Manuel Andújar is not going to defend his Dakar Rally Quad win in 2025, although it’s not like he had a selection because the Amaury Sport Organisation has dropped the class. Whereas he informed Campeones that he’s open to switching to the SSV class sooner or later, there may be not sufficient time to be taught and put together for the 2025 version.
“After seven years, for the primary time, I’m not going to race the Dakar,” Andújar proclaimed to Campeones.
In January, Andújar received three phases en path to the Dakar total Quad victory, his second after 2021. Nevertheless, declining producer assist prompted the ASO to tighten the eligibility standards, leading to a paltry ten rivals. The ASO lastly opted to axe the category in April shortly earlier than the World Rally-Raid Championship‘s BP Final Rally-Raid in Portugal.
Unsurprisingly, the choice proved unpopular amongst Quad riders. Andújar acknowledged the ASO’s restrictive insurance policies meant the category was doomed to an undeservingly undignified demise and lobbied to the FIM to intervene. Juraj Varga, who completed third at Dakar, withdrew from Portugal out of protest.
“I began racing this occasion on the age of 20, a race that taught me many values as an individual and a racer together with self-discipline, honour, resilience, true friendship, teamwork, and rather more. This race affected me a lot that I even tattooed it on my pores and skin,” Andújar wrote. “I by no means imagined that MONEY and the WHIMS of 1 particular person might outweigh these realized values.”
Though he plans to run the W2RC’s upcoming Desafío Ruta 40 in his native Argentina, he is not going to enter the season-ending Rallye du Maroc in October. Morocco is commonly utilized by groups to organize for the Dakar, which is pointless for Quad riders even when there are championship implications. Andújar is at the moment the factors chief after three rounds and the defending DR 40 victor.
The SSV class is a well-liked avenue for Quad riders effectively earlier than the ASO’s ruling, with former Dakar winners Josef Macháček, Ignacio Casale, and Sergei Kariakin amongst those that made the change. Pablo Copetti and Rodolfo Guillioli have additionally turn out to be SSV rivals.
