adminCollin Matiza
Sports Editor
ASHLEY Thixton’s preparations for next year’s Dakar Rally received a massive boost when a local motorcycling company donated a motorbike whose raffle tickets raised more than US$7 000.
A renowned motocross rider locally, Thixton has decided to sink his teeth into the BIG ONE — the 2024 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.
This will be the first time that the 30-year-old motorbike rider will be taking part in the Dakar Rally.
The 46th edition of the Dakar Rally, which is the biggest rally in the world, will take place from January 5 to 19, 2024, from Al’ Ula to Yanbu in Saudi Arabia.
In fact, Thixton has already entered and has been accepted to race in the 2024 Dakar Rally.
And in-order to compete in next year’s Dakar Rally, Thixton needs to raise US$100 000 for the trip to the Middle East country.
He recently indicated that he has so far managed to raise US$40 000, meaning he was still US$60 000 short for his travel expenses.
And a local motorcycling sales and distributing company, TT Motorcycles of Msasa in Harare, came on board and donated a motorbike to Thixton and its raffle tickets managed to raise US$7 050.
An excited Thixton yesterday thanked TT Motorcycles for their kind gesture.
“I’m proud to announce my partnership with TT Motorcycles. These guys kindly donated a TT Trail 200 bike that was sold as raffle tickets.
“We managed to raise US$7 050 that was contributed towards my Dakar dream. Thank you TT Motorcycles for being the genuine people you are and contributing massively to my Dakar Rally dream. Can’t wait to make you proud,” Thixton said.
Thixton is a Zimbabwean motocross champion rider who early next year is setting his sights on one of the most challenging races in the world — the Dakar Rally, known as the “Olympics of Motorsports”.
“Dakar Rally is not just a race, but a testament to human spirit and endurance. It has been my lifelong dream to be a part of this extraordinary event, to push my limits, and to represent our country, Zimbabwe, on this global platform,” Thixton recently said.
Meanwhile, Thixton’s new partners TT Motorcycles is a well established Zimbabwean motorcycle company that specializes in the sales and repairs of road and off-road motorcycles.
Two of the company’s directors — Jamie and Shaun Whyte — have been into motorsport for more than three decades.
Infact, Jamie Whyte is a two-time African motor rally champion, winning the continental title back-to-back in 2009 and 2010 accompanied by his navigator Phil Archenoul.
He has since retired from the sport but is a regular feature at all motorsport events at Donnybrook Park Raceway in Harare.
Shaun Whyte, on the other hand, is a former South African Superbikes Champion.
He is now heavily involved in the running of motocross in this country.
Infact, Shaun Whyte was a local motocross champion rider before he ventured into Superbike riding, competing mainly in South Africa where he was the National Champion.
And Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO) has announced details for the 46th edition of the Dakar Rally in 2024 — January 5 to 19 dates set on a 14-stage, 5 000-kilometre course from Al-Ula to Yanbu with a surprise “a 48-hour time trial”.
Two months ahead of the 2024 Dakar Rally start, ASO, joint promoter of the Dakar Rally and the World Rally-Raids, has revealed the first information about the fifth edition of the toughest off-road event on the planet in the Saudi Arabian deserts.
The 2024 Dakar Rally will take place from January 5 to 19 through 14 days of competition — prologue, one rest day, and 12 stages — and more than 5 000 kilometres of timed special that will take riders and drivers from Al-Ula, the HQ and start also last year, to Yanbu, on the shores of the Red Sea.
Among all that will be a “60 percent unprecedented” route that returns again to the impressive Empty Quarter in the south east of Arabia with a surprise gift of 48-hours time trial.
The challenge will be as great as last January,” says Dakar race director David Castera who promises large doses of dunes and technical difficulties including the navigation challenges.
The Saudi Empty Quarter starts as the main protagonist of the 46th edition of the toughest off-road race on the planet created by Thierry Sabine in 1977 and which, by 2024, has pulled an ace out of the hole with a new format of “time 48 hours”, with the limitations typical of a marathon stage, although the pilots will be able to help each other in the afternoon.
Online Reporter