Javi Vega (Yamaha) returns to the Dakar. He does so after achieving an excellent podium finish in the last edition, in the Original by Motul category, with his bike decorated and protected by Uniracing. But that second place proved to be a double-edged sword, leaving him with no chance of scoring points. Nevertheless, the Madrid-born rider remains hopeful and is tackling his sixth Dakar, once again in a category that maintains some of the essence of the original Dakar.
How do you feel about this upcoming edition of the Dakar Rally and what are your expectations for this year?
My expectations have changed throughout the season, as after finishing second last year in the Original by Motul category, I wanted to go out and win it this year. But they've changed the rules, and now they don't allow you to score points if you've had a top-30 finish or a podium finish in the Original by Motul category in the last two years because they no longer consider you an amateur. The structure of a year of training has collapsed, and now I just have to survive this race, treat it as an adventure, not crash, and enjoy it.
Having achieved a podium finish in the last edition, how has that experience influenced your preparation for this Dakar?
The podium hasn't changed my life. In the end, the training sessions are the same. However, I trained to win the category, but it won't be possible this year. As I said, I'm going to enjoy the race like a two-week vacation.
The Original by Motul category is notable for its riders' self-sufficiency. How do you deal with the challenges of keeping your bike and equipment in top condition during the competition?
The essence of this category is that it doesn't allow outside help. Riders can help each other and share parts. What I ultimately carry on the track is my toolbox with the four basic wrenches. We've standardized all the bike's hardware so we can disassemble it as much as possible on the track with these four wrenches. In addition, the bike is protected and decorated by the Spanish company Uniracing. We were able to complete the entire Dakar with just one sticker kit, whereas with other decals we had to change parts where they were most scratched. And where we need more grip, on our knees and legs, we use the Dimple Grip product, which is more durable and grippy. Plus, Àlex (Editor's note: Àlex Guillén, Marketing Manager at Uniracing) gives you the confidence to carry out your creations and design them together. He has great ideas; I give him others. We share them, and in the end, you design the bike you'd like to ride."
Could you share some key aspects of your physical and mental preparation to face the harsh conditions of the Dakar on a motorcycle?
Physical and mental management is very important. I believe that almost 70% of it can be more mental than physical. The Dakar isn't an off-road specialty as technical as a trial might be. You have to cover a lot of miles and have your head on straight so that when you're going fast, you don't go beyond your capabilities, or if you get lost, you don't despair, relax, breathe, and find your way. Another aspect is that last year I was working with a sports psychologist who helped me relax. It's important to have that support, to work on that mental aspect. Yes, it's important in the Dakar. And on a physical level, you have to ride a lot of bikes and be strong.
Navigation is essential in the Dakar. How do you prepare for the complexities of reading road books and navigating?
Navigation is very important because we validate waypoints. If you miss one, the minimum penalty is 15 minutes, which can put you out of the race from day one. Navigation must be very important. Yes, it's a race with a lot of people and many tracks, but there may come a time when the tracks disappear, and you have to keep your navigation up to date to keep pace and not get lost. To train, we do various races around the Iberian Peninsula and go to Morocco once a year, either to run a race or to train in the dunes. It's true that in Europe, one type of navigation is followed, and in Morocco, another, more about following a course.
What advice would you give to a driver who would like to race in Original?
Now they're no longer allowing you to compete in Original right away; you must have competed in the Dakar with a team before, and the following year they'll allow you to. It's dangerous to compete again without knowing the race, and it's a bit of a challenge for the organizers because they'd be constantly rescuing, and that's how they hedge their bets.
What I've learned from Sara is time management, it's basic; you can't waste time on anything.
Is there any Dakar anecdote you'd like to share with us?
There are adventures, anecdotes, and mini-heart attacks every day. I think that's what hooks you; every day is an adventure, and you never know what the day will bring, whether you'll have to help someone on the track, whether you'll get lost... The anecdote that made the Dakar so special for me is my wife Sara (editor's note: Sara García also races in the Dakar on motorcycles) proposing to me on the podium at the finish in 2020, and the four years we've raced together. Being able to share it with your travel partner is priceless.
After competing in several editions, how do you think the Dakar has evolved, and what do you think are the biggest changes since your first participation?
My first Dakar was in South America. They want to go back to the roots, and I think it's impossible. In the end, safety comes first these days, and unfortunately, money rules. To begin with, we're racing in a country that pays to host this race and won't let it leave its borders. It used to be a straight race from Paris to Dakar. It's also evolving into a motocross and speed race rather than an endurance race. For safety reasons, organizing this way is easier. If a top rider starts early and is in the biovac at 12:00, it's more controllable. But it's a shame because they try to capture the essence of the African Dakar, but it's not possible. I try to participate in Original by Motul because it's one of the few remaining vestiges of the real Dakar.