Toby has now been put forward to the Australia Sport Hall of Fame Selection Committee and Board for consideration or The Don awardnamed after Don Bradman.
Toby’s manager Matty Macalpine says the number of signatures on the petition is “crazy”.
“It is amazing to hear the amount of support he has received,” Matty says.
“Appreciate what you’re doing for Toby to give him that additional coverage he deserves.”
Our petition is also calling on state (Queensland and NSW) and federal sports ministers to also consider Toby for a state or national sportsperson of the year honour.
Each time you sign, an email goes to the ministers’ offices, so they would be well aware of Toby’s community support.
We approached Queensland and NSW sports ministers because Toby was born in NSW and now lives on the Gold Coast.
Your signatures on the petition will help sway the ministers, so keep sharing the petition with your friends.
Why Toby deserves more signatures
Toby in action
Australia has a long history of Dakar entries, most notably rookie and privateer Andy Haydon who placed third in 1998, Simon Pavey who competed 10 times and the late Andy Caldecott who competed from 2004 to 2006 when he tragically died during the race.
The Dakar is a gruelling rally that has claimed the lives of 24 competitors since it started in 1978. It is referred to as the toughest motorsport event in the world.
Toby started racing the lethal Dakar in 2015, finishing an astounding third on debut.
He broke his leg in 2017 and last year finished third despite not racing for a year due to injury.
Just a month before this year’s Dakar, Toby broke his wrist in training. His second victory while nursing a “burning wrist” is all the more brave and worthy of an honour.
In fact, has been in for more surgery after the screw in his wrist wore away at the bone like a ‘windscreen wiper’ during the race.
Last year Toby also became the first Australian to win the FIM World Cross Country Championship and scored a record sixth win in Australia’s toughest motorcycle rally, the Finke Desert Race.
Toby wins sixth Finke
In fact, he won that race on debut, a feat he also achieved in the Hattah Dessert Race.
Toby has also won two Australian Junior Motocross Championships and the Australian Off-Road Racing Championship.
Dakar’s most prolific winner, Stéphane Peterhansel, scored his sixth win the year he turned 33. Marc Coma won his fifth Dakar Rally at the age of 39. So Toby, aged 31, still has several years of racing ahead of him and is hopeful of more Dakar wins.
The Don
World Rally Champion
The Don would be a fitting honour for Toby since it is awarded to a sportsperson who “inspires the nation” like Don Bradman.
The award began in 1998 when five-time world GP champion Mick Doohan was a finalist. The Don was shared that year by cricket captain Mark Taylor and athlete Heather Turland.
It will be difficult for Toby to win The Don as no motorsport identity has ever won.
Two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner is a three-time nominee and two-time finalist, but never a recipient of The Don. Last year F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo was a finalist on his second nomination, joined by Indy driver Will Power.
Maybe it’s time for a motorcycle racer to win.
The Don is announced each October, so there is plenty of time to impress the selection panel with petition signatures.
The greatest rally rider in the world is currently Aussie Toby Price, but there are many other great reasons to celebrate motorcycling this Australia Day.
Most parts of Australia have year-round riding weather, not just on one day!
We have a host of great riding roads.
Our forests, beaches, outback and deserts offer some of the greatest adventure riding in the world.
Most country people are welcoming of riders dropping into their towns.
New helmet laws now allow us greater access to more and safer Euro-approved helmets.
Most states now have or are considering introducing lane filtering.
We have one of the widest varieties of motorcycle model choices in the world.
Motorcycles have never been cheaper in “real terms”.
REASONS TO BE ‘FEARFUL’
Road safety Nazis selectively pick on us with their scaremonger campaigns.
Police target riders for discriminatory licence and vehicle checks.
Insurance companies gouge us on premiums and compulsory third party.
Our road rules annoyingly vary from state to state (although this is gradually changing).
There is an epidemic of ever-decreasing speeds on our roads.
BE THANKFUL FOR WHAT YOU’VE GOT
It could be worse.
Paris, for example, is preventing older motorcycles from entering the city.
Some Asian and Mid-East cities ban all motorcycles or impose a curfew.
Some countries also ban women from riding for “modesty” reasons!
