As the well-deserved rest day awaits, it is time to take stock with Fantic Rally Raid Project Manager Matilde Tomagnini, who is pleased with her team’s performance. Jeremy Miroir leads the Fantic XEF 450 Rally riders, holding 12th position in the Rally 2 standings. Encouraging news also comes from Mohammed Balooshi, who has rejoined the team at the Ha’il bivouac.
“I will take you to the gates of adventure, but it will be up to you to challenge fate.” This was the motto of Thierry Sabine, the charismatic creator of the legendary Dakar. Now in its 47th edition, Sabine’s words are still relevant because the race leads each competitor to set the bar higher, to leave the comfort zone and challenge themselves on terrain as vast as it is unknown.
For everyone, from the big names to the amateurs, reaching the rest day is a first goal achieved. Because the Dakar is like this: you can only tackle it one day at a time.
There is satisfaction at the Fantic bivouac in Ha’il. Tomorrow, the traditional rest day will be spent with all seven Fantic riders.
Matilde Tomagnini, Fantic Rally Raid Project Manager: “We are happy because it has been a very tough week. Five stages in total including the marathon stage and the 48-Hour Chrono. All the riders are in the race, except Balooshi, who suffered a heavy crash and was taken to hospital for further checks. Fortunately, he is well and today he joined us at the bivouac, making himself available to the team. We feel very sorry for him because he is a very strong rider and could have made the difference especially in the second week where we will face the dunes of the Empty Quarter.”
With the race reaching the halfway point, it is time to take stock. “We are very proud of the results achieved and we hope to continue like this,” continues Matilde Tomagnini, “Jeremy Miroir confirms his reliability. He is consistent, fast enough, and avoids unnecessary risks, also because they were gruelling stages with 80 percent rocks and stones and it was easy to make mistakes. Tommaso Montanari is very fast and we know it. After the crash on the second day, he had to find the right balance also in terms of pace, and I see him performing well. Sandra Gomez is the only woman to race on two wheels and this alone speaks volumes about the toughness of this race. Sandra is very well prepared, both physically and mentally, focused and determined.”
Jeremy Miroir currently holds 28th position in the overall standings and 12th in the Rally 2 class. Tommaso Montanari gritted his teeth to climb to 44th overall (27th in Rally 2). Completing the trio of Fantic Factory Rally riders is Sandra Gomez, the only woman tackling the Dakar 2025 on two wheels, who, after a strong fifth stage, is 52nd overall and 35th in Rally 2.
There is also satisfaction for Fantic’s supported riders: “The Dakar is a special race and it is important to work together as a team. We are very happy to have among our ranks Mohamed Balooshi, a GP rider from the Emirates; Tomas de Gavardo, Chilean; Rafic Eid, a Lebanese rider; and the Frenchman Maxime Pouponnot. Finally, I want to thank the mechanics and all the guys of the team. They are doing an admirable job in extreme situations. The days are very long with journeys of 600-700 kilometres and cold temperatures, especially in the morning and at night. Here in Ha’il the thermometer dropped below zero.”
