He may be named after an item of clothing, but Francisco ‘Chaleco’ Lopez is on a mission to hang the rest of the field out to dry ahead of Red Bull Los Andes.
The race has attracted the best Enduro, Moto X and Moto Rally riders from across the globe, but if they want to get their hands on the first prize of a Honda CRF 450X then they must beat Chaleco in his own backyard.
After picking up a host of titles throughout his career, the Chilean is looking to maintain the speed for Los Andes that saw him win two stages in The Pharaohs Rally of Egypt. This epic race high up on the famous mountain range is the perfect chance for riders to polish their skills before the all important Dakar Rally.
If the other riders in Los Andes get a face full of dust, rocks and snow it's a pretty safe bet that it's coming from the tread of Chaleco’s wheels. We caught up with the man himself ahead of Red Bull Los Andes...
So you’re just back from Italy, where you signed a two-year deal with Aprilia to ride in the 2010 and 2011 Dakar Rally. I’m guessing life’s pretty good right now?
I’m buzzing right now because it’s a new challenge to be part of an official team. For the first time I’ll have a partner in the race and for me this is very important. With the new set-up there’s no reason why we cannot go for first place.
Tell us about testing your new Aprilia RVX 450 Africa. I understand you requested a few personalised modifications to the bike (repositioning of the road book and GPS mounts, tougher suspensions and increased fueltank)?
One of the changes I requested was an increase to the overall length of the bike so it will be steadier at high speeds. Other alterations were necessary to adapt the bike to the Enduro conditions that we will be up against in the Dakar Rally. When you’re coming up against steep dunes for example it is important to keep the weight of the bike down. I wanted the GPS a little further in front of me on the bike so I could see it at a glance. That’s exactly what testing is for, to identify the potential problems and fix them before the start of the race.
Aside from making the modifications you asked for, how else is Aprilia helping you to do your best in Dakar?
The support I’m getting from Aprilia right now is second to none. The structure of the team is a world away from the private teams I have previously been a part of. As well as the top class engineers and mechanics the most important member for me is my Spanish race partner. For me, riding together will be the key to our success in Dakar 2010.
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Your partner in this year’s Dakar is your Aprilia team-mate Gerard Farrés. Are you mates with the Spaniard and how can riding with Gerard help your Dakar?
Me and Gerard go back a while now, I’ve gotten to know him a lot better in the last three years from competing against each other. He has a ton of experience with the Dakar Rally in particular and riding with him fills me with confidence that we can do a good job out there.
You won a couple of stages in the Sahara Desert during Pharaohs Rally of Egypt and finished eighth overall. Have you identified this rally as an event you can one day win?
The Pharaohs Rally of Egypt is definitely one I have in my sights and I would love to win it one day. We are working very hard as a team to make sure we enjoy success not only in Egypt, but all over the world. With things going so well at the moment I truly believe that success in any race is possible.
Did the amount of support and the waving of Chilean flags when you rode into Cairo at the completion of The Pharaohs Rally of Egypt take you by surprise?
To be honest I did not expect to see anything like that, as I rode in on the final stage. There were entire families who had come over from Chile especially to support me. The sight of all those Chilean flags flying that day is something I never will forget. All through my career I have had pleasant surprises and when you’re not expecting something and it happens those moments are worth double for me.
You seem to be learning and improving all the time. What experiences from the Pharaohs Rally of Egypt will you be taking into this year’s Dakar?
Constant improvement is something that I aim for in my riding and I like to think I can correct my mistakes very quickly these days. I have the same passion for riding as I did when I started out and my entire life is dedicated to doing the best I can out there. I love getting on my bike everyday and if the results are good as well then that’s always a bonus.
Have you noticed a growing awareness of rally in Chile thanks to your personal success, the relocation of Dakar as well as Red Bull Los Andes?
There is no denying that Chile is experiencing a very good time with motorsport right now and you only have to look at the crowds at Red Bull Los Andes to see how much the people are enjoying it. Los Andes has attracted the best riders from around the world and is a top race in its own right. Also with Dakar just around the corner I could have never predicted I would see the day when these international events are taking place in my country. For the future of the sport in this part of the world we cannot overestimate the effect that having these important dates on our continent will have on the next generation.
You go up against Frenchman, Cyril Despres, in Red Bull Los Andes and he’s a man you know very well through competition. Can he be beaten or is he simply a machine?
There are no unbeatable riders out there. It’s not just me who can win, but a number of great riders who will be in the race. The circuit and all its challenges are the same for everyone after all.
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