A nice writeup from the current Dakar Rally coverage form RDC
http://www.race-dezert.com/home/meet-superheros-dakar-119564.html
If you watch the daily Dakar coverage and think that racing 14 days in a row is tough you are right but then there is yet another level to the Dakar, those that value pure human endurance and take it to yet another level. Meet the “Malles Motos” group. Males Motos loosely translates to Manly Motorcyclists or what we like to call it riders with balls of steel.
It is a class of riders that ride this race solo as in zero support. The rider is also the only person repairing and prepping the bikes in between stages. They setup their own campsite in the Bivouac daily and rely solely on themselves to complete the Dakar. They don’t race against any other riders and simply making it equals a victory.
We met with Escondido, CA resident Antonio Narino (#164). His is a native Colombian and represents both flags on his riding journey. Unfortunately he crashed out during stage 6 from Antofagasta to Iquique and had to call it quits for this years Dakar. Out of 20 Malles Motos starters there were only 9 still in the race at Iquique. One of them racing a quad even had to change his engine out after the first stage but is still running.
Antonio rides a Husky TE449 equipped with a 24 litre fuel tank. Just like any other rider he carries the basic spare parts and tools on his bike during the specials and other competitors may assist him during this specials if needed. Once he is in the bivouac all Malles Motos camp in a special area that is closely monitored by the A.S.O. .... see the rest and pic sin the article
