Lorenzo Santolino (Guijuelo, Salamanca) and Javier Vega (Leganés, Madrid), pilots of Dakar of motorcycling in the ‘Scratch’ category, will compete Saudi Arabiaof January 5 to 19in one of the most difficult editions of the category according to the organizers, where, in addition to facing long and tiring days of racing, they have to complete a stage of 48 hours without any kind of help.
“In the marathon stage we already have a few things, but in this one there will be less. Making several camps, logistically it is very difficult to install things in the desert. They told us that we will have a tent. , a ration of “Military-type food, no toilet, just enough to get through the night. It will be difficult in that sense.”Santolino admitted in an interview with Agencia EFE.
The man from Salamanca, with a Sherco prototype motorcycle, was sixth in 2021, eleventh in 2022 and returned to the Top-10 in the 2023 Dakar with ninth last position. This year he marked his goal in the Top-5.
For Javier Vega it will be a big challenge. After being second in the ‘Original’ category last season, they raised their level and now they must compete in the ‘Scratch’ category, but in the technical conditions of the Original and without a score in that category.
His real concern is not the 48 hours, but the motorcycle arriving on time: “We have a jump of about 800 kilometers to go to the city where we will rest. They will move us, but I am worried about the time if where the cars will come. motorcycles that day,” he noted.
In an interview with EFE, Lorenzo Santolino and Javier Vega, drivers supported by Pont Grup, review the Dakar 2024 and its objectives.
What do you expect from this Dakar 2024?
(Lorenzo) I have a feeling that it will be a complicated Dakar. They will add more kilometers per day, added to all the elements of previous editions and a 48-hour time trial entitled ‘two days in the Empty Quarter’, with many hours of motorcycling and navigation .
(Javier) I think they have changed the route a bit compared to last year, because this year we will start in the dunes and then we will end in the rocks. We must be careful. The pilots will go into the second week more tired and, when we finish on the rocks, there were already some accidents last year. If you drop your motorcycle, it will suffer more from rocks.
A 48 hour day seems like an ambush…
(Lorenzo) In the marathon we already have a few things, but in this one there will be less. Having made camps, logistically it is very complicated to install things in the desert. They told us we would have a tent, a military-type food ration, no toilet or anything, just enough to spend the night. It will be difficult in that sense. We will see how they plan the stage in the Empty Quarter, because there are places with a lot of sand, depending on how they plot the race it will be more complicated.
(Javier): There are 8 camps and we will go out and until we arrive. The top drivers will advance a bit and more ‘amateurs’ will stick to the other. We’re going to do two days in one, as if it’s a marathon stage, no mechanics and nothing. And inside the ‘Empty quarter’, with the problem of nothing.
Those two days, are they the thermometer of the level your Sherco has reached? Are you concerned?
(Lorenzo) This is a motorcycle that is several years old, but it is true that it is not used by other brands. We are a factory team, but we don’t have the budget of other teams. I don’t know if it will be the main stage or not, but what marks this race is that each day adds up and you cover many kilometers. That accumulation is what happens later. The bikes will suffer a lot there, but we have done a lot of testing this year and we are ready.
(Javier) This 48-hour period will definitely be another one for me, where I won’t have mechanical assistance. You put a filter in your jacket and get ready to do something, even if you don’t have a big toolbox. I’m not too worried about those two days, but about the next day, the rest day.
We have a jump of about 800 kilometers to get to the city where we will rest. They will move us, but I am worried about the time when the motorcycles will arrive that day. I always take the opportunity to disassemble the whole bike, clean it and rebuild it a little from scratch. It’s not the same when you already have a motorcycle than if the organization has to deliver it. I was a little panicked that 5-6 in the afternoon was coming. This is another point where the Dakar eats up your night and, the more time you accumulate, the more tired you are.
What are the main points to aim for a good classification?
(Lorenzo) For me the key has always been to have good risk management. Have a high speed to not get away from the leaders, but without taking too many risks that cause the bike to break or cause you to fall. Finding balance is my key and this is what I have tried to achieve. We know we don’t have the speed to fight to win, but we have other weapons like regularity and perseverance to take advantage of an opportunity.
It would be nice to be in the final top 5. We have been rolling in these positions for the past few years. Roll up to the ninth stage in the ‘top 5’ and, in the end, due to the circumstances, it was never possible to achieve. We are close. It will also depend on the terrain, the important thing is that the position is good.
(Javier) I am in the Original category without help. Last year I made the podium second and they changed the regulations and wouldn’t let me compete in this category, because they thought my level was higher and less ‘amateur’. Now I’m going into the ‘Scratch’ category with the other drivers… I’m still going with the original with conditions, but no scoring in that category. I want to be in the top 30 in the ‘Scratch’ level.
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
