N° 046 - TEAM LES BRETONS DU DESERT
- MAZET
- Jean claude
- FRA
- 13/02/1950
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Jean-Claude Mazet: "17 years later I was able to start again"
At 57 years of age, Jean-Claude Mazet is part of the Dakar veterans. His story in the world of off-road rallies isn’t that common: in 2007 he started the Dakar after a 17 year absence becoming a privileged witness of the rally’s evolution.
"In 1989, the bivouac was made of three trucks. We couldn’t enjoy the same comfort and the fine meals we have today. Our machines weren’t as reliable, the competitors weren’t as prepared. There were therefore fewer bikes at the finish".
Jean-Claude explains his period of "abstinence" by the weight of his professional obligations: "at least two months before the rally you can’t work correctly. You’re too focused on the event".
In 1989, for his first appearance, he made it to Dakar in 36th position. This bike instructor was rather pleased and relieved. "I was almost forced to retire, he remembers. I had friends doing their civil service in Tchad who came to see me at the bivouac to invite me to their place. Their clock was set on local time which wasn’t the case for the rally. I therefore arrived one hour late for the start. But I managed to catch up that deficit".
Jean-Claude just couldn’t resist to the call of the Dakar. Today he’s even considering the creation of a travel agency specialised in bike trips in Morocco. The link with Africa is just too strong.
