Mongolians to have completed the Dakar on a bike, a year after his ‘brother’ Ganzorig Chuluun came 79th for HT Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing.
2025 AMBITIONS
M.P.: “My dad is one of the big reasons that I got into motorsport. He's also a racer so I grew up surrounded by bikes, watching him ride, race and repair them. Since 2009 I've competed in around 95 races, mainly in Mongolia, in motocross, enduro, baja and rally. I first heard about the Dakar in 2005, and ever since then it's been my dream! I think it's the same for every offroad competitor. After completing my studies, I was inspired by my desire to bring recognition to my country on the world stage and returned to the sport that has become a part of me. I did my first long-distance rally in 2020 and came second, proving that a Mongolian can compete in this category. And then I set my sights on the Dakar, the Olympics of motorsport. After a three-year wait, I'm thrilled to finally have the official qualification to ride in my dream competition. Bike racing requires a deep connection between mind and body and cultivates mental resilience. I've learned that developing a mindset for success is more important than winning, because racing demands tremendous patience and endurance. The population of Mongolia is only three million, so everyone knows each other! (laughs) It's actually true if you're a bike rider. I used to work with Ganzorig, he's like a brother, and I've asked him about the Dakar. My goal is to finish successfully and if possible, inside the top 40.”
