Shinya Fujiwara is aware of the way to navigate impediment programs on a motorbike, however will now see if he can switch these expertise to the Saudi desert. At a press convention in Nagoya on Monday, he introduced his targets of coming into the Dakar Rally in 2026.
As he has no prior rally raid expertise, he’ll run the Rallye du Maroc in October and the Africa Eco Race in January 2025 to get accustomed to the self-discipline. The previous, held in Morocco, is the ultimate spherical of the World Rally-Raid Championship whereas the AER follows the Dakar’s authentic route from Europe to Senegal. The Rallye du Maroc is on the Highway to Dakar, a programme during which the very best finisher who has by no means competed within the Dakar earns free registration.
“It has all the time been my dream to take part within the Dakar Rally. Because the track by Mr. Youngsters goes, ‘I really feel nice after I climb progressively greater partitions,’” mentioned Fujiwara. The track he quotes is “Owarinaki Tabi” (“Limitless Journey”), probably the most fashionable works from the Japanese rock band. “By taking over a giant problem, I wish to present the satisfaction of being a Japanese individual to the world.”
Nicknamed “Bussashi-sensei”, Fujiwara gained the 2014 All-Japan Trial Championship within the Worldwide A class. He additionally competes in laborious enduro occasions, successful the All Japan Exhausting Enduro Championship‘s choice event in 2021 and 2022, and contesting the legendary Pink Bull Erzbergrodeo; he completed eighty-second general on the newest version in 2023. Fujiwara will return to the Erzbergrodeo in June earlier than starting his rally coaching.
Born on 6 January 1990 in Hyōgo Prefecture, he started using when he was seven years previous.
Matsuo Seisakusho, which produces automotive components, will help his progamme on a three-year sponsorship deal.
Ought to he reach making the race, Fujiwara will be part of a contingent of Japanese motorbike rivals that features Shinji Kazama and Yoshio Ikemachi. Kazama, the primary Japanese individual to race the Dakar in 1982, plans to run it once more in 2026 in an SSV. Ikemachi holds the very best finest end amongst his compatriots of tenth in 2000; he returned to the Dakar in January after a thirteen-year absence, inserting forty-forth within the Rally2 class.
Fujiwara’s rally raid début on the Rallye du Maroc will happen on 5–11 October. The Africa Eco Race begins on 28 December and runs via 12 January 2025.
