Dakar – Two Ch’tis in Arabia: Arthur Planckart and Quentin Bouche prepare for their first Dakar – Used YAMAHA

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Two Ch’tis in Arabia: Arthur Planckart and Quentin Bouche prepare for their first Dakar

Dakar - Two Ch'tis in Arabia: Arthur Planckart and Quentin Bouche prepare for their first Dakar - Used YAMAHA

Arthur Planckart and Quentin Bouche, two childhood friends in their native North, are preparing for their very first Dakar … MNC wanted to know more about the motivations, the preparation and the objectives of these "ch’tis motards" who do not are not at their first attempt at rally raid and racing in the sand… Interview.

The Dakar 2020 will take to the tracks of Saudi Arabia for the first time in six months … but already, two bikers are feverishly busy in the north of France !

  • MNC special file : Everything you need to know about the Dakar
  • MNC of March 29, 2019 :
  • Interview Adrien Van Beveren (MNC of March 24, 2019):

"Finishers" of the rally of Morocco – which gives them the right to register for the Dakar – and accustomed to sand races, Arthur Planckart and Quentin Bouche have agreed to take a little break in their physical, logistical, technical and financial preparation to present their first Dakar project to us.

"A childhood dream"

MNC: Arthur and Quentin, who are you ?

Arthur Planckart : I was born on October 4, 1991 and I am a sales engineer in the field of traceability. I like cycling, motor sports and triathlon. I have done the Enduropale du Touquet nine times with a 67th place as the best result and eight seasons in the French Sands Championship. I won the Honda France Sable Trophy in 2017, I finished 14th in the Rallye du Maroc 2018 in Enduro Cup (41st scratch) and I did three Paris-Roubaix amateur bikes in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Quentin Mouth : I was born on January 22, 1980. After having worked in the family business of catering, I am preparing a creative project in the field of cars and motorcycles. I ran the Enduropale du Touquet 11 times with a 90th place as the best ranking and I did ten seasons in the French Sables Championship with a top 80 each year. I also finished 18th in the Rallye du Maroc 2018 in Enduro Cup (50th scratch) and like Arthur I did three Paris-Roubaix amateur bikes in 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Dakar - Two Ch'tis in Arabia: Arthur Planckart and Quentin Bouche prepare for their first Dakar - Used YAMAHA

MNC: Why the Dakar ? 

A. P. : It’s a childhood dream! My uncle, Alain Padou, participated several times in the 70s and 80s with a nice 6th place overall (in 1981 on Honda 500 XLS, Editor’s note).

Q. B. : For the legend and the surpassing of oneself. The Dakar is a real project to be carried out to get there.

"Everything will be overhauled in Saudi Arabia"

MNC: What are your main assets for this first Dakar which will take place in unknown territory, Saudi Arabia? Do you have fears ?

A. P. : As a novice, I have no preconceptions but I know that from our experience, we will be comfortable in the sand. The sporting advantage is that no one has ever ridden in Saudi Arabia, even the top players in the discipline. Everything will be overhauled !

Q. B. : We are determined not to let go and finish !

Arthur and Quentin : Anything can happen on the Dakar and our main fear would be to end it prematurely due to a mechanical, physical or external problem.

MNC: You will be riding a WR 450 but have you tried the new Tenere 700 ? 

Arthur and Quentin : Yes, we will be riding the Yamaha 450 WRF Rallye Replica. We haven’t tested the 700 because it’s not yet released, but we should be able to test it if needed. The motorcycle seems perfect for going on an adventure !

"We play sports every day"

MNC: What is your program (physical training, piloting, various procedures, etc.) during these 6 months preceding the big departure for Saudi Arabia? ?

Arthur and Quentin : We play sports every day (cycling, swimming, running and circuit training). Obviously we also do a lot of motorcycle riding to keep pace (enduro, cross and sand). In winter, we participate in the races of the championship of France of the sands (CFS) and in other sporting events such as the Paris Roubaix amateur, triathlon, Half Ironman, etc.). Above all, there is a lot of work to find partners and funding. We thank all of our current sponsors for their support, as well as our friends and families who help us make this project happen..

120,000 euros budget

Whether in 2020 – fingers crossed – or in 2021 – it’s not that far away – Arthur Planckart and Quentin Bouche will be supported in this adventure by Drag’on Distribution and Axel Dutrie for infrastructure, motorcycle rental and logistics.

Until then, they are launching a campaign to raise the necessary funds: 15,000 euros for registration, 12,500 euros for the rental of motorcycles, 14,000 euros for mechanics and 18,500 euros for licenses, accommodation, flights, visas, etc., or around 60,000 euros each. "Part of this pot will be donated to the Les Petits Princes association in the form of a donation, because the Dakar is our childhood dream so it is normal to help this association which makes the dreams of sick children come true", explain the two pilots.

Le Journal moto du Net wishes them good luck and will not fail to follow them closely, just as we will follow the Frenchwoman who is also preparing her everything. …

Video presentation: Road to Dakar

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