N° 028 - TEAM DESERT TOUT TERRAIN
- CROQUELOIS
- Eric
- FRA
- 03/10/1963
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Eric Croquelois: “Rather the Dakar than the family parties”
Eric Croquelois is a one-of-a-kind phenomenon. When asked why he has decided to start his 8th consecutive Dakar, he will answer that he’s not the kind to stick around for family suppers. He’d rather take off during the month of January.
The biker form Boulogne-sur-Mer is a real lively individual and has his very own sense of humour.
To know more about him one only has to check out his past results. In 2001, he witnessed a real nightmare for his first Dakar, losing 12 kilos. “I had all the problems in the world. I think that the only thing I didn’t to on the bike while on the track was the oil change!” He however crossed the finish line in an excellent and surprising 33rd position. The following year he quit the race during stage seven after breaking his sacrum and coccyx. In 2005, he fractured his tibia and fibula during a tricky stage. Since then he has something against rocks but remains in love with the dunes.
Despite all his worries, the unstoppable “croquette” (his nickname) is a regular on the Dakar. On each occasion, he finished within the leading 35 and often came close to the top 20 overall. At age 44, he is without doubt a strong man of the Dakar.
He doesn’t really have a lot more to prove. So why carry on in 2008? His answers are various. “Old bodies like mine need the sun to warm them up. I return for the notoriety because I still want people to call me ‘Dakar’ back home”.
Digging a bit deeper, one will find out that Eric Croquelois doesn’t only do the rally to have fun. He is a real competitor as well as a man in love with Africa. “I only really feel free when I’m in Africa. I would really love to win a special although that isn’t a goal in itself”.
A nonconformist who works as a mechanic, he refuses to be like everyone else. He will this year take off on a 450 Yamaha that he was lent but with the confidence of a confirmed biker. His consistency and his pugnacity have never been put into doubt. So why stop him from going to the desert? “Maybe if I registered for the foreign legion Why not? Guyana is also nice…”
