Mohammed Jaffar pushes through the final stretch of his pre-rally training schedule.
Kuwaiti motorsport athlete Mohammed Jaffar’s Dakar Rally preparations are now in full effect.
The 43rd Edition of the world-renowned rally raid is set to begin proper on January 3, just over a month from now. This year it returns to Saudi Arabia, where it will start and finish in the major city of Jeddah.
He’s feeling elevated for the rally and is very much looking forward to the 12-day event. “This has been a lifelong dream for me.” Said Mohammed Jaffar. “I just want to compete and learn from all the people I am going to meet.”
Jaffar and his team must prepare themselves on multiple fronts and continue to work closely together until the race ends on January 15.
The number of preparations are too numerous to count. For Jaffar, it begins with him being physically and mentally ready for the arduous journey ahead of him.
“This is my first Dakar Rally, which means my first pre-Dakar training regimen. What I’m doing now is combining my previous schedules into one that fits this particular rally.” Said Mohammed Jaffar.
He trains on a set schedule. This includes various forms of endurance, stamina, and cross-training workouts that are meant to strengthen his body and build his mental fortitude.
There is an upside to this particular race. “What is helpful is that the race will be in KSA. The good thing is I have some experience there.” He said.
As the race nears he moved his training from Kuwait to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, where he will make preparations with the mechanical team, all of whom already have experience in the Dakar Rally. Together, they will practice and learn what they can from the road book, assessing the different areas, and strategize on what to expect. The current route shows them going from sea level flatlands, to sand dunes, and mountainous landscapes as well. Each section must be approached with its own set of rules in order to tackle them successfully.
Jaffar also discussed the motorbike, which is the off-road category he competes in.
“I’ve already received the new bike for the rally,” Jaffar said. “It’s fully-set to handle anything we might encounter out there. I have no plans to use it until race day arrives.”
Jaffar will be equipped with the model 2020 KTM 450 Factory Rally Replica. This all-terrain bike is the same model used by Toby Price and Sam Sunderland, both of whom are previous champions of the Dakar Rally. They also represent the Red Bull KTM Team.
“I hope to continue to adjust my training from this race for the coming years. Every race leads into the next one” said Jaffar.
When asked if he had anything to add or comment on about the upcoming race, he said, “I’m optimistic.”
You can find Mohammed Jaffar competing in the Dakar Rally this January.
To find out more about Mohammed Jaffar’s participation in the Dakar Rally, visit @RedBullKuwait on Instagram and Twitter, and @RedBull on Facebook, or visit https://www.redbull.com/int-en/events/dakar-rally