Al Ula – «The Dakar is a dream. It always has been, even if we didn’t plan it that way.” Gioele Meoni is a big boy, 28 years old and a name that makes everyone’s heart beat at the bivouac, regardless of nationality. In the name of his father, winner of two Dakars (2001-2002) and the Italian who gave KTM its first victory after seven years of presence on rallies. Success that decreed the beginning of a dominion that lasted 18 years. Thus, 18 years after the promise of one day racing the Dakar together, Gioele showed up at the bivouac for his absolute debut on the queen of rally raids. A strong boy, blond curls, light eyes and a generous smile that is very reminiscent of his father. The same way of driving. Even the motorbike is the same, a KTM, the colors are identical (silver and orange), like the orange and blue uniform with many of father’s sponsors who followed Gioele in this undertaking.
How did you feel entering the bivouac for the first time as a pilot?
«It was a very strong emotion. You are catapulted into a parallel world where everything is new. The bivouac is a huge village that requires some getting used to, but it soon becomes a big family. For me it’s a dream come true. It’s not exactly how we thought it would be when I was ten years old with dad. He won’t be with me, but from up there I’m sure he will follow me and help me. After 18 years I decided to make many sacrifices and show up at the start. Walking through the door of the bivouac as a pilot gave me goosebumps.”
Was it more of an emotional or financial effort?
«Knocking on the door of his sponsors I realized how much good he had sown. Many believed in me so I’m happy. The sacrifices are more at a family level. This race requires absolute dedication and a lot of training because you have to arrive prepared. It’s better to suffer at home than here, so my mother Elena followed me a lot.”
He debuts in the Malle moto class, without assistance, the hardest category. It’s a tough choice
«This class represents the spirit of the origins. It is what most reminds us of the years when we raced in Africa. With dad we talked about doing the race without ambitions of ranking in the malle moto, because the essence of the race is to challenge the desert, the weather and the fatigue alone. It’s a bigger unknown because you risk not finishing, but if you finish the satisfaction is enormous. We had said we would do this trip together with my 18 year old but it wasn’t possible. It’s nice to do it here in Arabia. The landscapes where we are are magical. This desert is very reminiscent of Mauritania and southern Morocco.”
Sitting next to Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz and Nasser Al-Attiyah he rightfully enters the world of the greats.
«I have no merit, but my father left a trace and everyone, from the organizers to the pilots and ex-pilots, remembers him. For me it is a great honor to hear words of affection from people who didn’t know me, but quickly become familiar.”
Any advice you received?
«I was lucky enough to have trained with many greats, like Cyril Despres who invited me to Andorra. He told me to ask myself when I’m on the motorbike if I’m lucid, if I’m tired and to answer me bluntly, without lying to me. Giò Sala on the other hand told me to hold on because this race is brutal. I wrote it down on my bike. And then Nani Roma, a great friend of dad’s. I went to his house and he told me how his dad trained. He was the first to always train with a rally bike, even on cross-country tracks.”
