Brian Baragwanath enters Dakar 2015 with this win
The 26-year-old Brian Baragwanath, one of Team RhideSA's three quad riders, won the Dakar Challenge at the Botswana Motorsport Desert Race that was held over the weekend.
POLOKWANE – The 26-year-old Brian Baragwanath, one of Team RhideSA’s three quad riders, won the Dakar Challenge at the Botswana Motorsport Desert Race that was held over the weekend.
This result secures his entry in the quad category of the 2015 Dakar Rally in South America.
Baragwanath competed with his Yamaha Raptor 700 quad that is in the process of being developed for his possible participation in the 2015 Dakar Rally.
Quad competitors had to tackle the Botswana Motorsport Desert Race, behind the motorcycle riders and Baragwanath finished the first day in the second place overall.
Competitors had to take on a different 400km route on the second day.
Baragwanath experienced clutch problems early during the day and could only fix it after completing the first loop. He was then hindered by electrical problems and lost positions as well as time, but pushed on to eventually finished second in the quad category.
Berne Bester, who is an employee at BB Motorsport, won the quad category after two days’ racing and finished third overall, with Baragwanath fourth overall (motorcycles and quads).
“The route was pure sand and bush the whole way with deep ruts and whoops caused by the racing vehicles,” Baragwanath said.
“It was the toughest race I’ve done all year.” Baragwanath has already won all four rounds of the South African National Off-road Quad Championships this season, while he has also won the quad category and finished third overall at the six-day Namaqua African Rally held in the Western Cape.
“I have my heart set on going to the 2015 Dakar Rally, and winning my entry to this event not only helps us financially, but ensures I will be competing in this category where only 40 odd entries are being accepted each year,” Baragwanath said.
“We still have a long way to go to reach our goal regarding sponsorship, but we are positive that we will get the necessary funding.”
According to Xavier Gavory, who represents the Dakar Challenge competition on behalf of the organisers of the Dakar Rally, the Dakar Rally organisation is happy with Baragwanath winning the Dakar Challenge in Botswana.
“Brian is the kind of competitor we are looking for at the Dakar Challenge. He is young, talented, skilled and dedicated with a real passion for the Dakar Rally,” said Gavory.
Baragwanath is currently leading the South African National Off-road Quad Championships and is busy with preparations for the fifth and penultimate round of the season that will take place in the Free State on August 23.
