Northallerton motorbike racer achieves lifetime dream by completing Dakar Rally
ROBBIE WALLACE finally achieved a lifetime dream last week as he crossed the finish line of the 2025 Dakar Rally.
The Northallerton motorcycle racer made it to the chequered flag after two weeks of gruelling riding in the harsh extremes of the Saudi Arabian desert that saw him cover almost 5,000 miles and complete more than 100 hours of competitive riding in the ‘toughest rally in the world’.
The 27-year-old engineer for Northern PowerGrid, aboard his X Raids Experience TCC Plant-sponsored 450cc KTM, encountered everything from rocks to deep sand dunes, the scorching desert sun to thick fog and freezing rain, from dawn to dusk each day.
He was also forced to sleep in a one-man tent most nights, while servicing his own bike and surviving on very basic rations.
His adventure nearly came to a halt in the first week when a crash threatened to rule him out of continuing, but in true Yorkshire spirit, Wallace, from Romanby, bounced back and completed the 12 stages to finish in 84th position overall.
He came 74th in the Rally2 class and was 21st in the rookie category on a bike that was built and prepared by him and his father, Duncan, in their garage at home.
Such was the scale of the challenge that over a third of the field of bikes, cars and trucks failed to make it to the finish in Shubaytah, in the desolate empty quarter of Saudi Arabia.
While Wallace was classified as a finisher, he didn’t get the coveted gold medal he was seeking due to missing a stage as a result of the crash which saw him suffer mild concussion. Nevertheless, he finished as top British competitor on the event.
He flew back to England after some celebrating with his Spanish-based support team, which included fulfilling his pledge for his dad to ride a camel if he finished the event.
Speaking after making it to the end of the final stage, Wallace said: “Never in my wildest dreams would I have ever believed that I would be a participant in the famous Dakar Rally.
“This journey has taken me to the far reaches of the globe in pursuit of being in this race, and the trials and tribulations endured getting here have been tough. The highs, the lows, the smiles, and the tears have all been part of the package, but I can now say I did it.
“I’m disappointed to have not finished a stage due to the fall, which ended up with me being out of contention for the gold Dakar finishers’ medal, but I was still able to complete the rally and be in the general classification.
“The Rally was a phenomenal experience, and I met some great people along the way from every background. I don’t think it has sunk in yet, but to be on this event and challenging competitively for strong results is truly a great feat.
“There’s also no possible way I would have been here without the help of my sponsors, my team, my family, and everyone who has been following me, the support has been incredible. What lies next, who knows, but hopefully I have another Dakar in me, and we can come back and finish the job now we know what it all entails.”
