ZIMBABWEAN off-road motorbike racer Ash Thixton says he is short on funds ahead of a historic maiden appearance at the iconic Dakar Rally which revs off in Saudi Arabia next Friday.
Thixton will become the second Zimbabwean rider to fly the country’s flag at the biggest annual rally raid after Graeme Sharp in 2020.
Sharp became the first Zimbabwean rider to finish the race at the time.
The 30-year-old Thixton is set to leave the country for Saudi Arabia on January 1 and has made a last minute plea for funds to ensure a smooth participation at the event.
“There are some really good sponsors who have come on board to help me most of the way. We are still slightly short of funds which we are hoping to pay in early January,” Thixton told NewsDay Weekender Sport yesterday.
However, he could not reveal the exact figure that he requires.
“A big shout out should go to the Zimbabwe community a lot of people handed in kind donations and the smaller amounts by more people really helped,” he said.
“I just need to uphold that they really got me through this and we are just short of funds and we are just trying to push last minute to try and secure some funds. So if there is anyone out there who would like to help, I would love to chat.”
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Sponsors who have come to Thixton’s aid include AtlasAgri, ICC Paint, RK Fuels, Amalinda Safari Collection, The Wicked Family, Curverid Tobacco, TT Motorcycles, Migym Zimbabwe, ZTN Prime, Grand Air Charter Services, ACE - Air and Ambulance Emergency Service and Grundy Glen, among others.
Thixton will compete under the HT Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing team which comprises 2023 W2RC Rally3 champion Ardit Kurtaj.
Other team members include Belgian Joris Van Dyck, American Weston Carr, Gwen Backx of Belgium, another Belgian Pierre Saeys, Uruguayan Fabian von Thuengen, Ganzorig Chuluun of Mongolia and South African Charan Moore.
The Zimbabwean is modest in his targets at Dakar Rally and is simply looking at finishing the race.
“I am extremely ready but I am also extremely nervous. It’s been a three year – goal that we are about to achieve. I think I have done my time so the Dakar Rally challenge is going to be the biggest one I have ever had, so I am ready,” Thixton said.
“I do plan on taking it easy at the beginning and just seeing how the whole event unfolds so that I can prepare throughout the whole Dakar. I am definitely going there to finish (the race).”
