Faggotter ready for 2018 Dakar

Australia’s Rodney Faggotter is ready for a renewed assault at the 2018 Dakar Rally, as part of a four-rider Yamaha factory team entered for the marathon event.

Faggotter is part of a squad that includes Adrien van Beveren (best finish 4th in 2017), Franco Caimi (8th on debut in 2017) and Xavier de Soultrait (best finish 13th in 2015). All four will be on WR450F Rally bikes prepared by the Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team. The bikes will carry ‘Tenere 700 World Raid’ livery, acknowledging the adventure bike prototype that was unveiled at the 2017 EICMA show and previewing a special around-the-world tour (including Australia) that will be done on the pre-production Tenere 700 this year.

A last year’s Dakar, Faggotter retired on stage 4, but was inside the top 15 when his Yamaha expired with a technical problem. In two previous Dakar attempts, the 41-year-old Queenslander’s best finish was 14th overall in 2013, but he’s confident of doing better at this year’s 8,276km marathon.

"Following my wrist injury at the Baja Inka, I gave my body some time to properly recover,” Faggotter said, referring to the September Dakar Challenge event that his team mate van Beveren finished in second overall.

“I've been focusing all my efforts into my training and preparation for South America. I'm expecting the first week to be really tough physically, and in terms of navigation. Navigation will be paramount throughout the event, I believe.

“I want to have a good clean run and do my race. If it all goes well, I am confident of a top 10 overall result and I know I could even do battle for the top five. I want to be there for my teammates when and if they need me and also make sure that I do my own race."