N° 119 -
- DE GROOT
- Richard
- NLD
- 07/07/1969
- 180 cm
- 80 kg
|
| MODEL |
MAKE |
| WR 400 |
YAMAHA |
 |
| |
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
|
| Scratch |
166
|
130
|
169
|
145
|
117
|
131
|
90
|
115
|
125
|
110
|
-
|
83
|
99
|
108
|
| Stage |
166
|
130
|
169
|
143
|
117
|
131
|
90
|
113
|
124
|
109
|
-
|
84
|
96
|
108
|
-
|
-
|
| Overall |
166
|
159
|
152
|
143
|
123
|
122
|
117
|
115
|
119
|
114
|
-
|
111
|
109
|
106
|
-
|
-
|
Richard De Groot : «There is nothing better in life than the motorcycle»
Richard de Groot has thick skin. For two weeks in January, this Dutch truck driver loves to put his steering wheel to one side for the handlebars of a Yamaha 450 and leave the highways for the wide open spaces of the desert. Richard is ready to suffer to take full advantage of this experience of pure pleasure. He managed to make his way to the Senegalese capital in 75th place overall on his first Dakar in 2005. He bit the bullet and rode with the pain from an injured knee and broken hand following a hard fall on the 12th stage between Kayes and Bamako. His second raid in 2007 was even more difficult. After injuring his hand on a crash on stage 4, he managed to hold on for a heroic arrival at Lake Rose. During these two rallies, Richard said he “discovered mental resources he didn’t know he had.”
This time, for his South American escapade, the Dutchman has added another challenge: finish without assistance. “I want to try something new. My only objective, of course, is to finish.” But not no matter the final result, Richard won’t be disappointed. “There is nothing better in life than the motorcycle. When I ride, I don’t think about anything else and it feels good.” Both physically and mentally solid, Richard is ready for the adventure. “If I go all the way, I will be the happiest man in the world.”
Dakar start photos on line: www.maindruphoto.com