GIS International is proud to announce its partnership for Dakar 2022.
Meet the man behind the mask: our ambassador, rally rider Mathieu Liebaert.

Who is the man behind the mask?

“My name is Mathieu Liebaert, Belgian rally rider participating in Dakar rally 2022. We’re currently in the GIS Headquarters here in Ghent and I’m super thrilled to have their support for my next big challenge.”

What is your main objective?

“As it is my first Dakar, my main objective is to finish the race. If I can reach that finish line and know that I’ve given the best of myself, I’ll be a very happy man.”

Are there any similarities between GIS and your DAKAR adventure?

“Although what we do is very different, there are a lot similarities between what GIS does on day to day basis and what I’ll be confronted with in the Dakar Rally. For GIS, it’s all about supplying their customers with the best parts in the shortest possible time and at the best price, no matter where they are in the world. For me, it’s all about getting from point A to point B in the fastest and safest way possible. We’ll both be confronted with obstacles on our way, but we’ll rely on our expertise to get the job done. It takes a lot of passion and strive for excellence to get where GIS is today. As all great stories, it started with a dream 20 years ago. For me, my dream started 10 years ago and without passion and continuous improvement, I wouldn’t be able to be at the start of the Dakar Rally.”

How does a rally team work?

“Our rally team works very similar to a company. Every team member has a specific task. The pilots race, the team mechanics make sure that the bikes keep running and the team manager makes sure that everyone has the same objective in mind; and that’s to reach that finish line.”

How important are quality and service when racing in Dakar?

“When you race in a 8000 kilometer rally in the most extreme conditions, you need to be able to focus on one thing and that’s riding. Therefore, the quality of the bike needs to be top notch. Your gear needs to be able to withstand 10 hours of riding per day without being uncomfortable and your team needs to be able to serve the bikes to the highest level.”

 

Check here for direct link to official Dakar website, representing Bike rider #114 Mathieu Liebaert.