Jordi Arcarons, the leader of the Team Repsol KTM orchestra, becomes the father figure for the whole team in Africa. Methodic, calm and always concentrated on his work, Africa is a place that Jordi knows and understands perfectly, his experience allowing him to predict how things pan out and to prepare all the team members at all levels, so that they can tackle the toughest race in the world with almost a guarantee of success. After the Dakar 2007 Jordi and his team got down to work on next year`s just one month after it ended. With less than a month to go before the XXX edition starts Jordi and his team are making the most of the last few chances to prepare their new adventure in Africa.
What is the route in the XXX edition of the Dakar like? Do you think that it will favour the interests of the Team Repsol KTM?What is clear is that we have to adapt to what there is. We know that the route is tough and will be difficult, but we are prepared and we have all we need to complete a route of this type. But we know that things do not turn out as you want; although we have desire, motivation and our people are ready. So let`s go!Have lessons been learnt from the mistakes made in the last Dakar? Do you have an answer to what happened to Marc Coma when appraoching Senegal and which snatched the victory from him in 2007? Is it completely forgotten?We have got over it. Of course we have learnt the lesson. Marc is aware that he made a mistake. The team in general was perhaps a little relaxed, because with a lead of an hour they thouught the race was won. But that was not the case and we learnt a lot. Above all at the team level, since none of our three riders finished. The teamwork did not function. This year we begin with the hope that firstly the riders finish each stage and second, knowing that teamwork is very important. Marc has to be protected everyday, he must have somebody behind him helping him out. That is good for his morale and so he can ride without pressure because the team is completely behind him. We have worked a lot on this, as well as on the mechanical aspects since we think that this race can maybe cause some problems with the machanical side of things, especially on the marathon stages. Doing two consecutive stages without mechanical assistance means that the rider must know his machine, work on it and maintain it.How would you evaluate the development of the plan that has been preparing the team for the Dakar 2008?The preparation was basically the races that Marc did in the World Championship, Gerard was also in one and Jordi in another three. The work was race by race and something that has now got more intense with the Dakar as this requires something special. We worked on both the mechanical aspect as well as the regulations. The race is not like those we did this year, because without a doubt the Dakar has a big dose of everything: navigation, marathon, endurance, kilometres… The riders have done the corresponding physical work since it is a very demanding race. Now we hope that Jordi Viladoms can start in tip-top form, because after his fall in Dubai he has lost a few days work and he took some time to recover.The motorbike will not be new, it has a good history and so should not create the problems associated with it being new in 2007…No. We think that the bike is 100% reliable. But the Dakar is the only race that has some special ingredients and so the engines suffer and it is really tested. It is a real test bench that does not exist anywhere else.Who are the riders that will be fighting to win in the Dakar 2008?I think that Marc and Cyril Despres are the two big favourites, but there are other riders that will be able to keep up with them and who are almost at at the same level, like David Casteau, Chaleco López, who make their debuts with KTM, and Verhoeven, who is also a KTM factory ridder. There is also Fretigné and other Yamaha riders, although that is a more private plan as they ride enduro in the French championship and a couple of races in the World Championship, such as Planet or Catrignat, who are fast riders but do not have experience with navigation and with the roadbook. And our riders Jordi Viladoms and Gerard Farrés, for sure they will be up among the leading riders. But what is important for me this year, more than ever, is for them not to go out with the throttle wide open, they have to start calmly because the race is long and it is one where riders get eliminated. With long stages day after day, if you do not have a steady pace but with a safety margin, riders are bound to eliminate themselves and that is precisely what I do not want to happen to my team.The riders Casteau and Verhoeven, are they official support riders for the Repsol team as Red Bull said one time?Yes, yes. In principle KTM has contracted them for this. To give support to the official KTM riders, Marc and Cyril, and also Chaleco López.You tested the definitive bikes to be used in the Dakar in Oliana Spain over two days, what exactly did you do there?In Oliana we tried to test the definitive bike for the race, break the engines in and get the bike ready. We will not see the bikes again until we are in Lisbon and the mechanics will then give them give them a complete check. The bike is set up, with all the parts that we need for the marathon stages. We have placed all the spares and tools for small repairs that may be needed. After that we studied the regulations, the stages, and learnt about the important points and weaknesses that the riders may have concerning penalties, speed limits, etc. We will carry on training so that we are in form on 2nd January when we arrive in Lisbon. Now we do not need speed but we need to cover kilometre after kilometre.Will the Team Repsol KTM go to Lisbon prepared for a new edition of the Dakar?Yes. I have complete confidence in this team, and all the members. The truth is that we know the people working with us very well and it is also important for all of us to get along and to work in harmony as this helps the teamwork. We all have to stick together and we all have to push the riders, give them all the support they need so that they feel comfortable and so that they can put in a good performance, and if possible enjoy themselves. Give the image of a team where everybody dreams, a top team, a great team.2004 with Nani Roma, 2006 with Marc Coma…it seems that the best allies of the Team Repsol KTM are even numbered years. Will 2008 see another triumph for the team?If this was a lottery I would say we have a good chance, but we do not have all the tickets. The work up to this moment has been done well, and this work has to continue day after day in the Dakar, stage after stage. The result normally depends on how you work and train, but not exactly. Bad luck also exists.
