MAD MAX FLYING SOLO
Two-time Dakar finisher plans Malle Moto challenge
‘I need to take it easier than before’
‘I’m practising wheel changes in the garage’
‘I’m banking on things not going too badly wrong’
What do you do when you’ve successfully completed the world’s hardest race for the last two years and are looking for an even tougher challenge? Well, if you’re Max Hunt you go back and do it all again, but this time on your own without a team or any outside assistance. In 2018, Hunt finished an impressive 37th overall riding for the HT Husqvarna team, which meant he had a full support package of mechanics to service his bike, a comfortable place to sleep and daily massage to keep the aches and pains at bay, but in 2019 it’s going to be different as he’s entered the Malle Moto class. Malle Moto riders are on their own. They are not part of a team and as a result are allowed no outside assistance, meaning that they have to do all their own bike maintenance and repairs, sleep in a tent and have a single storage box that is transported from bivouac to bivouac that must contain all their spares, tent and sleeping bag. There are 32 riders entered into the Malle Moto class this year, but it’s such an ambitious undertaking for Hunt because, by his own admission, he is very much lacking when it comes to maintaining the bike and he’s definitely not a natural spannerman.
“It’s a massive undertaking and no-one believes I can do it.And to be honest I’m not convinced myself,” he smiled.
“When I told Patsy Quick (the first British Woman to finish the Dakar and who now offers training and support packages for events around the world) I was doing it Malle Moto she could barely speak to me because she was laughing so much!”
Hunt’s happy-go-lucky attitude has served him well during his last two Dakars and despite the event’s brutal nature he never lost the smile on his face in 2018 despite crashes and technical issues. While his talent, determination and riding ability is clear he is under no illusion about the challenge of going solo this year, but is keeping a positive and philosophical attitude.
“I’ve got last year’s bike and I’ve been practising taking the wheels in and out and changing the oil and filter, but I’m kind of banking on things not going too badly wrong. I’ve also started sleeping in my tent in the garage to get used to that!”
One of Hunt’s biggest challenges will be to ride in a more conservative way given that he can’t afford to make any big mistakes as he’ll have to fix any issues himself.
“In my head I know I need to take it a bit easier than before, but I also want to get a good result. There are 32 guys running in the Malle moto class so there’s a lot of competition.
“I need to not be crashing, but you still have to force the pace at Dakar otherwise you end up going slower and slower as the day goes on. It’s all about finding the right balance. All in all I can’t wait to get there and I’d love to get to the finish again.”