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After much uncertainty about international competitions due to the pandemic that affects the whole world, a new edition of the Dakar Rally will finally be held, which in its 43rd edition will be held for the second competitive year in Saudi Arabia, where A total route of more than 8,000 kilometers is budgeted, of which 5,000 will be special. For Francisco “Chaleco” López, one of the South American riders with the best resume on the Dakar, it is an extremely special trip, as it is his 10th Dakar and it comes at a time when he is ready and focused to win.
In the framework of his ten Dakar, we remember his key moments to get here.
The beggining
Although López already had a magnificent career in motocross and enduro, it was 2007 when his upward line of performance allowed him to make his debut in the 2007 Dakar, with a journey that included passing through Portugal, Spain, Morocco, Mauritania, Mali and Senegal.
Problems and technical failures forced him to abandon in the eighth stage, however, his speed and sporting ability made clear his potential to become a great protagonist in the not so distant future.
2009: Against Frustration
The new route that included the passage through Chilean territory had both “Chaleco” and the entire country very enthusiastic, however, a harsh penalty for skipping a mandatory control, meant the native of Teno four hours extra on his watch. The pilot gave all of himself to overcome the punishment, and thus managed to reach position number 15 in the competition, far from the podium, but this did not stop him in his personal career towards success, demonstrating the enormous potential and capabilities that were in he.
2010, a historic year
What happened in 2007 and 2009 did not define at all the performance that Francisco could have in the most prestigious rally competition in the world. In 2010, “Chaleco” managed to enter the podium with a third place, with three stage victories and a very good performance, becoming, together with Carlo de Gavardo, the only Latin American rider to do so. In his statements, the athlete affirmed “I fulfilled the dream of the Dakar, but now we have to prepare the first place for another year, making it clear that this was only the beginning and that he would not give up until reaching the highest place on the podium.
2011, The mechanics did not play in their favor
After an impressive 2010, the 2011 Dakar seemed to be Francisco López’s competition, and so it was at least in his performance, impeccable and fast. However, on the last day of the race and when he was at km 159, where he was comfortable in fourth place and with which he reached the podium of the general classification, he suffered the breakage of one of his shock absorbers forcing him to stop and repair the fault , forcing him to be towed away, an hour away
of the winner of the day. Even so, with a lot of grit and self-respect, the national rider completed the route being towed, arriving in position number 70, which finally meant finishing the competition in a fourth place that had a very bitter taste.
2012: Show of claw and strength
After the serious accident that occurred in the Tunis Rally, and the family bad moment that was going through the illness of his nephew Lucas, Francisco López appeared in a new Dakar where he was awarded first place in the first stage, defeating the 2011 champion , Marc Coma. His successful departure was attributed to his history and experience “As a boy riding a motorcycle on the beach, we went on vacation to Iloca and went out with my dad and some friends. Today the special was short, many were glued to the dunes and it was full of bumps. I know that attached to the sea is more dangerous, because the water comes and sometimes the motorcycle sucks you. But it’s also faster if you do it right, and it worked for me. “
Days later and in the seventh stage of the Rally, the national rider suffers a severe fall causing a painful sprain in his right knee, forcing him to abandon the competition. “I never thought I was going to win a stage, that I would be in the top three or four during the first week. I retire happy and motivated to continue
go ahead, he said at the time, never losing the motivation to continue with his dream.
2013, “Chaleco” returns to the podium
With twists and turns with the sponsors of his motorcycle, Francisco did not seem to present himself with a technical capacity as in previous years, however, he shone in each of the stages, finishing third, second and even first. After a penalty that cost him 15 extra minutes, the Curican won third place in the 2013 Dakar that traveled through Peru, Argentina and Chile, a position that if it weren’t for the penalty, he might have been at the top of the podium, since they only separated him 20 minutes from first place. A very rewarding version of the Dakar Rally for López, who put the Chilean rider back on the podium, after several difficult years, with accidents, frustrations and problems.
2014, the farewell
For “Chaleco” this was the year where he and everyone expected him to fulfill his dream of the first place, and his performance demonstrated this by being very close to the favorite Marc Coma in the first five stages, until at km 211 of the sixth stage , Francisco suffered a fall on the bed of a river destroying his KTM and forcing him to abandon the competition and the possibility of getting his coveted first place on the podium. Months later, shortly after his victory in the Desafío Guaraní, the tenino would end up officially announcing his definitive goodbye from motorcycling, but he would leave an open door if one day I return to the Dakar it will be by car.
2019, finally the dream of the first place is fulfilled
As I would say 5 years ago, the return of “Vest” would be on top of a car. Thanks to the support of the European South Racing team, he made an amazing debut in the Side by Side category aboard a Can-Am Maverick, conquering the title and obtaining first place in the general classification, together with his navigator Álvaro León. In this way, and in his eighth Dakar Rally, Francisco “Chaleco” López went down in the history of the competition and incidentally became the second Chilean pilot to achieve first place in a category, a milestone that he currently holds together with Ignacio Casale. “I am very happy with this title, the first I have achieved since I switched from motorcycles to cars. This is the fruit of a year in which we have done a super professional job, including a sports psychologist, ”said the champion.
2020, adversity on four wheels
In the last edition of the Dakar 2020, which took place in Saudi Arabia, “Chaleco” along with his navigator Juan Pablo Latrach received a general applause when they received third place for their remarkable performance, since only technical failures kept him from the first place of the general, in what would have been a two-time championship. Once again, “Chaleco” showed his skills and experience that make him one of the favorite drivers in each edition to always fight for the first places.
2021, Ready to conquer in difficult times
After months of uncertainty due to COVID-19, where several Dakar figures questioned whether to participate, Francisco López together with his navigator Juan Pablo Latrach overcame this, persevered and are ready and confirmed in Saudi Arabia, with the popular bet to be candidates for victory in the Side by Side category of this Dakar Rally 2021. “This is my tenth edition of the Dakar and I am going with everything, as always, to seek first place from the beginning together with my team. The idea is to fight for the lead from day one, ”said the national rider, who is focused on giving his best and making a smart race, using all the experience gained in 9 years of competition, to try to achieve for the second time In its history, the rewarding first place of what is considered the most extreme test in the world.
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