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SA Offroad and Enduro Champion, two-time Roof of Africa winner and overall badass international competitor, Darryl Curtis returned home last week in pretty high spirits following his 22nd overall finish (and 2nd in the amateur division) in the 2012 Dakar Rally. 15 gruelling days through South America (Argentina, Chile, Peru), the Dakar Rally is the toughest, most dangerous off-road endurance race in the world and 2012 was no exception to casualties. Curtis’ 22nd place finish is impressive in itself, but when you consider this is his very first Dakar Rally, well, you really have to hand it to the South African rider. Having touched down at O.R.Tambo to a warm welcome home by friends, family and sponsors – Darryl took some time out for a little Q & A about this year’s Dakar with LW Mag.
What was the Dakar like compared to The Roof, Erzburg and Romaniacs?
It was totally different in the way that it was so long, but day by day you can’t compare it to any day of an extreme race, we really are pushed to our limits, Dakar is long and tiring, but not in your face like Erzberg or Romaniacs.
What was your goal for Dakar?
My goal was to finish my first Dakar, learn and come home without any broken bones.
What caught you by surprise, something you didn’t expect?
The danger and high speed, I did expect it but not to that extent. It was really hard to get used to navigating at pace.
Which stage was the hardest and why?
Technically, the most difficult stage was on day 3 from San Rafael to San Juan because of all the rocky riverbeds they sent us up, it would have been perfect on my 300, but the Rally bike was a handful! The most dangerous stage was in the thick fesh fesh on day 12 between Arica and Arequipa.
Did you expect to do as well as you did?
I was happy with my finish, I was the second non pro, all the guys in front have many Dakars under their belt.
Did you ever get lost? And how hard was it to find you way again?
I never got badly lost, I used my instinct and latched onto faster riders with experience in the dunes, at the same time I tried to figure the navigation out.
What are the main differences between your Dakar bike and your normal enduro/off-road bikes?
The KTM 300 that I normally ride is a purpose built enduro bike, it is light and nimble, built for really technical riding. The KTM 450 Rally is a purpose built Dakar machine made for high speed and long distance, it carries 26 litres of more fuel than my 300, it weighs almost double and has a huge dashboard full of electronic navigation equipment right in front of you. It is really heavy to ride with full tanks.
What was the scariest part of the race?
Day 2 when a French rider hit a cow at full speed, his bike was on fire, the cow was dead and we thought he was too, he was unconscious and Daniel activated his Iritrack.
There are so many different climates to go through during the race – what was that like and how did you prepare for them?
Temperatures were mainly in the 30s and 40s, but dropped to zero over the Andies, I took all the warm clothing with I bought for the Extreme Race Hells Gate in Italy; it did the job. I also had a hot and cool enduro jacket.
What was your most memorable part of the Dakar?
Finishing my last special stage and riding into Lima, the last 100km were lined with waving and cheering people; we felt like rockstars.
Tell us about a situation that you thought you weren’t going to get out of?
Our bikes arrived at 9:00pm on the 31st Dec, the night before the race. When the ship was delayed, we thought it was all over. I couldn’t get out of the situation we were in.
What goes through your mind during the races and stages?
To focus the whole time on the road book and not miss the dangers, there’s no time to think about anything else.
How much of a mental game is the Dakar?
It is mentally tough, waking up early every morning and doing it all over again, I soon got into a routine and it became normal and kinda fun in a strange way.
Will you do it again? And what will your goals be if you do?
Yes, I’m going back in 2013 and aim for the top 15, the level is really high so I will be doing some navigation training in North Africa and riding my rally bike more when it gets home.
What would be your advice for anyone wanting to compete in the Dakar in the future?
Call me, ha-ha! I have learnt so much from the trip, I will change a lot for next year! Physical preparation and speed work is critical.
How did you celebrate your finish?
In true Darryl style with some burnouts, one handed rally bike doughnuts and a Red Bull party.
What are the ladies like in South America?
They knocked our socks off in Argentina (thank you YPF!!!) but once we crossed the Andes, they ran out of talent!
Did you do any tourist stuff whilst you were there before or after the race?
We were stressing about the bikes not arriving to enjoy anything before the race, but once in Lima all the local South Africans took us out and showed us the town.
Lastly, what are your plans for the rest of year in terms of racing etc?
I will be racing the 6 national Enduros as well as Erzberg, Romaniacs, the Roof and the Red Bull Sea to Sky in Turkey. I may also try another rally like Tunisia or Sardinia.
A big thanks to Broadlink and KTM, all my sponsors for making Dakar possible and the huge support from South Africa, you guys rock!!!
