How you feel about Dakar 2024?
Libor Podmol: It was hell of a ride. I knew that „Original by Motel” (Malle moto” category will be difficult, but you never know until you try… Some days were very hard, I manage to have a sleep 4-5 hours of sleep, which doesn’t give you so much rest… But it was definitely a great experience. Malle moto basically is when you take the hardest motorsport race on the planet and make it an event harder… But definitely I will never forget these 2 weeks in Saudi.
Did the assembly go smoothly?
Libor Podmol: I’m not very good mechanic, and I was all my career professional freestyler with mechanic, also my first Dakar I did with team and mechanics. So that was definitely a challenge for me. I was trying to get ready, learned how to serve rally replica, but you never know until you really at Dakar, it’s very long race and always some new troubles shows up, and I had a lot of troubles. First day I go hit by the stone in to my left hand from passing rider, 3.rd day I crashed in the stony part and medics need to stitch me up with 9 stitches on the track, and then I finish 250 km more of racing and 170 km of liaison, unluckily this one was marathon stage, so it was even harder next day I woke, and I couldn’t see for 3 more days, on my right eye, which was difficult for riding but also for mechanic part.
In next days I had troubles with fuel pump, wheels, navigation system, brakes… But I made it finish line and im proud. Also I want to say that I’m proud of my nagation tower by Carbon Fox, it was my first time trying, and I was very happy, it’s lighter than original one, which gives you a bit better handling. And special when I was fixing that new „IPAD” from Dakar organization I was happy that it was easier to fix it on Carbon fox than on original. I had also few crashes and tower survive all Dakar only once I have to change rubber silenblocks, after crash.
Are you planning to participate in the Dakar next year?
Libor Podmol: Truly I’m sure I will go to Dakar once more, because i had so many issues in Dakar 24,that I want to have on “easy” Dakar. Only not too sure if it will be Dakar 25 or 26, it depends on my feelings, but also on sponsorship for rally… I will give you final answer in summer.