In London, there were more than 14,000 motorcycle thefts last year.
In Malaysia, 26 unmarried couples have been arrested for riding together on a motorcycle.
AUSSIE BIKE HISTORY
More great reasons to celebrate motorcycling on Australia Day is our rich motorcycling history.
With its vast distances and rugged terrain, motorcycles were popular at the start of the last century. We even had a thriving motorcycle manufacturing industry, particularly during World War I when supplies of British motorcycles dried up.
While we have not had a motorcycle manufacturing industry for some time, Australia once built many motorcycles such as Lewis, Pasco, Blue Bird, Bullock, De Luxe, Peerless, Invincible JAP, Whiting, Mostyn, Rudge, FN and Norton.
Lewis motorcycles
Robert Saward wrote A-Z of Australian-made Motorcycles which details 396 brands of motorcycles, most of which were assembled here from imported engines and frames.
In 1928, the Auto Cycle Council of Australia was formed to represent the interests of motorcycle clubs and state associations at a national level. It is now called Motorcycling Australia which represents motorcycle racing.
RACING HERITAGE
Racing successes are more great reasons to celebrate.
Australians were among the first in the world to start racing motorcycles. Many believe the first speedway meetings were held in Australia and our speedway riders travelled to the UK to pioneer the sport.
Over the years, Australia has had many motorcycle champions. MA notes our first world champion as speedway rider Lionel Van Praag in 1936.
Here is MA’s list of champion Aussie riders and teams and more reasons to celebrate on our national day:
RIDERS
Lionel Van Praag
1936 Lionel Van Praag, Speedway
1938 Bluey Wilkinson, Speedway
1951/52 Jack Young, Speedway
1957 Keith Campbell, Road racing (350cc)
1961 Tom Phillis, Road racing (125cc)
1969 Kel Carruthers, Road racing (250cc)
1979/81 Barry Smith, Road racing (Formula TT)
1983 Steve Baker, Speedway (under 21)
1987 Wayne Gardner, Road racing (500cc)
1992 Leigh Adams, Speedway (under 21)
1994-98 Michael Doohan, Road racing (500cc)
Mick Doohan enters Hall of Fame
1995/2004/06/09 Jason Crump, Speedway (under 21)
1996/2005 Troy Corser, Superbikes
1997 Shane Watts, Enduro (125cc)
1997 Peter Goddard, Endurance Road Racing
2000/01/03/04 Stefan Merriman, Enduro
2000/02 Warwick Nowland,Endurance Road Racing
2001/06/08 Troy Bayliss, Superbikes
Troy Bayliss
2001/08 Andrew Pitt, Supersport
2001 Heinz Platacis, Endurance Road Racing
2003/08 Chad Reed, Supercross
2003 Chris Vermeulen, Supersport
2004 Karl Muggeridge, Supersport
2007/11 Casey Stoner, MotoGP
2009 Jay Wilson, Junior Motocross
2009/10 Darcy Ward, Speedway (under 21)
2009 Steve Martin, Endurance Road Racing
2010 Mick Headland, Jesse Headland, Track Racing Sidecar (1000cc)
2011 Darrin Treloar, Jesse Headland, Track Racing Sidecar (1000cc)
2012 Caleb Grothes, Junior MX (65cc)
2012 Chris Holder, World FIM Speedway GP
2013/14 Matthew Phillips, Enduro (Junior/E3)
2014 Jett Lawrence, Junior MX (65cc)
2015 Matthew Gilmore, Youth Speedway World Cup (250cc)
2016 Matt Phillips, Junior Enduro GP
2016 Toby Price, Dakar Rally
Toby Price
2017 Jason Doyle, World FIM Speedway GP
2018 Toby Price, FIM World Cross Country Champion
2019 Toby Price, Dakar Rally
Teams
1974 Pairs Speedway, 2nd
1976 Team Speedway (Phil Crump, Billy Sanders, Phil Hearne, John Boulger), 1st
