New Delhi: Portugal motorcycle racer Joaquim Rodrigues is an all-round talent, having won titles in the motocross, supercross and enduro classes of off-road racing.

The versatile 36-year-old, nickname J-Rod, has now set his sights on ‘Dakar-style’ long-distance, high-endurance rally raid competitions. Looking at his achievements in over 15 years of professional racing, Rodrigues feels he will be able to hold his own at the upcoming edition of the Dakar in his rookie year at Hero MotoSports Team Rally.

In an e-mailed response to questions, the experienced racer said he was preparing for the hard conditions that prevail in the raid.

Excerpts:

On the year gone by:
Last year proved to be a great debut season for me and for Hero MotoSports Team Rally. It was a new team and I was also a rookie in rally racing.

It was a dream debut considering we not only achieved a 100% finish rate in all the rallies we participated in; we also managed to win a race.

We have also been improving with each race and are on the right track to success.

On the experience of working with a new team:
Working with Hero has been perfect for me.

I have worked with some of the best teams and companies in my motocross and super-cross career but working with Hero has provided me with a unique experience. With them things are easy and fast.

If I need something, they make it happen, and that is a sign of a really motivated team that wants to win.

On the new bike and his prospects:
Yes, we achieved some very good results in my rookie year, and I want to congratulate the entire team for making it happen.

I have been getting a lot of good guidance and support from the team and crew, so it is my duty to deliver good results to them.

The new bike provides better handling and stability, is lightweight and makes me feel safer and in total control.

On his training for Dakar:
Training is going quite good. Trying to not overdo it because you don’t want to get hurt at this critical time with Dakar just around the corner.

I have been focusing on riding in sand tracks because we will be in Peru for one week, riding in the difficult sand dunes with high temperatures.

I am also trying to prepare for the tough conditions that Dakar will bring us.

On his expectations:
The two most important things that you have to do consistently to make it to the end of the Dakar are to stay on two wheels avoiding crashes and secondly arrive everyday at the finish line. The results are going to depend on how you manage these two things plus other areas like the navigation.

So I will be just focusing on the basics and not building up any expectations.

At the Dakar you have to manage two weeks of racing in the most difficult conditions.

Thus, just finishing the Dakar is considered a victory in itself.

I am going to take it day by day and aim manage the little points well, that will take me closer to a better result.