They did it

Jean-Philippe FORAY - Clive Dredge - Rob Geelen - Jaco Duijst

Jean-Philippe FORAY – France – KTM 400EXC

 « My first Heroes Legend rally»
Go to Dakar, was an old dream but so far the rally offers didn’t match with my wishes. Too expensive or too much raid or touristy trip.
My experiences were a participation in the “Raid de l’amitié” in Morocco and a raid in Lybia.
I liked the original concept of this rally mixing competition, regularity, speed and endurance. When they opened the race to any type of motorbikes and also to the enduro motorbikes i took the decision to go.
 

Then I had to find the budget and to train. I had already the motorbike and a lot of motivation. In  2009: I was finally ready and on October 22, i am at the prologue in Alès to realize my dream !

My motorbike, a KTM 400 EXC from 2002 with 10000km. I equipped it with a 23 litres tank, a road book reader, a bracket for the GPS and a Terratrip/Ico. I choose for a GS set up softer than the racing one and a longer transmission. I had a kit with spare parts but except oil changes and filters nothing needed. I just had a small problem with the spring of my speed selector but I repaired it and been able to finish the rally.

During 13 days, i enjoyed an unforgettable experience, a lot of adventures and hell, marvellous landscapes and the cherry on the cake: the victory in the Open category arriving at the famous Pink Lake in Dakar !
I would advice this rally to any pilot who wants to ride in Africa, for reasonable budget, with a friendly atmosphere, with an experienced organisation team and, the most important, with a very good level of safety for participants.

Jean Philippe

Winner of Heroes Legend 2009, Open Motorbike category

Clive Dredge – UK – KTM

« My Heroes Legend»
Like most motorcyclists, I have always been fascinated by “The Dak” that famous race that started in Paris and ended at Lac Rose in Dakar and like most bikers I had this dream of taking part one day. Unfortunately by the time my kids had grown up I’d almost grown too old and “The Dak” had changed beyond recognition, it had become an expensive corporate monster. You needed a huge budget to start and there was less than half chance of finishing.
Strangely this didn’t put my wife off from entering in 2003! But Patsy (Quick) had just won the Women’s Enduro Championship, had the offer of some help and being female helped in raising the extra cash.
So finally I got to do “The Dak” but as a mechanic for my wife! After four years of spannering for Patsy I used my experience to help other riders who were taking part in a new Rally with the strange name “Heroes Legend”. Both races went to Dakar but what a difference, Heroes Legend cost a fraction of the other race, they hoped that you would finish and the whole atmosphere at the end of each day at the camp (bivouac) was great.
They cared, safety was very important and the sight of the helicopter and medical staff was always reassuring.
So this year at the young age of 66 I retired from being a mechanic and decided to ride it for myself.

Clive

Team Desert Rose Racing , Ktm N°12, Heroes Legend 2009

Rob Geelen – NL - Classic Category – Honda Africa Twin

After preparing for a year and a half it was finally time. The Heroes Legend would start. An overwhelming experience riding the classic routes from Paris to Dakar. Not as a tourist, but in an actual rally format with the advantage that you’re not out of the race should you have some problems. Just great to experience. The atmosphere and fraternization, the views, the organization, it all comes together in more than two weeks of participation. The hardships during the difficult stages, the feeling when you make it to the finish in the end, but also the attendance of the organization. An adventure that every offroad loving biker should experience.  And after the rally there’s not only an enormous sense of satisfaction, but also a big number of new friends.’’

Rob
Winner of the Classic category – Heroes Legend 2009 

Jaco Duijst – NL - Bivouac – Bivouac category - Heroes Legend 2009

The Paris-Dakar always appealed to me as a great challenge. Three weeks every year I watch everything about the rally on television. One of the problems to be able to do the Dakar is that
you need experience and enough financial means.
In 2008 I started looking on the internet for a nice challenge, and I found Heroes Legend. I loved it right away and subscribed for the Bivouac-Bivouac category.
From that moment you’re part of a well oiled machine, with seminars where you get answers to all your questions.
I trained a lot, because my BMW R1200GSA with 285 kilo is not the lightest bike to ride on gravel and sandy roads.  Afterwards my experience with a motocross bike was a plus.
The rally was one big adventure, from the start in Paris to the finish in Dakar. A lot of tarmac, gravel, sand, some rivercrossings, it was an experience every day.
And the evenings in the bivouac with the guys were just great. Thank to this rally I made some new friends for life. (thanks Pieter, Frederick, DJ and Laurens !)

To ride the Bivouac-Bivouac you do need to be independent. The whole day your own with your friends in a strange country,  the people of the organization are working on the rally.
You have to find your own way, and the organization gives you this freedom, but in case of a problem you can always contact them and depend on them, which gives a familiar feeling.
It was one one my nicest motorbike adventures so far, and I’m sure I ‘ll be back in Heroes Legend on a rallybike.

Jaco