Five Minutes With Rod Faggotter

Transmoto’s Martin Child has a quick yarn with Rod Faggotter, the 2013 Australasian Safari winner.

Martin: Firstly Rod, congrats. Nice to get that Safari monkey off your back?

Rod: Thanks, and it sure is. After six attempts (and finishing second at my first go back in 2008), I always hoped I could go one better.

So what’s happened, Safari-wise, since that first race?

It’s been a mixed bag, that’s for sure. I’ve had podiums and problems in equal measures. A couple of wheel bearing failures have robbed me of certain top-three finishes and I’ve had a broken hand lead to retirement and another one that I rode with for five days to claim a painful podium.

It certainly is a tough event. How are you feeling today (two days after wining the 2013 event)?

I actually feel great, not sore at all and there’s not a scratch on me. I managed to not fall off the bike for the entire seven-day event, so that helps. But these races are always more mentally tough than they are physical. Mechanicals aside, you win or lose in your head.

Speaking of which, how about the Smith’s luck?

It’s a shame, but that’s the way it goes. We’ve all been there. With Jake out on the first day and Todd gone a few days later, it did leave a bit of a hole in the race for me. By knowing you’ll win just by keeping on as you are brings its own pressure. I’d much rather be pushing right to the end of the race than be in conservation mode and risk losing focus.

So how does the Safari compare to the mother of all adventure races, the Dakar? It doesn’t! The Dakar is like this on crazy steroids. The time, effort and costs involved are plain mad. Reckon on $100k to go and get on that startline. At that base price, you’ll sleep on the ground every night and prepare your own food – as there’ll be no money to pay for a helper. And that’s fine for the first week, but you lose strength and concentration after that. To give it a decent go and dip inside the top ten, figure on an extra $50k over that.

In 2013, you were Australia’s top-placed finisher, coming home 14^th Outright. How’s the plans the 2014 Dakar looking?

Slim, very slim. At this moment, and despite fund-raising all the time, it’s looking like I won’t be going. Unless you get a top three finish, it’ll cost everything you’ve got to race there. Even though I’m riding better than ever, my family would have to suffer too much for me to race, such is the nature of this dangerous and expensive pastime!

So you’re looking for a sugar daddy, then!

Believe me, I’ve tried. But it’s more realistic to look towards the domestic races for next year, at least. Especially now I’ve a title to defend!

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For the full results from the 2013 Australasian Safari, click here.