What did it mean to win again, four years after your first victory ?
If to be more exact, in my career I already had 3 first Dakar places: in 2010 Chagin’s crew, where I was a mechanic, became a winner of the race. And as a pilot, you are right, I was twice a champion in the truck category – in 2013 and 2017. For the last-year our crew was striving for 4 years. And those were difficult years. In rally-raids as a human factor so preparedness of trucks are of high importance there. But this also is not enough. You need good luck! And those three components did the desired puzzle for us in 2017. Of course, it is indescribable feeling of at the same time happiness, pride and satisfaction that efforts of many people led to successful outcome.
How did you build your victory last year ?
I would like to emphasize that when we speak about victory we often speak about victory of a crew, not only of a pilot. Our last year success is based on the team tactics, reliability of the truck, coordinated work of the crew and added to it good luck that I have spoken before.
How did you prepare during the year for this Dakar-2018?
My personal preparation for Dakar-2018 started the next day after the finish of the race in 2017. It is true. I think that it is even easier to win than to keep the result. That what our crew faced with in 2013. We are certainly more experienced now than then and we will try to keep our champion title. During the year we had an active competitive practical training, also we worked a lot on modernization of trucks and were focused on our own physical form.
What is your objective ?
The target is to be on the podium. It is also important to test a range of new technical decisions, implemented into our trucks, we hope that our trucks will not let us down.
This is the 40th édition, what does it mean for you ?
I already had an “anniversary” Dakar. The thirtieth, in 2008. It was to become our first international rally within the crew of Vladimir Chagin. But unfortunately the race was cancelled. Therefore you may understand how eagerly I waited for this 40th edition. Because organizers traditionally try to make anniversary races special and memorable. I hope very much that the upcoming Dakar will be remarked as for our team so for our crew only for positive emotions.
