Total fools! Motorcyclists who ride the Dakar on their own<

They drive to reach the destination of each stage. They drive with the vision that no one will help them. He knows that not even half of them will reach the finish line of the Dakar. Nevertheless, they all agree: This is the real Dakar racing, this is the spirit of the original competition!

The other competitors look up to them with admiration. With accompanying vehicles full of spare parts, with experienced mechanics and with the appropriate background, they treat the handful of crazy people on motorcycles and quads with respect. "They are magicians in the best sense of the word," says Martin Prokop. "I feel the spirit of the original Dakar," adds Aleš Loprais.

In the first Dakar Rally on the territory of Saudi Arabia, three Czechs will start in the Malle Moto category. After the fall of Roman Krejčí in the sixth stage, only Petr Vlček and Jan Veselý remain. Krejčí held around the fortieth place in the absolute ranking and third in the category, but with an injured shoulder he can no longer continue. He is not alone. Of the thirty-five riders, ten are already missing halfway through the Dakar...

Riders in the Malle Moto category (or Dakar Original or Original by Motul) have their own designated area in the bivouac where they sleep and repair their motorcycles. No one else is allowed to touch their machines and they are not allowed to accept any help. They are supervised by the commissioners, they are not allowed to leave the premises without their permission, with the exception of the toilet or food.

They do routine service and major repairs themselves, no technical anti-talent has a place here.

Some choose a really cruising pace, but there are also those who really pull in the style of a wreath or a somersault. "I drive seventy, eighty percent, I mainly want to finish," says Jan Veselý, who is riding the Dakar for the tenth time, but the Dakar Original for the third time. "I'm just trying not to fall over. I could go faster, but that just increases the risk. I don't care if I finish 20th or 60th. I mainly want to finish. And the finish line will mainly be those who focus on the thrill, not on the best possible position on the leaderboard."

Petr Vlček also speaks in a similar way, who says that the first stony stages actually suited him quite well and that he is curious about how he handles the sand. "The main thing is not to get injured unnecessarily and not get lost."

The organizer takes all their things on a truck and they always get them at the finish line of the stage. In their zone, they have a work bench, a compressor and the necessary tools at their disposal, but they may not take spare parts outside or bring them inside. The only exception is the wheels, which can be changed by specialists in a tire service. It is in every bivouac and is also available to other competitors. In addition to the 80-liter box with spare parts and the 90-liter bag for clothes, they can also have a small rucksack, a mat, a tent, hygiene items, a raincoat and a motorcycle lift.

“I feel the same way every day. I arrive, change clothes, set up the tent, inflate the mat and go to work on the motorbike," says Jan Veselý. After each stage, he changes filters and oils, or repairs what he destroyed. His tires will last for two days, in the sand maybe even three or four. Only when he is done, he goes to dinner, washes and goes to bed.

"Leverages, screws... Fortunately, these are usually only small things. Today, when it's a day off, I'm doing a big service. But it's not a general as one might think, it's pointless because I don't have enough parts for it.'

Although the Malle moto class is considered to be the toughest Dakar racing, the number of participants in it is increasing year by year. "For me, it's the purest form of racing. Riding with full support in a large team puts a lot more pressure on a person," Honza Veselý concludes our short conversation, because he has no more time for me. It was a day off, but he still needed to make shock absorbers...