THE Dakar Word Rally-Raid has to be among the toughest races on earth, but earlier this month, keen racers revved across thousands of kilometres in searing heat, over soft sand dunes, and stony terrain.
Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders, a 30-year-old motorcyclist from the Yarra Valley, competed in the Championship Saudi Arabian desert race for the fifth time this year, with his team Red Bull KTM Factory Racing leading the competition from start to finish.
Four-wheel bikes, trucks, and cars also competed in the rally. A total of 132 engines warmed up at the starting line along with Sanders, who was readying and revving his KTM 450-rally factory bike.
It’s not uncommon for competitors to perish across the gruelling desert route.
During the 2022 Dakar, Sanders suffered a setback and could not complete a stage or indeed the race, following a serious crash after attempting to pass a car on a section of road. Seven surgeries later, Sanders’ broken elbow was restored.
Sanders’ family run an apple orchard in the Yarra Valley, and he told ABC Radio Melbourne’s Ali Moore that he trained on roads close to home and in Mildura to prepare for the gruelling race.
“You can’t simulate a 14-day race in the desert,” he said.
“We train for about five to six days [a week] and try and simulate it like that. I do a fair bit of riding in Mildura and even around my place at home. It’s only gravel roads and logging trucks, but it still helps to just get used to the bike.”
There are 12 stages in the race, with only one rest and repair day for the competitors.
The first stage, which commenced on January 4, recorded the coolest temperature of 17 degrees Celsius at 7am.
Thankfully for the organisers, spectators, and competitors, the hottest temperature recorded was on the rest day, at an endurable 34 degrees Celsius.
Across the race, rev heads navigated the course using a tablet attached to their handlebars. Not surprisingly, at times Sanders said the navigational signal dropped out and to find his way, put his trust in other competitors taking the lead.
Sanders told ABC sports reporter Patrick Stack his dad had inspired his love of racing.
“Dad raced motorbikes in the 80s and was really competitive in enduro [racing] and he won a couple of Australian Championships,” he said.
“I looked at his trophies as a kid and wanted to do the same [thing]. That’s how it started. My whole family was into motorbikes, and we had events on our farm as well.
“A lot of friends rode bikes so the weekend thing was to ride dirt bikes, and then the competitive side started and I just loved it. I always wanted to be better and stronger and faster.”
In total, Sanders rode for 419 hours across 7891km with major sponsor Red Bull supporting his team all the way.
Highlights of the event can be viewed on YouTube.
