YAMAHA

“Winning the Ruta 40 and the quad bike world title in front of my family, friends and mechanics was what I wanted to give them.” 

Manuel Andújar has experienced Dakar glory with his quad victory in 2021, which is probably why he also knows how to accept defeat and emerge stronger in search of new and more ambitious goals. In 2023, while third overall, he suffered engine failure at kilometre 70 of stage 11 and could not continue. It was his second consecutive Dakar retirement, which affected the outcome of his W2RC season, which had its best moment with the victory in the Desafío Ruta 40. Looking back over his racing career, Manuel Andújar began in quadcross when he was 18, competing in the USA and Argentina for three years. Later, and searching for new challenges, he decided to venture into rally raid. He knew he had the pace and speed, but he had to master navigation. He made his Dakar debut in 2018, finishing 29th, and the year after he finished fifth. In 2020, he finished fourth in the Saudi Arabian dunes. With great determination, working long hours on the road maps and with psychological preparation, he took on the 2021 Dakar. He took the overall lead on stage 7 and dedicated himself to containing Giovanni Enrico to secure the win. Manuel shed tears on the final ramp and received the Touareg trophy draped in the colours of the Argentinean flag and his beloved football club, Boca Juniors. In 2021, "Manu" won almost every event he raced - three victories and a P3 - and the World Championship in the quad category, ahead of the legendary Rafal Sonik. Dakar glory has not changed the life of this rider from the interior of the province of Buenos Aires, in the heart of the Argentinean Pampas. Manuel has an uncomplicated demeanour, follows Boca everywhere he goes, devotes hours and hours of care to his donkey Ofelia and his dog Dakar, and even makes time for public service, spearheading a helmet awareness campaign for motorcyclists in his hometown. Although he says his main goal is the Dakar, the native of Lobos is going for it all and wants to win both the race and the championship for his country.