Three-time Dakar Rally champion Cyril Despres is preparing yet another assault on South America. After already conquering Argentina, Colombia and Peru this year, and after finishing second in the Red Bull Los Andes event, the Frenchman is back on his bike ahead of the Rally dos Sertões in Brazil. We asked Cyril about his conquistador campaign on the continent of South America…
So Cyril, a few days back home before South America comes calling once again?
It’s true, things are super hectic for me at the moment but to be honest with you that’s the way I like it. I’m just back from racing in Colombia at Red Bull Los Andes and I’m also competing in the Australasian Safari in September. Despite all this, when the call came to race in Brazil at the Rally dos Sertões it didn’t take me long to decide I was going.
Sounds like you were keen to get away, we hope everything is okay with at home?
Sure it is, I’ve had four days at home between Colombia and going to Brazil. Two days were spent on the beach in Spain with my wife and baby daughter. We’ve also got a couple of days together at home in Andorra before I fly out. I will be in Brazil for my little girl’s first birthday which is a shame but at that age I’m not sure she is too bothered if her daddy is there or not. Plus I get the chance to pick her up a nice present in Brazil.
The Rally dos Sertões is a major event on the Enduro calendar and we expect you’ll be out to repeat your 2006 victory at the race?
This race is a big deal and KTM are sending out a full support crew to help me achieve the best possible finish. When you know that the next Dakar Rally will once again be in South America it’s important to get over here as much as we can. We have spent a lot of time discussing which adjustments we can make to my bike ahead of the Dakar and this race will give us the chance to test some of those modifications.
Alfredo Escobar/Red Bull Content Pool
Could we say that the final result is not only way to judge your success in Brazil, a strong focus on preparation for the Dakar also seems to be a priority?
Make no mistake, I’m going out there to win this race. This year I have had too many second place finishes; the Dakar, Los Andes in Colombia and the Sardegna Rally. I need my fix of winning and the trip to Brazil is a chance to get back on a roll ahead of next year’s Dakar. I think the atmosphere of the race in Brazil will help me, music is always playing and the people come out to party. I want to be able to celebrate with that crowd!
Your last two trips to South America have seen you going back to basics and getting your hands dirty. At Red Bull Los Andes in Colombia and Ruta 40 in Argentina you didn’t have your usual support team behind you, how did you cope?
To be honest with you it still feels like a luxury to me to have other people working on my bike. Of course during a long race like the Dakar or the Rally dos Sertões it’s essential to have help cleaning the bike, making repairs, loading the truck and other things. However, when I have the time I love doing all these things myself. You need to know your team well enough to trust them with your machine and this trust takes time to build up. It’s those little details such as the grip, the position of the handlebars, the softness of the springs that needs to be just right. Going freestyle in some races and working on the bike myself helps me remember how I first got started in the sport. In Colombia the truck that I used to transport my bike around in was normally used for carrying bananas from the farm into town. These little details only happen when you’re competing in a do-it-yourself race.
So you’ve already won the Dakar in Argentina, you’ve conquered Colombia, you’re on the verge of tackling Brazil once again and preparing to throttle through Peru in 2012. What do you make of next year’s Dakar route?
It’s really exciting to race the Dakar in a new country so I’ve been looking forward to the next edition ever since I heard it was going to finish in Peru. I actually met some guys from KTM Peru in Argentina after the last Dakar and over a few beers they invited me to come and see the country. I finally got out there this July and went for a ride with about 70 people including four Peruvian guys who will ride KTM bikes in the next Dakar. We went up and down and up and down these mountains and it was one of the most beautiful rides I can remember. When the Dakar comes to Peru in 2012 we will have the sea on our left, mountains on our right and dunes in the middle, perfect conditions. The excitement for the race in Peru is equal to the great reactions we get in Chile and Argentina. Also, the pisco sour that they drink is a great way to celebrate winning!
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