Out-of-practice biker is the first Maltese to tackle one of the world’s toughest motor races from the Eiffel Tower to the capital of Senegal, with no GPS help
A 40-year-old biker who was 10 years out of the saddle is about to become the first Maltese to attempt the Paris to Dakar rally.
Kevin Camilleri and his British teammate, Perry Newton, 45, will be taking on one of the world’s toughest motor races to raise funds for the Malta Community Chest Fund, Cancer Research UK and Unicef UK.
Neither man has attempted a rally before. “But we wanted to show people that you don’t have to be young and carefree to take on huge challenges,” Mr Camilleri told a press conference yesterday.
“The rally is a boyhood dream. It’ll be tough but we’re strong enough... aren’t we?” laughed Mr Newton, looking a little unsure.
With Maltese flags on their helmets, they will set off on their modified KTM 690R Enduro bikes from under the Eiffel Tower on September 27.
Leaving their wives, children and home comforts behind, they will race through France, Spain, Morocco and Mauritania before arriving in the Senegalese capital Dakar on October 13... if all goes to plan.
Along the way they will traverse notoriously difficult desert terrain with only their wits and a road book written in French to get them through the Heroes Legends Rally.
Global position systems are banned and they will only meet up with their support mechanics each evening when – or if – they make it to their designated camp sites. Mr Camilleri and Mr Newton have worked as senior managers at Azure Resorts Malta for the past nine years.
Four years ago they rediscovered their youthful passion for biking when Mr Newton watched documentary Long Way Down, in which Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman travelled on motorbikes from Scotland to southern Africa to raise money for Unicef.
Without telling his friend, Mr Newton ordered them both a BMW GS and soon they were travelling through 15 European countries in 15 days.
They have been training for the race for the past two years in the UK and Morocco with the Desert Rose Racing team, owned by Patsy Quick, the first British woman to complete Dakar rally in 2006.
The daring duo have dubbed their attempt Kevin and Perry Go Dakar, after the 1990s British comedy film Kevin and Perry Go Large, which featured two hapless friends in Ibiza.
“Every time we went training with Desert Rose we seemed to have funny mishaps and everyone who knew the film found it hilarious,” Mr Newton said.
Although registered as a Maltese team, Mr Camilleri and Mr Newton will be sharing mechanics with the British team.
Malta sports council director Joe Caruana Curran said the Maltese and the Brits had won many battles together in the past and he was sure they could overcome this challenge together.
He urged the public to get behind the duo and donate generously.
In a video message, President George Abela joked: “I’ve always thought some sportsmen are a little crazy and that could apply to these two.
“What they’re doing is a really tough test. I wish them all the best and I hope they take care of their health.”
The challenge is being funded by private sponsors and from Mr Camilleri and Mr Newton’s own pockets, meaning all donations go directly to charity.
“Raising money for charity is an extra incentive for us not to give up,” Mr Camilleri said, adding he never dreamed he would one day represent his country in a sport and he was honoured to do so.
Donations can be made by SMS on 5061 6134 (€1.16), 5061 7387 (€2.33), 5061 8064 (€4.66), 5061 8936 (€6.99) or 5061 9231 (€11.64).
Visit www.kevinandperrygodakar.com.