Intercontinental Rally 2020
I never use Facebook, but the enduro club has a group on there where they post updates and pictures, so i signed up. On signing up to the Enduro group, Facebook suggested i might like the RalllyMoto group, so i joined that too. I didnt realise you could actually get interesting info on Facebook, i thought it was all 'look how amazing my kid/car/life is' type posts.
The next day i see this post by a chap called Tom into RallyMoto.
'Is anyone doing or interested in doing the Intercontinental Rally 2020?. Have space for a further 2 bikes and kit in a vehicle that will be going from UK down to startline, driving alongside the race as informal assistance - carrying kit etc to bivouac each night, being at fuel points - and then ferrying stuff back from Dakar to the UK at end. Costs will be split and est at around £1200 each all in. There are also non-race options too'
I'd never heard of the Intercontinental Rally, but a quick look at their site explained;
Intercontinental Rally is an annual off-road competition and adventure rally for motor enthusiasts who want to participate in a challenging and well-organized, trans-African rally. The route passes through some of the most spectacular landscapes in Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal evoking a timeless sense of adventure and exploration. From the endless dunes of the Sahara to the desolate expanses of coastal deserts, the rocky trails of the Atlas, and the low lying savanna, each day brings new surprises and unexpected challenges
Like offering Crack to a junkie, i could not resist and contacted Tom. After an incredibly non productive morning at work chatting with him and daydreaming about the possibilities, he suggested i contact the driver / manager and he put us in touch. I was soo excited, i felt like i was one step closer to realising a childhood dream. I was actually pursuing the possibility of joining a Paris - Dakar Rally, was this really happening??
The 'Manager' Barrie, or 'Barrier' from ADVRider, a really enthusiastic and experienced chap is putting a team together. He is offering his services in an advisory and logistics support role to a few lucky riders, kind of like a Malle Moto (from Dakar) support / team advisor. I didn't need to know anymore, i was willing to pitch in and do whatever it takes, i wanted in. Concluding what had been an amazing turn of events, Barrie said yes! So i signed up and im doing the full 6000KM Rally in January 2020!!
The Team is called RaidAssist and my teammates are;
- Barrie, from Wales. Support, Logistics, Advisor, Captain.
- Tom, from London, who'll be riding an Enduro bike in the Race Class
- Maxime, from Angers in France, who'll be riding an Africa Twin in the Race Class
- Andy, from UK, who will also be riding an Africa Twin, in the Adventure Class
- Me on the KTM 500 in the Race Class
The route traverses 5 countries, but the race start in Morocco and covers 3.
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