Interview with Joan Roma
What do you think about the Dakar 2004 route? Do you think that it is going to be as hard as they say? Is this route going to be an advantage for you or not at all? I think that it will be different than any other year, maybe similar to 2002. The biggest problem will be, as always, Mauritania. But Im sure that it will be harder than last year, it was quite easy then. In general, it will be an advantage because these kind of routes suit us.  Youll finally be racing on the single-cylinder KTM. What made you take the decision and leave last years twin-cylinder aside? What are the main features of the bike youve chosen and what would you improve? KTMs decision to give the same bike to all of us is right. Planning effective team tactics needs all riders to have the same bike and that is going to be an important factor. The single-cylinder has a clear difference in weight and power with regard to the twin-cylinder. I liked last years bike a lot, but this works perfectly well too and above all, it has great reliability, and therefore I think that were going to be fine with it. In any case, clinching the victory will not depend on mechanics.  Are there team orders already established before the start of the race? And if not, will there be team orders later on? A team is called a team because there is an objective to be achieved with determined riders. I am more experienced than Isidre and Marc and I think that right now Im more prepared to win. In any case, the most important is to achieve good harmony among us. Ill try to win, and Ill need their support, but it is obvious that if I should have any mechanical problems on the first day, Ill be entirely at their disposal.  This is going to be your ninth Dakar. After your previous experiences, what do you think is the secret to fight for the victory this year? Ive taken part in this race for several years and many of them with the objective to win. In 2000 the engine broke down at the penultimate stage and I know how to work. However, after so many years, I understand much better the keys of the race. The secret this year will be to arrive in good condition to the last third. It doesnt make any sense to win at the beginning because its of no use, although you cannot be too slow either. Reliability and constancy, and be in the leading group every day. Those will be the keys to victory.  Who do you consider as your main rivals this year in the fight for the victory? The main rivals will be Fabricio Meoni and Richard Sainct. Both of them have won the race already, but we must not forget Cyril Despres and Alfie Cox. I think that the four of us who have regularly taken part in the World Cup have made more kilometres and that is an advantage. It would be like that in a normal race however, but were talking about the Dakar and so many strange things can happen there, that it is impossible to make any kind of forecast.  From the sporting point of view and considering the results, how do you reach the Dakar? How would you define your results of the 2003 season with regard to the preparation of the Dakar 2004? This has been a good year. It had a difficult start but it improved. I won the Sardinia raid, I finished runner-up at the Baja and I won the Egypt Rallye, one of the best rallies of my life. I also solved certain physical problems I had in my hand, which is perfect. Therefore I reach the race in optimal conditions. Jordi, Marc, Isidre and I make up a great team, we understand each other perfectly well.  How do you think does the fact of having Jordi Arcarons as Sports Manager affect the team? Jordi is very important for us. He is one of the historical participants of the Dakar, who deserved to win the race if he wouldnt have had Peterhansel with a better team as a rival. Counting on him during practices and at the end of the stages can be a really remarkable psychological support.  Which has been your best moment at the Paris-Dakar? And the worst? Ive had several bad moments, maybe too many. Ive had problems; Ive crashed and suffered hard things that have taught me a lot. With regard to the good moments, the fact of being able to participate several years, to be among the best and to be considered a good rider in this speciality makes me very proud. If I have to choose, Ill probably take the Dakar 2000, even though I finished seventeenth, but I won some stages and I was always in the lead. I keep good memories of that edition.  What impressed you most of Africa and the Dakar the first time you went there? Africa always impresses me. When you get back year after year, coming from developing countries and you see that the African countries have more and more problems, and especially seeing the warmth of people who have nothing and offer you all. The immensity of the continent and the enormous distances you can travel without finding any trace of life are obviously impressive as well. Africa has always something special to offer.  Is the Dakar mentally or physically harder? You get physically very tired, thats obvious, but all riders have to be mentally very strong. The fact of being constantly concentrated on a stage of seven hundred kilometres means a huge effort, something difficult to achieve, and when youre fighting for the victory riding very fast it can mean serious problems. This is an aspect Ive been working very hard on and I think that the concentration capability will help me a lot this year.