The stakes are high for Kaitaia resident Michael Shepherd who is clocking up the miles in South America pursuing a lifelong dream to ride in the Dakar Rally. Mr Shepherd saved $50,000 to compete in the mammoth off-road endurance race. His vehicle of choice is a motorbike. About 500 off-road vehicles travelan average of 736km every day during the 9574km long route. The 13-day trip includes treks across the Andes mountains into Chile and back across the Atacama Desert, the world's driest. Mr Shepherd's brother, Auckland Medical School professor Peter Shepherd, said his brother had always been "a bit crazy". "He didn't have any sponsorship so he saved all the money himself. It's something he's always wanted to do. "I'm sure it's been worth it though. Everyone there has told him he's the first New Zealander to ever race a motorbike in this event." Every year several people were killed doing the rally, Professor Shepherd said. Just getting to the end would be an achievement for his brother. "He started second to last in the rankings so if he finished in the top 100 he would be extraordinarily pleased." Since its inception in 1978, the Dakar Rally started from Paris, France and finished in Dakar, Senegal. It was canceled in 2008 amid fears of terrorist attacks. Now, due to political instability in Africa, the race is currently being run in South America for the first time. Professor Shepherd said a couple of motorbike rallies in Morocco had helped to get his brother into shape. The terrain might be a bit like New Zealand, offering some advantages, he said. "`Also all the other riders are doing it for the first time - on the old course some people have done it 10 times before," Professor Shepherd said. "Having said that, it's still a pretty challenging course."
