Rodney Faggotter's first taste of the gruelling Dakar race came in 2012, when he paired up with another Aussie off-road legend, David Schwarz, both riding Husaberg FE450 machines. He paid his own airfare, entry and logistics, but had guidance from the experienced Gary Connell, who ran the Australian Safari Team at the time and who built the bikes, and Schwarz, who'd finished two Dakar races previously. Unfortunately, a mechanical issue ruined Rod's chance of finishing the event, but his top-20 finish on day three was more than enough to fuel the fire and entice him back for another crack.
The followingg year saw Rod return to Dakar, hiring a Rally Replica YZ450F through the satellite Europe-based HFP Yamaha team.
He turned some heads when he finished 14th overall, which was an incredible result. Rod thought this result would have opened a door for a ride the following year that didn't cost him a small fortune out of his pocket to get there, but he had to wait until 2017 when Yamaha decided to enter a full factory team and they needed a quick, reliable rider with good mechanical knowledge to act as a water boy. “After that 2013 Dakar race, I needed financial help or the support of a factory team to get back the following year,” recalls Rod.
