Thixton: The boy who never gave up on his dream

HE knew what he wanted and he got it!

He has always been the boy who never gave up on his dream! And he had a point to prove. Ashley Thixton made the long journey from Zimbabwe to Saudi Arabia chasing history at this year’s Dakar Rally in the Saudi dunes.

The 30-year-old Zimbabwean biker travelled to the Middle East country with one thing in mind: To start and finish the tortuous event and become the second Zimbabwean motorbike rider to complete the full distance of the tough two-week competition after Graeme Sharp who achieved this feat in 2020.

And as they say: Where there’s a will, there’s a way, Thixton took the bull by the horns and surprised all and sundry as he completed the full course of the 2024 Dakar during his maiden appearance at this big global event.

It’s now Graeme Sharp 2020 and Ashley Thixton 2024 . . . the only two Zimbabweans to have completed the

Dakar Rally.

After a total distance of almost 8 000km on roads, tracks and dunes, the 2024 Dakar Rally finally came to an end last Friday.

It was the 46th edition of the event and the fifth race that was organised in Saudi Arabia which kicked off on January 5 through 12 stages.

And Zimbabwean biker Thixton was among a strong field of 137 male and female motorbike riders from around the world who entered the bike section of the biggest and toughest motor rallying event in the world.

Consistent Thixton may not have won a stage through the 5 000km two-week epic dash across the Arabian desert, but he managed to raise the Zimbabwean flag with distinction.

And Thixton, who returned home on Sunday after his tough two-week sojourn in Saudi Arabia, said he has always been a boy who never gave up on his dream.

Thixton also said he was grateful beyond words for the support that he received from fellow Zimbabweans before, during and after the 2024 Dakar Rally.

“Grateful beyond words for this incredible @dakarrally journey. From dreaming to doing, the support and the memories made along the way have been nothing short of amazing. Here’s to chasing dreams and making them a reality!

“Finishing the final Stage 12 P27, overall 32nd, Rally 2 20th and 4th Rookie of the competition.

“All the numbers don’t matter to be honest. Getting to that finish podium brought out the feeling I can’t describe.

“Thank you for all the amazing messages and support throughout my journey. They kept me going in the toughest of times.

“I’m the boy that never gave up on his dream!”

What a race, what an experience and what an achievement.

Thixton is now a legend of motorsport in Zimbabwe after his phenomenal achievement in Saudi Arabia last week.

Dreams do come true and the country never stopped believing in him.

Thixton battled through 12 stages of intense racing, totalling over 50 hours against the clock, to finish the 2024 Dakar Rally in an excellent 32nd place overall in the bikes section . . . not bad at all for a rookie.

Completing the final stage strongly last Friday, the Husqvarna 450R rider was pleased with his overall performance throughout the event and he enjoyed his time at the Dakar.

This year’s Dakar Rally culminated in a relatively shorter final stage on Friday, totalling 328 kilometres in a loop through the rocky desert around Yanbu.

The stage featured a 175km timed special, offering competitors a sprint to the finish line.

As one of the riders to enter the special, Thixton immediately got his head down and pushed hard right from the beginning, only to cool down towards the end, knowing fully well that he now had the 2024 Dakar Rally medal safely in the bag as he rounded out his campaign on a high.

In what was an incredibly testing 46th edition of the Dakar through the varied terrain of the Saudi Arabian desert, Thixton stayed strong to put in consistent results every day, which ultimately paid off and earned him a top-40 finish.

The Zimbabwean showed some nerves of steel as he consistently placed within the top 40 in each stage, demonstrating his impressive endurance and pace on his Husqvarna 450R machine.

Thixton was among the giants of the Bikes Class who produced some stunning action, with American star Ricky Brabec ultimately coming out on top. Can you imagine what it’s like to finish the most challenging rally raid race in the world?

For Thixton, his experience at this year’s Dakar Rally was inexpressible waves of pure happiness, joy, and accomplishment!