Dakar: Day 14 "My Dakar" quotes

MY DAKAR
Everyday feelings of those who are not specially famous but who dare the challenge and give a dream for those who stay behind...

SIEMENS KTM
"Gerard Barbezant (KTM) - Fra - n°55 - "We stayed all night at the border between Lybia and Egypt. There was a huge traffic jam of about 5kms. They released us at 7h30 in the morning so we could make it to the bivouac. I got there first because I went full speed with my 125cc bike. I was so hungry, I couldn't wait. This Dakar is my tenth and what an adventure it has been since Marseille. This one has to be my greatest Dakar. I never would have imagined something so huge. Zaniroli prepared some great specials for us. And of course I had that 'little story' that now all of France knows about. I'm the butcher who cut Gerard Holtz's (TV journalist) leg. He's my great friend and wanted to help me push my bike. It's a stupid accident. After that I felt very depressed. Every day I have a thought for Gerard. I'm 57 and I've been here for ten years. It's my last Dakar on a 125cc. I want to stop because I don't have what it takes to ride anymore. For me every new day finished is a victory. I take it easy on the bike and on myself. It's true I'm a bit crazy to ride on a 125cc. But I don't know how to ride another bike. The 650cc is too big for me. I'm 1m70 and 65kg, I'm not strong enough for such a bike. Anyhow, I never wanted to get my bike licence because of that. Next year I'll come back with a big surprise. My big comeback on four wheels. I can't tell you more but you'll be surprised. I'll be the co-driver and the driver should surprise you."

"Ennio Cucurachi (KTM) - Bel - n°88 - "With me, it's always a nightmare. Things never happen normally. For 400kms not the slightest problem and 50kms from the finish I find myself out of fuel and fall. I really want to get a baseball bat and hit the bike like crazy. It's my 5th Dakar and I only managed to finish once. It was when we finished in Cairo. But all the problems you go through are quickly forgotten. Only the good moments remain. If you are positive in your mind, you only keep the positve moments. You forget all the pain. When you decide to come, you have to settle with it. Since the start I've had worries every single day. My bike is brand new and now looks like trash. I even had a fall in a liaison portion. You tell yourself that you're sh... I've been dreaming of the Dakar for 20 years. When you watch it on TV, everything is beautiful but when you're really on it you find out what it really is. The Dakar is like Olympic Games or a World Cup. It's the highlight of motorsports. I've been on all the circuits of the World and competed in Le Mans, Spa, the Bol d'Or. Here, it's another dimension. You have to fight like a lion. You have to become a warrior. A war against yourself. In my personality, there's the 'good' in Europe and the 'bad' in Africa... What I have accomplished here no-one can take it away from me. You can take away my wife, my house, my car but never what I have lived on the Dakar. Amazing memories! You're with the big boys here. The biggest part of the competitors are over 35. They've lived their lives. They have made money but inside have nothing so they come to the Dakar. I live in my dreams, in the fourth dimension. There's nothing like riding a bike. I'm sorry but in a car, it's like being in your bed. As long as I can stand on my bike, I'll carry on."

-aso-