Unrepentant: Who remains firm in his behavior, attitude, ideas or intentions, despite punishments, warnings or advice.
The definition fits perfectly to Isaac Feliu, an unrepentant motorcyclist. Irreducible. Persevering, like the rain that falls in Castellolí. Only in this way, out of unrepentance, is it understood that he returns to run the Dakar after being on the verge of staying in the rally in his debut.
That January 11, 2022 will be recorded for a lifetime. Because it was the day he was born again. In the ninth stage, when he was 69th overall, the rider of the Original by Motul category (those who race without assistance of any kind) crashed at 160 km/h when he overtook another motorcycle.
The war report was terrifying: cracked seventh cervical vertebra, fracture of the fibula of the left leg, broken fourth metatarsal of the right foot, trauma to the chest, concussion...
–I was talking nonsense for three weeks. The physical thing is fixed, but mentally it took me a long year to get back to what I am. I have lost two months of memory, I do not remember the nine stages that I competed nor the month and a half that I was hospitalized, and I have also lost my sense of smell – says Feliu.
–I was born again –he admits.
And yet, he returns to the Dakar. Any mortal or fool would risk it again in the toughest rally – and with the most mortality – in the world. Why does Isaac Feliu, an amateur pilot, husband and father of two children, ages 16 and 8, insist?
Well, you could say that because of a pending account.
–But not because of personal obstinacy, but because of business... I was saying for a long time that I would not return. I didn't like the Dakar even when I went the first time, but I decided to run it because I saw it as the only opportunity to promote my company, Twin Trail, of accessories, equipment and trail motorcycle driving courses... I can say that I am champion of Spain of rallies or the Hellas Rally, and nobody knows what it is. But you say you've run the Dakar and the supermarket knows what it is. It gives you much more impact – he argues.
So his initial project was to compete in the Dakar 2022 with Carles Falcón, his partner and friend, because the media visibility of the rally would give “another boost to the company.”
–However, with the accident, the project was suddenly closed and left unfinished. I couldn't go the following year because I wasn't well, and this year, now more physically recovered, I had it in my head that I had to close this episode - says the businessman -. We spent 200,000 euros in 2022, and 150,000 for this Dakar, and we have not been able to close the project.
Feliu does not hide it: he has never been truly passionate about the Dakar, as is the case with many drivers.
–Let's see... It's not that I didn't like the Dakar, it's that running the Hellas Rally of Greece costs me 5,000 euros and the Dakar, 200,000. I prefer to run 40 races that I like for the price of one that has an exorbitant price, so prohibitive that I saw it as inaccessible. I followed the Dakar on TV, I found it interesting... but what I like is riding a motorcycle. I'm a bit like Räikkönen, who liked racing, but not all the paraphernalia of F-1 – he illustrates.
It is clear: the Dakar, as many drivers criticized when it left Africa and became increasingly an ASO business, is an exclusive brand only available to powerful manufacturers and teams, and deep pockets.
That is why the pilot from Lleida opted for his debut and now he is once again betting on racing in the Original category, the most modest, that of the pilots who race bareback, with what they are wearing.
–Because it is the cheapest. And because I like mechanics and I have always done everything myself. I feel that the original Dakar is the adventure, going with your motorcycle and doing everything yourself; everything else is the professional Dakar, which is out of my reach. I have no assistance, no masseuse, or anything. And this year they have become even stricter: not even my press assistant can come with me. We cannot even receive visitors. We look like criminals... –she laughs.
And return to the Dakar once your business project is complete?
–I say it's over, but if the company is doing very well and I feel like we have to come back, I don't rule it out. But I'm already telling you that I don't want to go to the Dakar 10 more times... I can't tell you if it's engaging because I don't remember how it was...