2007 Team Speedway (Ryan Sullivan, Rory Schlein, Leigh Adams, Jason Crump, Chris Holder, Dave Watt), 3rd; Oceanic Motocross (Craig Anderson, Troy Carroll, Lee Ellis, Jay Marmont, Jake Moss, Cameron Tatlor, Danny Anderson, Lewis Stewart, Kristy Gillespie, Ashlea Bates, Adelia Barton, Tye Simmonds, Ross Beaton, Luke Arbon), 1st
2009 Junior Motocross (Tye Simmonds, Jay Wilson), 1st; Track Racing Sidecar (Mick Headland, Paul Waters), 1st; Team Speedway (Leigh Adams, Jason Crump, Chris Holder, Davey Watt, Troy Batchelor), 2nd; Women’s Team (Jacqui Jones, Alison Parker, Jemma Wilson), 3rd
2010 Junior MX (Wilson Todd, Mitchell Evans, Joel Dinsdale, Scott Mann, Matt Phillips, Errol Willis), 3rd
2011 ISDE Womens Team (Allison Parker, Jess Gardiner, Jemma Wilson), 3rd; ISDE Mens Team – E2 Class (Toby Price, Matthew Phillips), 1st; MXoN (Chad Reed, Brett Metcalf, Matt Moss), 3rd; Speedway World Cup (Jason Crump, Darcy Ward, Chris Holder, Davey Watt, Troy Batchelor), 2nd
2012 ISDE Womens Trophy Team (Jess Gardiner, Tanya Hearn, Tayla Jones), 3rd; Speedway World Cup (Chris Holder, Davey Watt, Jason Crump, Darcy Ward, Troy Batchelor), 2nd; Speedway World Cup U21 (Darcy Ward, Sam Masters, Dakota North, Alex Davies, Nick Morris), 2nd
2013 ISDE Womens Trophy Team (Jess Gardiner, Tayla Jones, Jemma Wilson), 1st; Speedway World Cup (Darcy Ward, Cameon Woodward, Jason Doyle, Troy Batchelor) 3rd
2014 ISDE Womens Trophy Team (Jess Gardiner, Tayla Jones, Jemma Wilson), 1st; ISDE Junior Trophy Team (Daniel Sanders, Tom McCormack, Lachlan Stanford, Scott Keegan), 3rd; Speedway World Cup (Chris Holder, Darcy Ward, Jason Doyle, Troy Batchelor), 3rd
2015 FIM World Junior Motocross Championships (Hunter Lawrence, Cooper Pozniak, Rhys Budd, Bailey Malkiewicz, John Bova, Regan Duffy), 3rd; Trial des Nations International Trophy Competition (Chris Bayles, Tim Coleman, Kyle Middleton and Colin Zarczynki), 3rd; ISDE Junior Trophy Team (Daniel Sanders, Broc Grabham, Tom Mason, Tye Simmons), 1st; ISDE Women’s Trophy Team (Tayla Jones, Jess Gardiner, Jemma Wilson), 1st; ISDE Senior Trophy Team (Daniel Milner, Matthew Phillips, Lachlan Stanford, Glenn Kearney, Beau Ralston, Josh Green), 2nd (Provisional); FIM Team Speedway Under 21 2015 World Championship (Max Fricke, Brady Kurtz, Nick Morris, Jack Holder), 3rd
2016 and 2017 ISDE Women’s Trophy Team (Tayla Jones, Jess Gardiner, Jemma Wilson)
State and national sportsperson of the year awards are made by the Sport Minister while the Sport Australia Hall of Fame is decided by a selection committee.
It’s too late for this year’s sportsperson of the year awards announced on Australia Day (Saturday, January 26, 2019).
However, we have initiated nominations for the state and national awards with the relevant Ministers for next year. Toby was born in NSW and now lives on the Gold Coast, so nominations will be lodged in both states.
A nomination for The Don honour has been lodged and we are told the selection committee will research our nomination.
These nominations will have more impact if our petition garners a lot of support from the community, so make sure you share the link with all your friends!
Results of the petition will be forwarded to the Ministers and Hall of Fame.
Why Toby deserves honour
Toby in action
Australia has a long history of Dakar entries, most notably rookie and privateer Andy Haydon who placed third in 1998, Simon Pavey who competed 10 times and the late Andy Caldecott who competed from 2004 to 2006 when he tragically died during the race.
