After winning his fifth Desert Challenge last week in the shifting sands of the desert around Abu Dhabi, 10-time Dakar Rally champ Marc Coma talks to us about victories and expectations...
You have just won your fifth Desert Challenge. What was it like being back on the bike and racing in the dunes?
“This is a good rally. It's a short one but it's really difficult because all the guys are in the dunes together - and the dunes are also very difficult. They are high dunes and the sand is soft and warm. These are really extreme conditions and this is my fifth victory here so it's special. I am very happy.”
"The first days are always difficult, but you soon find the rhythm."
How do you prepare for a short rally like this, especially when you’ve recently completed the much-longer Dakar?
“It's completely different, especially because now it’s two months after Dakar and our condition is not at its best. The first days are always difficult, but you soon find the rhythm - you begin to understand the dunes. In any case, the rally is only five days long and you have to be smart with the tactics because you can lose the race because of very small details.”
Do you feel additional pressure to perform after your Dakar victory?
“Yes, there is. It's very important that we’re going in the right direction and we have to continue like this. I am happy because after winning the Dakar and now winning again... well, that's good. We have to continue like that, but we must never forget there is only one way to get to this point and that's by working, working and working.
Gabriel Barbosa
Want more?
- Check out Marc's profile page
- Marc Coma's lucky numbers
- Visit our Motor Sports section
- Marc Coma: Acronysm
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