Interview with Lidia Ruba and Juan Morera, winners of the Dakar Classic 2023 with the MOMABIKES team.

Thank you very much Juan Morera and Lidia Ruba for dedicating this interview to us and for representing Momabikes wherever you are. Thanks also for giving visibility to the project of the NGO Biciletas Sin Fronteras. We are very proud to have seen you starring in the Dakar Classic 2023 in the first place since the 2nd stage.

 


- Last year you had already entered the Dakar with a Panda 4x4, this year you changed it for a Toyota 4x4 model HDJ80. It is clear that it has been a change for the better, what have been the benefits you have found by changing model?


The Panda was a personal challenge, no Fiat Panda had ever finished a Dakar and we wanted to be the first to do it while being competitive, without going for a ride... The main problem is the wheels, too small for the rocks and also too small for the sand, it was very hard. We broke many parts every day, we were going for everything and it was impossible. We got to second place overall in the 5th stage, but from then on we had to put our foot down because there were no spare parts left and it was very difficult to finish. However, reaching the finish line was an indescribable sensation, we felt even more emotion than this year, arriving at the finish line first. This year everything was easier, the Toyota HDJ80 is one of the best options for a Dakar Classic, it is a very robust car and above all, super reliable.

 


- It was a strange Dakar, full of rain and mud, were you prepared for these setbacks? besides the weather barriers, what other circumstances made the race difficult for you?


The truth is that you never expect rain and mud when you go to the desert, it was very hard and we were not prepared. The tires we have do not behave well in mud, they slide a lot and we suffered a lot more than we thought. In fact the Dakar is also going to suffer because it is part of the experience ... a friend of ours always says the phrase EVERYTHING IS DAKAR! That is applicable to almost all the circumstances there, we use it a lot! In addition to the rain also this year the organization had planned to raise the difficulty a little, 25% they said, combined with the rain there have been sections in which it has been more than 100%, but very fun.

 


- On a personal level, you have been together for 22 years and participating in the race has meant that you have been separated from your family for a long time, how have you dealt with it? Do you think that trust has played a fundamental role in the communication to reach the first place?


We have a 9 year old daughter and 6 year old twins (boy and girl). Valentina, Max and Claudia. It is difficult to be without them every Christmas, especially for their mother. At this age, every Christmas that you don't spend with them is an experience that you will never get back, I can't say no to that. Trust is an ally, but also an enemy, sometimes it is better to go with someone you do not trust so much because you can get to disrespect, there is a lot of stress in the car and managing it is not easy. The most important thing is that what happens in the car, stays in the car, is our motto.

 


- And finally, what has been the best part of this experience? Will we see you again next year in a truck or will you spend Christmas with your family?


The best part of the experience this year, without a doubt, has been winning. We could say otherwise, but it wouldn't be true. Winning a Dakar is a dream, something we saw as unattainable and that we did not even consider. Our goal was to win a stage, it already seemed like a difficult challenge and in the end we won 2, two second places and two third places... not bad!
For next year I wanted to go in a truck, I am preparing one for a year, but Lidia tells me that she does not see herself as a truck driver ... for me the most important thing is to go with her so I have completely changed the project and I am preparing a very special car to which she can not say no ... yes, for the next I do not think I can already ...

TAGS: