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Since a child, Sébastien Cojean has dreamt of the moment his Dakar dream would be realised. Always on two wheels, even from a young age, he started riding BMX competitively at the age of six, going on to forge a career in the sport. Later, in his teenage years, he made the switch to something a bit more powerful than pedal power and bought his first off-road bike.
After many years riding and competing in enduro and motocross, Sébastien felt the time was right to make his Dakar dream a reality. In 2020, he signed up to the Dakar Rally in the Original by Motul category, the tough solo class were riders complete the course completely unassisted. To call it an adventure is an understatement.
Passing the finish line in the 2020 edition was a momentous occasion for the French rider, especially as he was nursing an injury he sustained during the event. But in typical Dakar fashion, Sébastien showed the sort of grit that makes these riders different from the rest of us. Instead of giving up, he gritted his teeth and dug in.
“In the previous Dakar Rally, I broke my wrist,” he said. “The race doctors strongly advised me to stop running. But for me, that was out of the question. I took two paracetamol pills and made a splint around my wrist to continue. I even drove with a rubber band around the throttle.
Now he’s back for another crack at the Dakar on board his Husqvarna FE 450, hoping this time to avoid injury and to once again cross the finish line of this epic race. His 2020 contention also gave him a solid introduction to motorcycle mechanics, something he has been building on and improving in preparation for the 2022 edition.
“I’ve competed in the Merzouga rally and the Dakar in 2020. Before that, I had never done any mechanical work, so it was quite an adaptation. I learned a lot from my friends.”
One area that Sébastien doesn’t need any help with is lubricants. He is already a Motul convert and has been using the products for a number of years on his bikes and even in his boat. “I use Motul products for all my vehicles. They really are excellent products.” 
Aside from the mechanics aspect, it takes a lot to train and get yourself mentally and physically fit to race in the Dakar, a two-week off-road traverse of Saudi Arabia. What are Sébastien’s shortcuts to success?
“I chase wild boar and eat croissants [laughs],” said the married father of two. “Of course, I also train physically and try to prepare the bike as good as possible.”
Name: Sébastien Cojean
Nationality: French
Age: 41
Bike: Husqvarna FE 450
Previous Dakar rallies: 1
© Pictures: DPI / ASO
