Will Willem reach the Dakar?

For as long as I can remember, I have dreamt of being one of those “phantoms of the desert.” Picture the hot Sahara Desert, a mirage in the distance, and the sound of a big-bore rally bike going flat out, piercing the quiet desert, a trail of dust rising up in the distance.

Have you ever thought about diving headfirst into an adventure where all you have is a paper scroll (roadbook), guiding you through thousands of kilometers over several days? The mix of thrill, terror, adrenaline, adventure, the uncertainty of arriving intact (or not), and the ultimate sense of accomplishment—it's a unique experience that few other adventures offer in our world. Join me in this extraordinary journey, and let me guide you on how to embark on it yourself.

I have decided to finally act on my lifelong dream. Many of you who have known me for a long time will breathe a sigh of relief, as I have spoken of doing the Dakar for as long as I can remember.

The Dakar of old is a distant memory from an era of adventure long past. Gone are the days when you set off into the unknown with no support and armed with nothing but your confidence, your will to succeed, and your drive for adventure.

While still being the longest, toughest, and most grueling motorsport race on the planet, the challenge now encompasses finding funds, gaining relevant experience, balancing work and family life, and a host of other challenges. As many Dakar competitors will attest, “doing the Dakar is the easiest part of the journey; simply getting to the start line is the true challenge.” As a lifelong Dakar hopeful, I can attest to that fact.

While at the time of this writing, Dakar 2025 is a mere year away, my planning and preparation had already started in March of 2023.

While researching the Dakar, I came across many people who started the journey but never finished, and in many cases, never even stood on the start podium. This was because they did not realize or necessarily understand what it would take to actually get there. I was also not able to find a clear, concise, or relatable account of how to actually get to Dakar.

So my goal for 2024 is to document my entire journey to the Dakar Rally 2025. This process will include podcasts, videos, blog posts, social media posts, radio, etc., across a variety of platforms.

Showing the ins and outs of “how to get to Dakar” will not just focus on the two weeks of the race but the entire year before. When I am done, there will be a realistic and accessible road map to Dakar that anybody who is interested in ever doing the race (something that does not currently exist) can access.

The Dakar Rally is the most expensive race in the world. If you count up all the very real expenses, just the entry is $18,000, team support and bike rental is $65,000, airfare, protective gear, accommodation, FIM License are another $10,000. You stop counting after you reach $100,000, and you start asking yourself why you would spend so much money on a race. Surely there are better, more sane, more responsible, and more rational things to do with your money.

Here is the thing, dreams are not rational, and achieving them is never easy. Asking for help is always hard, much more so for the type of person who always wants to do everything himself and to prove that he does not need help.

Well, I need help, and I need support, and I am man enough to admit it.

I vow that I will focus every ounce of my being and ability on making this dream a reality. I want to bring you with me on my journey, not just as I surf the dunes of Saudi during the first two weeks of 2025, as you eagerly await any news from Dakar and hopefully share the special time with your kids, but I want to bring you along for the entire journey.

I want to show that achieving dreams is possible, but that it takes real hard work, effort, and A LOT of sacrifice.

I undertake to document my journey, the good, the bad, and the ugly, and to share it with you in as raw and honest way as possible. With those of you who dream of going to Dakar one day, with those of you who just like a challenge, and with those of you who still believe that passion and grit can get the job done.