N° 021 - TEAM RALLY RAID UK
- CLASSEN
- Tom
- ZAF
- 12/12/1964
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Tom Classen: “I set the path for other South-Africans”
A Dakar of suffering, a Dakar of pleasure. During his first two appearances in 2006 and 2007, South African Tom Classen managed to make it to the Lac Rose, but in totally different conditions. 77th overall for his Dakar baptism, a surprising 18th for his confirmation, this plumber now knows that with this race “you have to expect everything”. Most of all, Tom Classen’s pride comes from the fact that he made many other South Africans follow in his footsteps despite the fear and the worries that one can live during this legendary rally. “Doing the Dakar is very difficult, mostly in terms of budget. But if you have the will, if you have the passion, it can become possible. It’s the example I think I’ve set”.
This 1m94 and 100 kilos colossus however did have to wait for around twenty years before managing to fulfil his dream. Today the South-African just enjoys: “All the bikers dream of the Dakar. It’s their personal Everest, the toughest race, their biggest exploit, he explains. I love riding bikes and the biggest motivation that one finds on the Dakar is the navigation. The golden rule isn’t to go fast but to avoid making mistakes. You learn during the race not to only watch your road book and never to look at the tracks left by the other competitors. I really improved a lot”. Classen is certainly a man sure of what he can do, “very well prepared physically, also concerned by nutrition and sleep during the race” and who will start in Lisbon with the intention of showing that his performance last year wasn’t due to luck.
