Last year, the youngster, who was only 19 years old, was about to make his debut on the TV show. dakar As the youngest driver ever to drive for an official team, he couldn’t hide his nervousness. What I was aiming for was Doctor of Medicine It was difficult to sleep the night before the date, and she couldn’t help but smile nervously before the gala premiere. One year later, after leaving his mark on history, dakar 2025 Finished in 8th place, always ranked high due to his amazing speed, and achieved his second victory at the age of 20 by winning the Silver Category (Rally2). dakar While we have the desire to achieve great results like last year, we are determined that it is not time to aim for victory yet and have the spirit to keep learning.

In that sense, Gariga He was upbeat about how it felt on the bike during Thursday’s pre-shakedown test, the world’s toughest race. Yanbu.

“To be honest, I’m a little nostalgic for the tension of last year, and that’s part of it, but it’s a little different. The prologue stage starts this Saturday, and it’s already begun. The days were a little long with the verification and waiting time, so I’m looking forward to getting started.”he said, pointing out Catalan. KTM.

“We have learned a lot. We already know what it is to go to the Dakar, what it is to come here and be here. I have a year of experience and I know what I will face.”added to the paper.

“To be honest, I’m very happy. I finished the shakedown in a very good mood, so I’m looking forward to starting the prologue stage.” I felt really good on the rocks, sand and fast areas, so I felt really good overall. It was good before the start. All I want is to sleep and it’ll be tomorrow. ”he expressed with a smile.

Expectations and whether you can save something

“At the end of the day, I do what I can, what I really need to do, which is to ride the bike now, learn from it if I make a mistake, improve, learn, and keep moving forward every day to gain experience. I’m going to do what I know and what I’ve been training for all year. I’m avoiding to some extent the press asking me about winning each stage because it’s not that time yet, but I’m equally hopeful that I’ll finish like I did last year.”

He is not worried about stones for the first few days

“I’m good at riding the bike in all types of terrain and I’m comfortable. I didn’t go into the Empty Quarter (the biggest sand desert) this year, but that was where I felt the most out of place last year, so I’m calm for all the terrain I’m going to face.”

Initial strategy?

The only strategy is to get a good start, get to the finish line without getting too old, do the best you can early on without reaching the first position, that’s the way. ”

The importance of this Saturday’s prologue stage

“In the prologue stage, we aim to be in the best possible position so that we can choose a good starting position in stage one. That is what is important, so we have to be as far forward as possible in the prologue.”

“That’s not the case this year, but similarly, getting a good position in the first stage is the best way to start the rally.”