THE dream of a lifetime, the hard work of two years and the determination of a fortnight all came together when Allan Roberts completed the Dakar Rally this month.
Roberts, from Turriff west of Sea Lake, entered the motorbike section of the iconic desert race for motorbikes, quad bikes trucks and cars.
Of the 180 competitors in his section only 78 finished, including Roberts who was the 39th rider to do so.
“It’s been a lifelong dream and even just to finish it is a great achievement,” he said.
“It was regarded as one of the toughest Dakar events there’s been for a long time.”
Roberts said the decision to enter the 2014 Dakar Rally had been made about two years ago.
“I’ve been dreaming of it forever and it was like ‘Bloody hell, I’ve got to start the ball rolling’,” he said.
“It’s a long journey just to get to the start line.”
Roberts said he spent about $120,000 over two years preparing for the 14-day race.
“But after getting that finishers medal it was all worthwhile in the end,” he said.
Following security fears in 2009, the event was moved to South America, where it has been held since.
Roberts said he flew to Argentine capital Buenos Aires prior to the January 5 start.
“I flew out just before new year. I flew into Buenos Aires and had a couple of days’ rest, then the show started with scrutineering and checking the bike and so on,” he said.
Now a resident of Adelaide, Roberts said growing up in the Mallee provided a good training ground for the event.
“I came home a few times ((for training)) basically to ride in the sand,” he said.
“It’s a good training ground and there’s no one around so you can do all the kilometres in the world.”
Roberts said he did a lot of cross-training as well.
“Besides riding when I could, which wasn’t as much ((as I would have liked)), I ran, ran and ran and spent time on the bicycle to get the body used to doing something. I tried to train five days a week,” he said.
“You can’t simulate a Dakar — that’s 800km in the saddle. It’s about trying to teach your body that you have done something today and you’re going to do something tomorrow.”
Roberts bough his specially-designed KTM 450RR dirt bike in France — for about $50,000AU.
He then had it shipped to Australia where he spent six months riding on it and had some work done to it before shipping it back to Europe.
“Included in the entry fee was all the shipping of vehicles to France. I went with a Dutch team and they provided the services of a mechanic at cost,” he said.
Roberts said he shipped his bike back to France about late August and they did some last minute work on it before shipping it to South America.
He said decisions about the future of the bike could be made on sentimental grounds.
“It’ll go back to Europe… It’s probably practical to sell it from there, but I want to bring it back to Australia and use it,” Roberts said.
To anyone dreaming of entering the race, Roberts said total commitment was the key.
“There’s a million things to get in your way and try and stop you. It requires a financial commitment. There’s always something, always more,” he said.
“You’ve just got to set your goals and go for it.”
Roberts said the help of the Dutch team was crucial, while the experience and work of his team-provided mechanic was invaluable.
“They were great at all the little things. I’d pull up and talk to the mechanic at night,” he said.
“The mechanic got me to the end. It was as much his effort as it was mine.”
While Roberts’ racing CV doesn’t include similar Australian events like the famous Finke Desert Race, the pursuit has taken him to places like the Middle East.
“In 2008 and 2011 I went to Dubai and competed in the UAE Desert Challenge,” he said.
“They were the first races I’d ever done and where the dream was cemented that I was ready to enter the Dakar which I’d dreamed of all my life.”
Roberts completed a motorbike trek around the world from 2006-2009.
A book chronicling the adventure — The Hard Way Home — will be available in March.
Roberts can be emailed at alroberts996@hotmail.com for more details.
