With the national flag fixed proudly to his motorbike, Kevin Camilleri became the first Maltese rider to complete the Heroes Legend Paris to Dakar rally yesterday.
The 40-year-old biker took the chequered flag in the Senegalese capital in 10th position overall after racing 6,500km in 15 days.
“I thought about giving up many times, but knowing I had the chance to become the first Maltese to do it kept me in the race,” Mr Camilleri told The Sunday Times by phone from Dakar yesterday.
Mr Camilleri and his British teammate, Perry Newton, 45, conquered one of the world’s toughest motor races to raise funds for the Malta Community Chest Fund, Cancer Research UK and Unicef UK.
They set off on their modified KTM 690R Enduro bikes from under the Eiffel Tower on September 27.
Leaving their families behind, they raced through France, Spain, Morocco and Mauritania before finishing in Dakar yesterday at 1.30pm local time, relying mostly on their wits and a book written in French.
Along the way they had to battle flash floods in Spain and exhausting sand dunes, dehydration and temperatures touching 50˚C, often riding for 15 hours a day.
They could only meet up with their support team each evening when – or if – they made it to designated camps.
One of the biggest tests came last Tuesday, when the pair got separated as they battled high dunes and camel grass.
Running low on water and fuel, both men were forced to sleep out in the desert, with Mr Newton eventually getting airlifted back to camp by helicopter and treated for dehydration.
Mr Camilleri and Malta resident Mr Newton, who placed 13th overall, have worked together as senior managers at Azure Resorts Malta for the past nine years.
They raced alongside a British team from Desert Road Racing and Mr Camilleri said that though he won’t miss the oppressive heat, he will miss the camaraderie.
Having said that, he can’t wait to see his wife and children again when he touches down in Malta on Tuesday morning, having been away for three-and-a-half weeks.
Mr Camilleri and Mr Newton’s participation in the Heroes Legend Paris to Dakar was funded by private sponsorship and their own money, meaning all donations go directly to their chosen charities.
Donations can still 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.