The Dakar is a gruelling rally that has claimed the lives of 24 competitors since it started in 1978. It is referred to as the toughest motorsport event in the world.
Toby started racing the lethal Dakar in 2015, finishing an astounding third on debut.
He broke his leg in 2017 and last year finished third despite not racing for a year due to injury.
Just a month before this year’s Dakar, Toby broke his wrist in training. His second victory while nursing a “burning wrist” is all the more brave and worthy of an honour.
Last year Toby also became the first Australian to win the FIM World Cross Country Championship and scored a record sixth win in Australia’s toughest motorcycle rally, the Finke Desert Race.
Toby wins sixth Finke
In fact, he won that race on debut, a feat he also achieved in the Hattah Dessert Race.
Toby has also won two Australian Junior Motocross Championships and the Australian Off-Road Racing Championship.
Dakar’s most prolific winner, Stéphane Peterhansel, scored his sixth win the year he turned 33. Marc Coma won his fifth Dakar Rally at the age of 39. So Toby, aged 31, still has several years of racing ahead of him and is hopeful of more Dakar wins.
The Don
World Rally Champion
We believe The Don would be a fitting honour for Toby since it is awarded to a sportsperson who inspires the nation.
The award began in 1998 when five-time world GP champion Mick Doohan was a finalist. The Don was shared that year by cricket caption Mark Taylor and athlete Heather Turland.
It will be difficult for Toby to win The Don as no motorsport identity has ever won.
Two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner is a three-time nominee and two-time finalist, but never a recipient of The Don. Last year F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo was a finalist on his second nomination, joined by Indy driver Will Power.
Maybe it’s time for a motorcycle racer to win.
The Don is announced each October, so there is plenty of time to impress the selection panel with petition signatures.
Australia’s Toby Price has scored his second Dakar Rally win in a nail-biting finish and won a kiss from KTM Factory teammate Laia Sainz, but will lose his trademark mullet.
Toby only won one stage of the rally, the penultimate leg yesterday, but was consistently in the top 10 finishers.
Nursing a broken wrist from a training accident last month and just a one-minute gap from Chilean Pablo Quintanila (Husqvarna), Toby won the final stage and increased his gap to over nine minutes from Pablo.
It is the 18th straight win for KTM and despite strong opposition from Husqvarna, Honda snd Yamaha throughout the rally, KTM cloud out the top three with last year’s winner Austrian Matthias Walkner second and Brit Sam Sunderland third.
The long-time friends made a bet before the Peruvian rally that if Toby finished better than fifth he could kiss Laia for five seconds and if the Spanish rider finished 15th or better, she could chop off Toby’s trademark mullet.
Laia finished the stage 10 in 15th and overall was 11th, so Toby will soon loose his mullet.
Toby started racing the Dakar in 2015, finishing an astounding third. He became a KTM factory rider in 2016 and was the first Aussie to win the rally. He broke his leg in 2017 and last year finished third despite not racing for a year due to injury.
Not only is he the first Aussie to win the gruelling rally, but last year he also became the first to win the world rally title.
Laia is competing in her ninth Dakar, having finished top 20 in five. Her best finish was a ninth in 2015.
Aussie rookies
Ben Young
Aussie rookies, Ben Young and James Ferguson made it to the end in grand style.
Ben nursed a spec ted broken hand to 55th in the final stage to be 51st overall and an amazing 10th in the rookie class.
Australia’s only other motorcycle competitor, Queenslander Rodney Faggotter, was out of the rally on stage three with a mechanical failure on his factory Yamaha.
As if the Dakar Rally isn’t tough enough, Australian rider James Ferguson (pictured above) is taking it on solo and unassisted and is closing in on the top 10 in his Original by Motul category.
James and countryman Ben Young are among a record field of novices in this year’s Peruvian rally.
Ben Young 20th in the rookie class
Ben is a commendable 55th overall and 12th in the rookie class.
In preparation for the Dakar, Ben has been training with Toby and finished 18th in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and 24th in the Morocco Rally on his KTM.
Australia’s first Dakar Rally winner Toby Price is first overall after stage 8, zeroing in on a kiss with KTM Factory teammate Laia Sainz but risking the loss of his mullet.
