MATTHIAS WALKNER WINS THE 2017 OILIBYA MOROCCO RALLY

“It’s been a long event and I’m really happy that I won it. During the last few days we were faced with overflowing rivers, long stages with tricky navigation and a series of other things that could have completely changed the outcome of the event. This is my first victory in the championship and it feels good.”

“The new bike has given me a lot of confidence to push and take my riding into a new level. I’m happy with my performance here in Morocco and this is very important heading into the Dakar Rally now. It makes the next three months a lot easier for me. The team have done an awesome job and we are all looking forward to the Dakar Rally.”

“I think I’ve made a good come-back to rally racing and I’m happy about that. All the members of our team have done an incredible job here in Morocco and this gives me extra motivation to continue working hard. The new bike is a big improvement and a pleasure to race. Our eyes are set now on the big challenge – the Dakar Rally. There’s still a long way to go and I want to be ready for the race in January.”

“It’s been a tough week of racing and I’m really happy with eighth overall. This result is maybe even better than what I expected. I felt really good on my bike since day one here in Morocco. The most important thing for me is that I managed to get a good speed in the dunes and the desert and that is really encouraging for the Dakar. I feel very confident heading into the big event in January.”

“I learned a lot during these last few days and I already feel stronger. Navigation was tough at this year’s Morocco Rally and you had to remain focused on avoiding mistakes. My pace was good throughout the week and I didn’t make any big mistakes. I’m also very happy because I won the Junior class. I feel great with my team and now I’m looking forward to the Dakar Rally.”