Matthias Walkner and manager of the Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team Jordi Viladoms show us what's in their emergency kit bag as they gear up for the first Dakar Rally to take place in Saudi Arabia .
Under the seat of the rally raid bike, a special tool kit can be found. It's a must-have for when no mechanical assistance is allowed.
"You always hope you won't need to open this thing, because it is much like a Quechua tent – easy to open, almost impossible to close," jokes Matthias Walkner, the defending Dakar Rally champion.
"Over the years, the bikes have got better and the race has got shorter, but the memory of using metres of duct tape to fix the bike, the gears and sometimes yourself still lives on," adds Jordi Viladoms, former Dakar rider and Sports Manager of the Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team. "When leaving for Africa, our pockets were filled with tape, wire and nylon stockings to fix an impressive amount of possible issues."
Follow Matthias Walkner’s journey from injured rider to Dakar Rally champion in One Track Back below…
The KTM tool kit consists of instruments, parts and components to fix all kinds of issues and do some basic maintenance work on a rally bike.
"The content of this carbon box might easily save your race," says Matthias. "Every year, our technical boss Stefan, prepares mechanical training for us. We learn new mechanical tricks and refresh our knowledge."
When asked if during the Dakar, the tool kit could remain untouched, Mathias laughs: "No way, this happens... like never! You'll at least need to open it during the Marathon stage when we have to fix and prepare the bikes ourselves!"
And since help between the riders is allowed, the necessary question is, who is the best mechanic among the riders of the Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team?: "Mario Patrao, our water carrier, of course," says Mathias. "We call him Super Mario – that explains everything."
What's inside KTM's Dakar Rally tool kit?
The Marathon stage must-dos
"The most important thing to check is if the wheels are properly fixed," says Matthias. "It's also vital to use the screwdriver to let the air out of the fork. Then you have to change the air filter, clean the dirt, check the engine's oil level and the water in the radiator and that's mostly it.
"The main issues are dirt, which causes the parts to get disconnected, and basic maintenance work. So just keep the dirt out and stay connected.
"My main goal is to never open this box because it's so hard to fit all this stuff back into these small pockets!"