N° 089 - TEAM OPEL RACING TEAM
- MAURICE
- Laurent
- FRA
- 22/06/1961
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Laurent Maurice: “The first time, you do everything upside down”
Laurent Maurice has a strong laughter and the looks of a "Burgundy rugby player", as he likes to describe himself. He came to the Dakar almost by chance. He started enduro biking rather late in his life, in 1993 and then switched to trial. His brother from Lille who each year does the Enduro du Touquet, registered him on the 2005 Tunisia rally. There, Laurent lived a real training session for the Dakar before witnessing the big adventure a few months later.
The man likes living life at its fullest. In 2006 his preparation was mainly based on "Gigondas wine and foie gras". Not very advisable. "The first week, I was totally wrecked". Due mainly to a big fall in Morocco where he broke a rib and dislocated a shoulder. But he carried on, all the way to the finish. "I understood that you had to be careful. The Dakar is a bit like the hair and the turtle tale. You have to ride slowly, remain focused, manage your race and take good care of yourself".
Laurent Maurice crossed the finish line in 87th position. The rugby player will now take on his second Dakar in wiser fashion. He runs every week, works on his wrists and does “cardio training". "My second Dakar will certainly be better than the first one. When you’ve never taken part, you do everything upside down".
