In pain and against the wind – Rafał Sonik at the start of Atacama Rally

Atacama Rally in Chile and Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina – these are the two August’s rounds that might decide on the final order in the general classification of the FIM World Cup this season. At the moment Rafał Sonik is the leader, but he says that this is the most difficult season in his career and any place on the podium will be a success.

‘In cross-country rallies riders always face difficulties. For the past four years, as I won the World Cup four times in a row, there were times when the wind was blowing sand straight into my eyes. I’ve never had it so bad as it is this season,’ said Rafał Sonik half-way through the rivalry for the win in the quads category.

That is certainly true: during the first round in Abu Dhabi, the defender of the trophy lost the leader’s position and came up eighth, when his engine exploded. In Qatar, damaged control arm would have cost him the win, had it not been for the technical troubles that his most dangerous rival had. In Sardegna, he had an accident whose consequences he feels even now.

‘I wasn’t certain whether I’ll be in sufficient shape to continue my fight for the World Cup in these two rallies, but the intensive rehabilitation regime and proper training allows me to keep on racing. The injured knee hurts, but pain is an inherent element of this sport. You have to bear it to win.

I will fight,’ adds Sonik, ‘but I already got some heavy hits this season, and it wasn’t easy to shake them off. Falls make you stronger, and a place on the podium won in pain and with clenched teeth can taste better and can be more satisfying that just another win. This is my attitude for the two South American rounds. The comforting thing is that it is not me but my rivals who have something to prove.’

The line-up of the Atacama Rally that begins on Sunday is actually very interesting. The Chilean media write about a duel of “eternal rivals” – Ignacio Casale and Rafał Sonik. This battle is rather prestigious in nature, because the true rivals of our rider from Kraków are those quad riders who participate in the World Cup series rallies on a regular basis. Alexis Hernandez (Peru) has only one point less in the classification and his ambition is to take the leader’s position from the Polish rider. Kees Koolen cannot wait to test the fastest quad in existence – Barren Racer – at the Dakar’s routes and to go up by the eight positions he has to the leader. Rodolfo Guillioli, another Dakar regular, wishes to do the same, and the line-up is completed by three young and ambitious Chileans, who will surely race to catch up with their more experienced colleagues.

The contest at Atacama Rally will be opened by the Sunday’s 60-kilometre prologue around Copiapo, where the driest desert in the world will again greet the riders with a carpet of blooming flowers. The route leads to the north, through a rocky Antofagasta region, to the huge dunes near Iquique known from the Dakar Rally. In total, the riders have close to 2000 km to cover.