MADRID, 27 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish rider Carlos Checa, Superbike World Champion and former World Motorcycle Championship rider, will face the challenge of competing in next year’s Dakar Rally in the car category and at the wheel of the ‘Buggy Optimus’ of the French team MD Rallye Sport.
The 49-year-old Catalan has opted for the structure owned by Antoine Morel, who devoted himself to the preparation of ‘quads’, motorcycles and cars after winning the considered toughest ‘raid’ in the world in the category of ‘quads’ in 2005 and arriving in 2011 to build their own four-wheel prototype.
The MD Rallye Sport has taken part in 18 editions of the Dakar and has a ninth place as its best result, while in 2009 it was proclaimed World Champion of ‘raids’ in the constructors’ section and the two-wheel-drive category, and adds seven absolute wins in the specialty.
“The truth is that I have wanted to participate in the Dakar for a long time and finally, this year all the circumstances have been given for me to carry out this important challenge. Since I left active competition as an SBK rider, I have not stopped following running all kinds of tests on two and four wheels and the Dakar is the maximum expression of motor racing from the point of view of adventure and challenge, “warned Carlos Checa in statements provided by his communication department.
The Spanish knows that “this is a challenge with capital letters.” “I hope to have a great experience, but to do so by competing and fighting for the best possible results. As the cliché would say, I am not going to the Dakar to go for walks or to go sightseeing, but to compete with a team of recognized prestige in the world of sports. ‘ raids’ and an experienced co-driver, “he added.
Regarding the structure in which it will compete, the one from Sant Fruitós de Bages believes that it will provide “a very competitive material developed and manufactured by themselves” and that “they are passionate romantics of the motor world and have extraordinary professionalism and rigor”, something that fits into what Checa was looking for to debut in this rally that will be held again in Saudi Arabia from January 1 to 14.
“At this point in my life I still want to compete and I do it often in different disciplines, but always prioritizing feeling comfortable and, above all, sharing values and approaches with those who accompany me in each new challenge. It is something more important than running for running. In this sense, Morel and MD Rallye Sport fit perfectly with my way of seeing racing and life, “he added.
Next to the Catalan will be as co-driver Ferrán Marco, from Barcelona, 46 years old and an expert navigator in the world of ‘raids’ thanks to a long professional career as he has participated in 15 editions of the Dakar and in other’ raids. Both have already premiered as a tandem in the
the last edition of Baja Spain and they are currently training in Morocco.
“Ferrán is an exceptional guy, a great navigator and a person who
he puts a lot of rigor and professionalism into everything he does. Since I presented him with the project, his involvement in it has been maximum and he has shown me his great capacity for work and his extraordinary knowledge of the world of ‘raids’, navigation and automotive technology, “celebrated Checa.
The Spanish rider also highlights from his partner “his temperance and his great ability to quickly and effectively analyze any type of situation”. “In all the training sessions we have done so far we have understood each other perfectly and we have built together great complicity and coordination that will be very important when we find ourselves competing in the Dakar,” he said.