We are one big happy family and the reason I asked the question is because one thing is for sure that people do have great imaginations on this site, sorry if I took it personally.

Cheers for all your input, now to raise 40 000pounds....mmmmm I will think some more!

Regards
Robbo

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Or find someone who has a vehicle already kitted out for extreme offroading, then get a couple of bikes, a mechanic and a bucket load of spares.

Sponsorship can help greatly on this part.

Alternatively, stump up enough cash on your part (along with bike and spares) and then see if you can join a team. (yes, ask me..I'll ride with ya)

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I've seen Rob ride and he ride like a legend! He battled an Africa Twin beast through deep sand, thick mud and bad bad roads at ridiculous speeds and hardly ever fell off!!!

I believe he has immense potential to race in the PD


Amy

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I would agree with the OP: the single toughest obstacle to STARTING the Dakar is $$$. That being said, an excellent or good track record in motorcycle events can make for an easier time of getting sponsorship, which is key to the race for most privateers. There is lots of info on the Dakar site on how to go about getting sponsorship. There is also a large business in sponsorship, so it would be wise to research that and not re-invent the wheel. I would imagine, if you are serious about a good go at it, you need a person on your team who focuses on that stuff whilst you do the bike stuff. It would be very difficult to focus on business management AND building/testing/prepping a bike and rider for the world's toughest motorsport race. From the blogs and experiences of 2 local riders who did/are doing the race, a lead time of well over a year or more is what you're looking at.

I would suggest contacting privateers in your country/region who have made a solid, privateer attempt at the race and asking them how they went about it. I know there's a local in my neck of the woods signed on for this year who has already offered me his advice etc for any attempt I fear I may make on Dakar in the future. I need to learn to ride first, like in 2nd, or maybe 3rd gear offroad...

After all is said and done the minimum privateer effort of about $55,000 USD is NOT that much to come up with for a decent sponsorship fundraiser.

Good luck, mate!

Mitch

I am doing the heroes legend rally in march . better to do some thing than nothing, I'm sure to have a good time and look back in years to come with pride, ozz :confused1:

Good luck ozzydakar, wish you all the best for an amazing time.

I too have dreamed of the Dakar but I think anyone who is serious should support some of the smaller desert rallies by entering them and gaining valuable experince.

The HL looks like a great event and I imagine most of the competitors happily return to compete year after year.

I think the Dakar is very full on and probably not as enjoyable as some of the smaller rallies. Like any big event the Dakar attracts attention of all kinds and that has been its detriment this year.

The HL seems to capture the oringinal spirit of the Dakar before mass sponsorship took over.

Found this old thread of mine and thought to re visit it, I went and raced in The UAE desert Challenge out in the Emirates last october, I rode a 450 honda rally bike, all the guys where there, Coma, Depres on their big 690's. ANyway I was in it for the fun and experience like somebody did suggest to do, it was fantastic, a 5 day event which does really test man and machine. Anyway my dreams of a Dakar are still alive as ever, I still want to get there. And since I finished 2nd in class and 11th overall I think with a bit of training and hard work I could give it a crack.

In the mean time I have to finish my trip and get into some racing in Oz but I can't wait. All the reports on the race are found below in my web site, it was awesome and one dream I am glad I followed.

Now to find some sponsorship!!!

Cheers

Robbo

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I was reminded of this thread from a fellow traveller and thought I'd update it-it's a great reminder to follow your dreams and never give up.

I just competed in the toughest Dakar in many years. Last month I was in South America onboard my KTM 450 RR. It was the toughest thing I have ever done in my life. Of the 180 starters in the bikes only 78 finished, unfortunately Eric Palante from Belgium lost his life and of the 78 finishers I finished 39th, not bad for a rookie in his first Dakar.

I never did find sponsorship-I tried very hard but it is harder to find support, so I fronted the 120k needed myself, and I did it on a budget. But I can say to fulfill a life long dream and finish the Dakar was worth every cent.

So never give up right-anything is possible

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Congratulations, very well done

Top man, many congratulations, that is proper memories for life!

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Never confuse the map with the journey.

Funny thing Dreams.

For many many Years I wanted to enter the Dakar. Then a little over 2 years ago I came into enough money to fund my Dakar dream.

Then I get to thinking ! For what the total cost of participating in the Dakar for 2 weeks would cost , my partner and I could ride around the world for little over a year . See all the sights we have ever wanted to see and while were in America Get married and the build a new house back in the UK.

So thats what we did . 381 days touring on the bike which in the end cost us less the me trying to finish the Dakar. It only takes one small mistake and your not getting to the finish line. Had we have fallen off and hurt ourselves on our tour we could just rest up till mended and then carry on.
Same with bike problems . We had to wait for parts to be sent out to us once which held us up but once fixed we were back on the road.

I admire everyone who does the Dakar and I know how much hard work goes into just getting to the start line. For me the expense was just to much of a risk to spend on myself in such a short time.

It's a shame the TV don't show more of the privateers . If there was a better chance of them getting on TV maybe there would be more chance of them getting sponsors to offer help.

If I had the funds now to enter the Dakar would I ? No .... However If it was still being run through Africa I would be thinking about it

Thanks for the update - that's an awesome result! Congratulations. Based on the TV coverage, this year was one of the toughest dakars, so your result is even more impressive.

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Awesome, congratulations! You have fulfilled your dream. That show us again nothing is impossible if you try it hard enough.