“I've always admired the guys who do Original by Motul”

After missing the last two editions of the Dakar, Rudolf Lhotsky is back for his fourth tilt at the world's toughest rally. And the Czech rider has decided to make it even tougher in 2021, competing in the Original by Motul class with fellow compatriot and teammate David Pabiska. 'Ruda' has been around bikes since childhood, starting out in enduro and taking part in his first competitions at the age of 13. His biggest successes came in 2014 and 2015, when he claimed back-to-back FIM Bajas European Championship titles. He also won the El Chott Rally in Tunisia in 2017, but so far his Dakar experiences have been a mixed bag. In three outings with the Barth Racing Team, he only made it to the finish line once, coming 82nd at Dakar 2017. Injuries forced him to abandon on his debut in 2016 and his most recent participation in 2018. Now he is back with a new team, Jantar, who have equipped him and David with brand-new KTM 450 Rally Replica bikes for Dakar 2021. The duo have been forced to do most of their training back home in the Czech Republic, with a planned trip to Morocco cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They are also preparing to get a first taste of Saudi Arabia, having missed out on last year's edition. But 45-year-old Rudolf is still confident, and he hopes to make it home in the top half of the Original by Motul standings.

“I've always admired the guys who do Original by Motul. Every year, they show how far the boundaries of human possibility can be pushed. I'd like to thank Jan Milon and the Jantar Team for giving me the possibility of undertaking this great challenge. David and I will have to get used to making repairs! But the bikes are new, and I think we can take spare parts from the KTM truck if necessary. Most of the time, we should only be doing basic service. For me, the main goal is to reach the finish line. I think that if you complete the Dakar in this category, the result comes naturally. There are 33 of us in the Originals, and if I manage to finish in the top half of the field, I'll consider it a success.”