“I'll do my best to be at 100%”

He may only be 31 years of age, but Milan Engel is already gearing up for his ninth Dakar. Before discovering rally-raid, the talented Czech biker enjoyed a great deal of success in enduro, and now boasts over 25 national titles on two wheels. He got his first taste of the Dakar in 2015, showcasing his potential by finishing as the fourth-fastest rookie in 30th overall. He has taken part in every edition since, experiencing all the highs and lows you would expect to find on the world's toughest rally. He was on course for a top-20 finish in 2016 but suffered heartache when his engine failed two days before the finish. He has nevertheless gone all the way in six of his eight appearances, coming as high as 15th in 2019. At Dakar 2022, Milan put in a particularly impressive performance in Original by Motul, finishing second behind the defending champion Arunas Gelazninkas. His excellent record at the FIM International Six Days Enduro (ISDE), where he boasts three gold medals, clearly stood him in good stead in the assistance-free class. As well as looking after his own bike, he also helped out teammate Martin Michek, who ran into all manner of problems. Due to his strong recent results, Milan is no longer eligible for Original by Motul and will return to the Orion - MRG paddock in 2023. For the second straight year, his build-up has unfortunately been disrupted by injury. Before Dakar 2022, he suffered a fractured collarbone, a cracked pelvis and three broken ribs in a nasty crash at the Rallye du Maroc, which made his subsequent showing in Saudi Arabia even more remarkable. He then broke his arm in training earlier this year, but boosted his confidence with a trouble-free run in Morocco in October. Orion - MRG have switched things up a bit this year with a new bike design and a new partner (Big Shock!). For their 10th Dakar participation, team boss Ervin Krajcovic is hoping his dynamic duo Milan and Martin can mix it up with some of the best in the business.

“Dakar 2022 was extremely long, but the last few days passed quickly. I was especially glad that my bike survived and that I didn't have any mechanical problems. Mentally, I handled things well. I rode with my head and always put my bike back together quickly. During the rally I had to keep improving, and I also helped Martin. I did a lot for the team; I don't think I let them down. The Rallye du Maroc in October was the first test after my training injury. My arm hurt, but it's getting better. I'll do my best to be at 100% for the rally, which is going to be long and hard! I actually entered Original by Motul again, but I was told I was too fast for it and reassigned. It's a shame because I wanted to win the class, there's been good competition in recent years. I try to keep up with Martin in training, but he's faster than me. My speciality is navigation and I'm a bit more careful with my machine.”