BBC Newsline

But what an event! It really does seems to be one of the last races to have held fast to that sense of adventure that is sadly lacking in so many events these days.

Unlike elsewhere, the organisers have not allowed heath and safety considerations to sanitise to the point where excitement and adventure are squeezed and eventually suffocated. When you head out into that desert, it is with a sense that you are on your own. It's man and machine against the elements and the terrain - proper adventure!

I had originally thought it might be a good idea to do a piece on somebody from here who had competed in the Paris-Dakar. While trying to find somebody who fitted that bill, I was pointed in the direction of Davy and I'm glad I was. Davy is an immensely likeable and energetic guy with an obvious, infectious enthusiasm for bikes and motorsport. This piece was first broadcast in May 2008.