MRW Issue 41

AM: I was really happy with my first stage; the bike was handling
exactly how I wanted. Things just started clicking for me and I was
riding with so much confidence, especially in my navigation. By
the 50km mark I had caught the lead group and managed to open
the rest of the stage for around 200 km, the first time I’ve opened
a stage. I really surprised myself with my opening speed that day,
which gave me a lot of confidence going into the following stages.
ME: Stage 2 would be both triumphant and bittersweet at the same
time as you ended up winning the stage, but had to see Docherty airlifted
from the track after a gnarly get-off. You and Konrad Dabrowski
(DUUST Rally) had stopped to aid Docherty, which put you back
in the field. But due to FIM rules, you were credited with the time
spent – and you won the stage by 2:08 over Dabrowski, and took
the overall lead in the race. Talk about Stage 2, and, however you’d
like to put it (blessing, Karma, ‘good vibes’), the sportsmanship you
showed in stopping your race to assist a fallen rider.
It allows all of us
to compete at
such a high level
with a certain
level of security
and for sure that
helped me get my
head right and
carry on with the
stage and get my
first stage win.
AM: I couldn’t have put it in better words myself. It’s always tough
seeing a rider go down let alone one of my best friends. I’m glad I
could be there for my buddy and assist the medical team any way
that I could. It’s really important for us to help other riders in these
situations and I’m glad the rules allow us to be there for each other.
It’s one of the reasons I love racing rally; the sportsmanship and
camaraderie is really something special and I think it’s great to know
that your fellow competition is always there for you when you’re out in
the middle of the desert. It allows all of us to compete at such a high
level with a certain level of security and for sure that helped me get
my head right and carry on with the stage and get my first stage win.