The long-time friends made a bet before the Peruvian rally that if Toby finished better than fifth he could kiss Laia for five seconds and if the Spanish rider finished getter than 15th, she could chop off Toby’s trademark mullet.
Long kiss
Toby finished the 323km beach-and-dunes stage eight overnight in third and despite not yet winning a stage, his consistency has landed him in first outright, a minute in front of Husky rider Pablo Quinanilla.
With just three stages to go, his five-second kiss with Laia is looking good.
But his mullet is also in serious danger.
Laia is currently 13th outright, but almost three hours behind Toby.
Laia Sainz
Both are not in prime physical condition with Toby nursing a wrist he broke in training last month and Laia recovering from Q fever which prevented her training most of 2018.
Toby started racing the Dakar in 2015, finishing an astounding third. He became a KTM factory rider in 2016 and was the first Aussie to win the rally. He broke his leg in 2017 and last year finished third despite not racing for a year due to injury.
Not only is he the first Aussie to win the gruelling rally, but last year he also became the first to win the world rally title.
Laia Sanz
Laia is a 13-time Women’s Trial World Champion and 10-time Women’s Trial European Champion in outdoor trials.
She is competing in her ninth Dakar, having finished top 20 in five. Her best finish was a ninth in 2015.
As Toby Price challenges for his second Dakar Rally victory, two fellow Aussies are doing well in the rookies category of the gruelling Peruvian event.
They include Victorian Ben Young, aged 47, (#72 Duust Rally Team) and Canberran James Ferguson, 32, (#121 KTM).
Ben Young
James Ferguson
Rookies
Ben finished stage 6 in 54th place, his best position yet and is 63rd outright and 20th among the 49 rookies.
James is not far behind in 77th outright, 23rd among the novices and 12th of the 29 riders in the Original by Motul class which means they have no assistance.
But the event has not been plain sailing for the two rookies.
Ben is nursing a possible broken hand and James has gravel rash from a crash in a liaison section.
Part-time racer
Ben in the dunes
“This is the hardest race I’ve done,” says Ben, a part-time racer who has been training with Toby.
“It’s been an average of 12 hour days with the longest 14 hours. The course is really hard and challenging.
“I’m physically ok. Had a crash yesterday (stage 5) and hand is a bit fucked up. Team physio thinks the bone is fractured. I’m not going for X-rays as I don’t want to know. I’ll tape it up and keep going,” he says on his Facebook page.
In preparation for the Dakar, Ben finished 18th in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and 24th in the Morocco Rally on his KTM.
James says the stages are difficult, but his navigation has been good.
“I’ve said from the start that the stages are hard but they are safe in that you can ride to your ability and speed,” he says in his latest Facebook post.
James and his KTM
“Unfortunately last night (stage 5) coming home 280km in the liaison I hit something on the road at about 90kmh and sent the bike down the highway on its side.
“Luckily I was fine and quickly picked the bike and myself up before it was run over. My rest day hasn’t been much rest, new handlebars, foot pegs, hand guards, wheels, grips plus oil and filters has kept me busy. Body is sore but I’m not giving up.”
He posted a photo of his KTM’s clogged air filter after the first day of racing through the stand dunes.
James’s air filter
About 70% of the event will be staged in sand, but James has plenty of experience in sand having competed in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge last year.
KTM factory rider Toby Price is inching closer to his second victory while nursing a still-mending broken wrist.
He finished in fourth place in stage 6, leaving him third outright and a little over five minutes behind leader Pablo Quintanilla on a Husqvarna and 40 seconds behind Ricky Brabec on a Honda.
KTM is chasing its 18th straight win, but it hasn’t all been going the orange company’s way this year.
Of the six stages so far, only last year’s winner, Matthias Walker, has won a stage.
Honda has won two stages, and Yamaha and Husky one each.
It’s going to be a nail-biting finish with less than 10 minutes separating the top five which includes one Husky, two Hondas, one Yamaha and Toby’s KTM.
If fellow Red Bull KTM Factory Team members Matthias Walkner (sixth) and Sam Sunderland (seventh) remain behind Toby, they will have to help him if he needs assistance or a spare part.
