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| Story and photos: Laerte Mazza Filho |
For many years, I used to race off-road motorcycle events such as Enduros, Rallys, Motocross and Bajas as an amateur with relative success, but in the last few years I have been riding much less. Usually, I take part in a few classic events that offer good race competition, nice places to ride and a friendly environment. Among these events, the Rally dos Sertoes (www.rallydossertoes.com.br) is an all-time favorite, not only because it offers everything I am looking for, but also because it is one of the biggest off-road events in the world. Each year it takes a different route across Brazil’s hinterland, and its categories include motorbikes, cars, trucks and even a helicopter expedition. Organization is highly professional, and many factories bring their own teams, along with private teams with sophisticated support structures.
But a broken leg earlier in the year took me out of the competition this year. Instead of racing, I decided to make a secret wish come true, which I believe everyone involved in competition has: to attend the race as an outsider, just once. No obligations, no worries, no 3:00 in the morning waking up and dressing that nasty gear, no disappointments when the wrong route is taken by mistake in the special tests, no anxiety waiting for the daily results, no more 160km/h-plus 6th gear on straightways, at full throttle for ten minutes.....
I will try to turn the bitter lemon of not being able to race into a nice, sweet lemonade...My plan is to follow the race caravan with no formal commitments, whenever there is something interesting to visit, I will. For 12 days, I will be mixing the racing atmosphere with pure motorcycle tourism. I will take my time to cool down at waterfalls and tempting rivers, visit natural monuments, archeological sites and historical cities and villages along the way. And not only me, for I have convinced a few buddies to join me in the adventure.
With all that in mind, I finally took the decision I was postponing but I knew I couldn’t help but take: I bought a blue, very cool-looking 950 Adventure S Go!!!! bike. With her as my companion, I will begin my journey on July 1st and try to report to you when it is over. Two days ago, I put her inside the truck that will take her to Goiania, where the race starts, and I am already missing her... |
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My name is Laerte Mazza Filho. I am a Brazilian citizen, 37 years old, married, the father of two nice little girls, and I work full time as a financial advisor for an asset management company. The financial market is, by its very nature, a very stressful activity, and 2004 has been especially hostile. What I need now is a break from the markets: stock market, bond market, currency market, emerging market and even the local neighborhood supermarket.
In fact, I feel just like in Lenny Kravitz’s song: “I want to get away”! Right now, I need some real adventure, and for me, real adventure means motorcycle riding. And a real motorcycle adventure can only mean one bike: the KTM 950 LC8 Adventure. |
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