Rally Raid
Dakar 2014 winner, Marc Coma, talks about his most suffered and worked victory in his career.
Three years of drought. The absence from 2013 due to an injury... The slow recovery... Honda and Yamaha official teams pushing hard... The path to his finally win in 2014 Dakar has not been a bed of roses for Marc Coma. "When I finally could ride the bike again it was like I've never been a professional rider. These season was about beginning to race from zero", said the Spaniard just before the start of the desert classic on January 5th.
The toughest Dakar in my life
"The first week of the race it was like hell. I really agreed with those who say it has been the hardest. At least this 2014 Dakar has been the toughest in my life, at least among all I raced in the last years. I never found any Dakar easy, but for the bikers this year has been crazy".
Marc Coma talks about the high temperatures, the hard terrain, the length of the stages, but he is talking about himself as well: "There were moments when I really thought I couldn't stand. Especially the days with the flu, I barely could speak after each stage. I couldn't ride putting the five senses in the trail, I couldn't focus and concentrate properly, as the rally requires, so I was afraid of making mistakes and having an accident".
That's why Marc Coma's victory this year is so sweet: "I'm very happy. Last year I missed the race because a long injury. And after a hard working season I could come back and fight as a top level rider. So arriving here and fighting for the victory has been really amazing for me".
Team work
Rally-raid is a discipline where the rider can feel alone most of the time... The bike, the dunes, the route, the roadbook... But Marc Coma's victory, in his words, "is a reward for all the people who worked with me, shoulder to shoulder. I'm very happy with the performance of my bike. All the team did a terrific job these last months getting in shape for the race and here we are".
Time to celebrate
The first time in Dakar for Marc Coma was 2002, but the Spaniard took his first win in 2006, starting the tight fight with his eternal rival Cyril Despres. Next time on top was in 2009 (in 2007 he was leading the race but crashed out 3 stages before the end). After wining in 2011 and then finishing as runner-up in 2012, he missed last year Dakar: "Since 2011 I had been unable to win, so right now is time to celebrate and enjoy".