Consistency is the key to Australian rider Toby Price’s fourth Dakar Rally, now sitting in third place after four stages and carrying the hopes of his nation for a second historic win.
Unfortunately, fellow Aussie Rodney Faggotter is out after mechanical failures on his factory Yamaha on stage three.
It was the Queenslander’s fifth Dakar mission after finishing 16th last year.
Australia’s two other Dakar competitors are rookies Victorian Ben Young (#72 Duust Rally Team) and Canberran James Ferguson (#121 KTM).
Young is in a commendable 21st position among the rookies and 67th overall.
James was in 106th overall out of 149 starters at the end of stage 3 and 34th among the rookies.
So far, he has not come in, but at this point only 95 have finished the gruelling 406km fourth stage. We will update when James finishes.
Unique rally
This year’s Dakar is unique as it is being staged in only one country, Peru, and so far almost ll the racing has been in the dunes.
It’s also one of the most competitive with four different winner sin the four stages and three different bike brands.
Leaders
Current leader Ricky Brabec
KTM, which is chasing its 18th straight win, has only scored a win in the second stage for last year’s winner, Austrian Matthais Walkner.
Joan Barreda Bort won the firsts age on his Honda, Xavier de Soultrait won stage three for Yamaha and American Ricky Brabec scored Honda’s second stage win over night.
Ricky is now leading, ahead of consistent riders Pablo Quintanilla for Husqvarna just 2 minutes behind, ahead of Toby who is less than six minutes form the lead.
Consistency
Mr Consistency Toby Price
Toby, who is also the first Australian to win the World Cross-Country Rallies Championship with victory in the final round in Morocco last month, is nursing a mending broken wrist.
“The wrist is a little sore but I think I’ll make the distance, it’s all or nothing!” says Toby who won in only his second Dakar in 2016.
Toby started racing the Dakar in 2015, became a KTM factory rider in 2016 and was the first Aussie to win the rally. He broke his leg in 2017 and last year finished an unbelievable third despite not racing for a year due to injury.
Toby’s strategy in each event is consistency in the first half and attack in the second half which starts next week.
Click here if you would like to send him best wishes for a successful rally.
A record number of rookies and women will contest the 41st Dakar Rally in January which will be held in one country for the first time.
Chile, Argentina and Bolivia have pulled out of the event, leaving just the dunes and high altitude of Peru to tackle.
The route
The rally will also be the shortest in history at 5000km with 3000km of 10 special stages with two rest days.
It all starts in Lima on January 7 with 534 competitors in 334 vehicles, 149 of them motorcycles, with a record 135 newcomers in 97 vehicles vying for rookie awards.
The contenders
Toby Price
KTM is hoping for its 18th straight win with Aussie 2016 winner Toby Price (#3), 2017 victor Brit Sam Sunderland (#14) and incumbent champ Austrian Matthais Walkner (#1).
Honda’s team includes Kevin Benavides (#47), Paulo Gonçalves (#2) and Joan Barreda (#5) with Yamaha led by Adrien Van Beveren (#4) and Xavier De Soultrait (#18).
Aussie riders also include Queenslander Rodney Faggotter (#25) on his fifth Dakar mission after finishing 16th last year on his Yamaha.
Rodney Faggotter
Rookies and women
Other Aussies are Dakar rookies Victorian Ben Young (#72 Duust Rally Team) and Canberran James Ferguson (#121 KTM).
The largest female contingent since the Dakar moved to South America a decade ago includes 17 women.
There are two female riders: Laia Sanz (#17) in the factory KTM team and Spaniard Sara Garcia (#98) on a Yamaha.
A record 34 brave motorcycle and quad riders have chosen to enter unassisted in the “Original by Motul” class, previously known as the Malle Moto.
How to watch the rally
As usual, SBS TV in Australia will broadcast half-hour highlights free and in HD at 6pm from Tuesday, January 8-18.
Or you can stream live via SBS Sport and SBS On Demand.
Stage replay is also available on SBS VICELAND nightly from about 7pm.
Screening times may vary in your state, so check your local guide.
