Xavier Flick on his way to a fourth Paris-Dakar

On Friday January 3, Xavier Flick will be at the start of the Paris-Dakar in Bisha, Saudi Arabia. This will be the sixth edition in this country with nearly 8,000 km to cover including more than 5,000 km of special.

The Breton Center fully intends to trace its furrow in the hot sand of the Saudi desert. He signs his fourth participation. The first dates from 2021. “I fell in the first stage and it handicapped me afterwards but I fulfilled my objective which was to finish,” says the biker. It’s a good start since he ranks 32nd overall and finishes two stages in the Top 20.

A fall in 2024

After the Africa Eco Race in 2022, where he also did well, Xavier Flick allowed himself an infidelity in 2023: he took part in the Paris-Dakar but as a car co-pilot and finished in a good 14th place in the T4 category. And when you love you don’t count: in 2024, it will be placed under the banner of the Chinese team Kove. “Being the official driver of a manufacturer changes a lot of things in terms of management and logistics,” he explains. But bad luck, Xavier Flick fell at the end of the first stage. “It was not a pilot error,” he assures. He gives up, his nose and wrist broken.

A new machine

In 2025, he will drive for Hoto, another Chinese manufacturer which is embarking on the Paris-Dakar adventure. “It’s his first appearance in the event and we will be three drivers: a Chinese, a Lithuanian and me,” explains Xavier Flick. Only one objective on their roadmap: cross the finish line to prove the reliability of the machine. “The difficulty is the repeated kilometers. The driver but also the motorcycle are put to the test. You have to stay focused on the navigation and the track at all times. This year, it’s off to a strong start with 950 km of special in the first days,” he emphasizes. While waiting for the big start, Xavier Flick continued his physical preparation with bike rides, muscle strengthening and motorcycle training.

For him, the Paris-Dakar remains the race of the year: “It’s very exciting. I feel privileged to be at this type of event. Paris-Dakar life is a bit like my second home,” he concludes.

Practical