Amateur biker rides to inspire as he takes on one of the toughest motorsport races
BUCCLEUCH – Amateur biker to attend the toughest motorcycle endurance race in the world.
Amateur biker, Robert Gibbon partnered with the DR Khosi Ngema Foundation (DRKN) to raise funds for the foundation and to fulfil his dream of taking on one of the biggest motorcycle endurance races in the world – The Dakar Rally.
In December 2017, Gibbon, with little experience and zero fitness, took the first step to fulfil this dream. He bought an old KTM 690 motorcycle and set off to Namaqua to see if he could ride on sand. When he returned in January last year and started to plan his ‘impossible’ dream of completing the Dakar.
In just two years he had achieved a lot including coming 1st in his class, Adventure 600cc and up, in every race he competed in and won the series championship for Farm Jam. He came in 3rd at the Kalahari Rally, Malle Moto class and secured a podium position despite some serious mechanical issues.
“I take part in almost all the big social and adventure rides in the calendar,” said Gibbon.
Unfortunately, the Dakar is an expensive race held in South America. It is organised by the Amuary Sport Organisation (ASO). The terrain that the competitors traverse is much tougher than that used in conventional rallying. The vehicles used are designed specifically for off-road rather than modified on-road vehicles. For this reason, Gibbon decided to do a bike giveaway as a fundraiser and the proceeds will be donated to the DRKN Foundation, “It’s a big gamble as the cost of the bike is very high so I need to sell a lot of tickets to cover costs,” he said.
Gibbon chose the DRKN Foundation because he admired their Nelson Mandela Centenary 100k schoolbags initiative. “It fits perfectly with my mission statement for Amateur 2 Dakar
“I want to inspire people no matter their background and current situation, that if a normal guy with no racing background can enter and finish the toughest motorsport race in the world, then anything is possible.”
He documents his journey to Dakar 2020 on his Facebook page and YouTube channel
Details: robert@duma.co.za; 010 500 1015; 074 644 2266.
Also check out:
https://www.citizen.co.za/sandton-chronicle/170918/proudly-south-african-speed/