Rodney Faggotter is all set to compete in the 2019 Dakar Rally in January again with the Yamalube Yamaha Rally Team, alongside teammates Adrien Van Beveren, Xavier de Soultrait, Franco Caimi (TBC) and Alexandre Kowalski.
Rodney Faggotter
The riders are all-set to take on the 2019 Dakar aboard the newest edition of the WR450F Rally works machine for this 41st edition of the event.
Working hard during the last few months to be ready for the biggest event in the annual rally racing calendar, the Yamalube Yamaha Rally team members are all looking forward to the 2019 Dakar. Remaining under the guidance of team director Alexandre Kowalski, team manager José Leloir and sport manager Jordi Arcarons, all riders are looking to make the most of their experience as they battle against the world’s elite rally racers in what is expected to be an anything but easy event.
Playing a crucial role for the Yamalube Yamaha Rally team during the last two Dakar Rallies, Rodney Faggotter remains with the squad going into the 2019 edition of the event.
Rodney Faggotter
Enjoying an extremely consistent run that saw him finish 16th overall at the 2018 Dakar Rally, the Aussie will look to improve on this result in January 2019.
Rodney Faggotter
“I’m looking forward to the 2019 Dakar. I’ve been racing some Bajas and training hard back home in Australia these last few months. I feel strong physically and also mentally. In the beginning of December we’ve spent a full week testing and training with the team in Morocco and that was a good morale booster for me. We have a great spirit within the team and I want to be there for my teammates if they need me. I want to have a good clean run and do my own race. This Dakar might seem shorter, but we all know it’s still going to be a long and demanding race. If it all goes well, I’m confident I can improve my overall result from last year and fight for a spot inside the top-10.”
Rod Faggotter
Leading the team’s efforts for yet another year is Adrien Van Beveren, eager to impress by fighting for the overall victory and at the top of his game following months of hard work, the French rider is ready for the dunes of Peru.
Adrien Van Beveren
Putting in many thousands of racing and training kilometres aboard his WR450F Rally machine in 2018, Xavier de Soultrait is also set to enter the fifth Dakar Rally of his career this coming January and is working hard to further improve his navigational skills.
With the team 100% ready to have Franco Caimi enter the 2019 Dakar Rally, his participation will be decided just before the start of the race. Doing everything possible to return to full fitness following his injury during the Morocco Rally, the rider from Argentina is expecting to undergo his last medical checks just a few days before the start of the event.
Franco Caimi
Further strengthening Yamaha’s presence at the 2019 Dakar will be Camelia Liparoti. Teaming up with Rosa Romero Font as her co-driver, the two highly-experienced racers will compete in Yamaha’s YXZ1000R side-by-side machine at the coming edition of the event in Peru.
Dakar Rally 2019
Taking place in the southern part of Peru, the 2019 Dakar Rally features a total of 10 demanding stages. The race kicks off on January 7 in Lima, with competitors returning to the Peruvian city for the big finish on January 17 and after an exhaustive 5,000km in the dunes of the South American country.
Adrian Van Beveren
Dakar Rally 2019 Schedule
Stage 1 | Jan 7 | Lima to Pisco | SS: 84km | Total: 331km
Stage 2 | Jan 8 | Pisco to San Juan de Marcona | SS: 342km | Total: 554km
Stage 3 | Jan 9 | San Juan de Marcona to Arequipa | SS: 331km | Total: 779km
Stage 4 | Jan 10 | Arequipa to Moquegua | SS: 352km | Total: 511km
Stage 5 | Jan 11 | Moquegua to Arequipa | SS: 345km | Total: 776km
Rest Day | Jan 12 | Arequipa
Stage 6 | Jan 13 | Arequipa to San Juan de Marcona | SS: 317km | Total: 839km
Stage 7 | Jan 14 | San Juan de Marcona (return) | SS: 323km | Total: 387km
Stage 8 | Jan 15 | San Juan de Marcona to Pisco | SS: 361km | Total: 576km
Stage 9 | Jan 16 | Pisco to Pisco | SS: 313km | Total: 410km
Stage 10 | Jan 17 | Pisco to Lima | SS: 112km | Total: 358km
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