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Aged 40, Frédéric Barlerin lives with his wife and two children in Bussy Le Grand in the North of Côte-d’Or. Professionally responsible for a maintenance service for the SNCF, Fred knows the world of rallying well. He has participated in around fifty Enduro competitions, three rallies in Morocco and especially two Dakar in 2019 in Peru and in 2020 in Saudi Arabia.
Have you been living your childhood dream for two years?
Frédéric Barlerin : “It’s indeed a childhood dream that I’ve been living for two years. The passion for the Dakar began when I went with my father to see the rally competitors go through the Nationale 7 in Nevers. I always said, one day it will be me ”
Between dream and nightmare
“For my first Dakar in 2019 in Peru, it was a big cold shower with a retirement after four days of racing due to an engine failure. And inevitably there is the questioning, whether or not I was going to leave. And the following year, in Saudi Arabia, everything was aligned to go all the way, and deliverance to finally be able to achieve my childhood dream, to finish the Dakar with the medal. Two very different editions in terms of climate where I was hot one year and cold for the other edition ”
You participate in a very specific category
“This is the category, Original by Motul the former Motos Malles. It’s adventure with a capital A. As the Dakar elders did. In fact in the evening, I will be alone to do my mechanics, unlike the other competitors who, when they finish the stage, leave their motorbikes to the assistance teams to make the necessary repairs. It’s true that it adds fatigue to the day, but that’s what I’m looking for through this experience. We are 38, a little less than last year and with quad bikes we should be 130 on the starting line »
You remain faithful to Titine
“Yes, my bike is still the same, the famous Titine as I like to call it, the one that perished in the first Dakar in the sands of Peru. It’s a small 450 Enduro that anyone can buy, but which is adapted to the Rally Raid with some specific elements such as the navigation bubble in front with the road book that allows us to navigate, a slightly larger tank to embark more gasoline, parts more robust than in Enduro to be able to swallow the 10,000 km of the Dakar ”
Complicated preparations
“The firm decision to leave was taken this summer, which is very late, due to the pandemic that we are experiencing, which means that this year, I am four months behind in the preparations. But I’ve always kept a steady pace with the bike, weight training, anything that actually helps maintain your body because I like sports anyway. Afterwards I needed to ride a motorcycle, but with the confinement I was very limited. Physically, I am less prepared than in previous years, so I will play more on the experience to try to grab this 2nd medal ”
What experiences will Fred Barlerin rely on to try to win this medal?
Will his motivation be sufficient?
What is his real goal?
Questions to which the Côte d’Orien biker will answer very soon for
Dijon-Info.
The 2021 Dakar maintained from January 2 to 15 despite the health crisis
On the Rally Raid website we learn that a letter sent to the athletes on Monday, December 21 is reassuring. “Given the health protocol put in place to supervise the coming of the Rally, the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Sports, with which the Dakar organization works in close collaboration, wishes to do everything possible to welcome all participants in the best possible way. conditions. Additional chartered flights will therefore be put in place for all those who have booked tickets to Jeddah on regular airlines. “
Everyone should be able to rally Saudi Arabia, before observing a mandatory quarantine period. Two negative PCR tests will be requested before officially entering the bivouac.
Norbert Banchet
Dakar 2021
– It’s January 3 to 15 in Saudi Arabia for a total of 7,646 km including 4,767 km of specials.
– The prologue is scheduled for Saturday January 2 in Jeddah.
– Like every year
Dijon-Info will follow Fred Barlerin
– Frédéric Barlerin’s official website: Click HERE rallyefred.fr
Photos: Fred Barlerin
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