2022 Dakar Rally numbers are out for Women competing in Bike category. Such an awe inspiring list of Women racing 44th edition of The Dakar Rally starting from Ha’il on January 2nd and finishing at Jeddah on January 14th across the multitude of varying terrains in Saudi Arabia.
Super excited to see the following Women competing in 2022 Dakar Rally with Dutch rider Mirjam Pol competing in Bike category- #40 on front plate. Following absence from racing 2021 Dakar due to impact of COVID 19 pandemic on plans, Mirjam hails total of 8 Dakar’s completed with best ever finish of 41st position in 2020 Bike category Overall.
Known for strength of character, resilience in face of extreme adversity and a-whole-lot-of experience racing and dealing with unpredictable nature of competing in Dakar, Mirjam cuts historical records to shreds on what women can achieve in the world’s most grueling race.
Huge congratulations goes out to Spanish rider Sara Garcia #98 who will compete first time in 3 consecutive years racing Dakar in ‘Unassisted- Original by Motul’ class- with assistance. If past results give indication on what’s in store for all watching, Sara’s amazing result which was literally cut-in-half from 86th in 2020 to 44th in 2021, makes racing Dakar with mechanical support beyond prediction.
Holding historical record of first ever female to finish Dakar with no support, 2x in a row, highlights how far the Pont Grup Yamaha rider has come over course of 3 years. Stand-out facts of completing 12 Stages on unknown Saudi terrain, each night carrying out mechanical maintenance on her own bike, then setting up tent for only few hours sleep, did take it’s toll in 2020 Dakar. Such was the learning curve, that Sara re-grouped her strategy to make sure all she needed to sustain herself for 2021 Dakar start to finish was in place- posting best result of 44th Overall in Bike category.
Making debut entry in 2021 Dakar Rally, Audrey Rosset #100 continues determined effort to make gains on this year’s ranking of remarkable 59th position in Bike category Overall. An experienced and accomplished Enduro rider, Audrey made impressive upward trajectory of results finishing in Stage 1-12 order: 92nd, 88th, 85th, 83rd, 76th, 73rd, 69th, 69th, 61st, 61st, 60th and Final position 59th.
As Audrey states after completing Stage 8, racing Dakar for the first time was her toughest ever challenge: ‘I’m hanging in there for all the people who are supporting me and because I’ve made a big effort to be here. I’m not enjoying riding anymore or admiring the landscapes, it’s now all about pushing beyond the pain barrier- it’s purely a personal thing now’.
Really pleased to see South Africa’s debut entry in 2020 Dakar Rally Kirsten Landman #117 competing in 2022 Dakar. In remarkable shift from racing Dakar with full assistance, Kirsten will tackle huge challenge of competing 2022 Dakar Rally in traditionally known Malle Moto class- otherwise categorized as receiving ‘No assistance’.
If challenge of starting and finishing first ever Dakar Rally in 2020 posting 55th position Overall in Bike category wasn’t enough, Kirsten now embraces new challenge of racing Stages One through to 12 on her own. For Kirsten, meeting challenges head on has been part and parcel of her whole life. Taken from recent video release with main sponsor ASP, Kirsten states: ‘All my life I have been challenged, riding a bike is me- living- it is the fear that drives me to the sport. It is a challenge’.
‘In Malle Moto, you are out there on your own- you and your bike for 12 days- really pushing your limits- emotionally, physically and technically. I never in my wildest dreams expected to be here- racing 2022 Dakar Rally in Original by Motul class’.
Ranked as highly regarded Hard Enduro rider, finishing 2021 and 2020 Red Bull Romaniacs as first female ever in Gold Class, Sandra Gomez #128 is most welcome entry in 2022 Dakar Rally. Without any doubt, Sandra will deliver best possible debut appearance over course of 12 Stages which not only extends Sandra’s list of achievements from competing in World Trails GP, Hard Enduro World Championships and The Dakar Rally, but also sends strong message that her skill basket is on a par with any other Dakar rider on a bike.
Ultimately, line-up of Women in 2022 Dakar Rally in Bike category including Original by Motul class has to take female empowerment of racing the most grueling Rally in the world into new era whereby Women are being followed not just on the track, but also respected on how they make racing happen in age of COVID pandemic.
Header Photo: 2022 Dakar Rally Photo Credit: ASO.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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