“Dakar 2023 was very positive for me”

Sebastian may be flying the flag for Germany, but he has spent most of his life in Portugal, after his parents went on holiday there and liked it so much that they stayed! They bought Sebastian his first bike at the age of five, and by 13 he was racing competitively. He’d always dreamed of doing the Dakar, especially after going to watch the start of the rally in Lisbon in 2006 and 2007. As well as winning the Portuguese all-terrain (TT) championship on several occasions, Sebastian claimed three consecutive victories at the prestigious Baja Portalegre between 2018 and 2020, plus the FIM Bajas World Cup title in the Covid-hit 2020 season. He has had some ups and downs on the Dakar, finishing as the third-best rookie in 2019, abandoning due to engine failure in 2020 and then roaring into the top 15 in 2021, before being forced to sit out the 2022 edition with injury. Still not fully fit, after his lengthy break, for the Dakar 2023, he nevertheless achieved his best stage result to date with a second place. His overall result was ruined after having a fuel issue on the fourth stage where he lost more than 3 hours. But despite this set back he still managed to get back into the top 20.

“Although my overall result wasn’t what I’d hoped for there were some very positive aspects and my speed was good, as I proved with my best stage result. After the Dakar we were able to do the whole W2RC where I tested some stuff on the bike. Racing is always the best way to test but not always great as far as results are concerned. But for me the important point is that the bike is getting better all the time. The team has been working really hard and we now have a bike that is capable of winning. If I hadn’t lost so much time last year with the fuel problem I’d have finished in 8th place and so that’s what I’ll be aiming for in 2024. A Top 10 finish.”