The Dakar Rally is an annual two-week, off-road endurance race across thousands of kilometers of challenging desert terrain that pushes both racers and machines to the breaking point. The race includes off-road cars, trucks, motorcycles and UTVs competing across multiple timed stages and navigating without GPS. Competitors require professional driving and precise navigation skills, physical endurance and mechanical aptitude, none of which provide assurance of completing the race. Roughly 30% of entrants do not finish.

For Martin Camp, racing is life, and motorcycles are the gateway to freedom and adventure. After skipping the Dakar for decades to focus on family and career, his lifelong dream of competing in the Dakar Rally is drawing closer as he approaches his 60th birthday. Camp recently committed to racing the 2026 Dakar in Saudi Arabia, requiring an intense training regimen to prepare himself, his bike and his team.

Camp was introduced to racing at a young age, competing with four brothers around South Africa’s Valley of a Thousand Hills and supported by an adventurous father—a wildlife park ranger and car racer. He became a sponsored enduro racer at age 16 and consistently finished in the top five throughout his teens. As an adult, he has continued chasing podiums worldwide, taking him to 54 countries over more than four decades.

“Never give up on your dreams, no matter the age or obstacles.”
– Martin Camp

He has successfully competed in many challenging races, including the British and World Enduro series, Weston-super-Mare, UAE Desert Challenge, Roof of Africa and Baja 1000 in Mexico. Camp also races without a motor, including the grueling 600-kilometer Cape Epic Mountain Bike Race featuring more than 16,000 meters of climbing elevation, and as a three-time finisher of the 90-kilometer Comrades Ultramarathon.

For his 2026 Dakar bid, Camp chose the Kove 450 Rally EX bike for its Dakar-specific design and overall affordability. He is currently cross-training for the event with cycling, mountain biking, enduro and motocross and recently raced unsupported or “Malle Moto” in the Rallye du Maroc in Morocco as a qualifying event for the Dakar. Due to the extreme difficulty, he will race Dakar with a support team to maximize his chance of finishing.

“Dakar is the ultimate challenge and pinnacle of endurance racing. It’s a test of everything.”
– Martin Camp

Desert racing is extremely hard on equipment, so Camp chooses the best products to get him to the finish line and only represents brands he believes in. He uses the full range of AMSOIL products in all his vehicles, including engine oils, brake fluids and hydraulic fluids. In addition to choosing the best equipment and lubrication, Camp emphasizes the need for physical endurance, mental strength and precise navigation skills for a successful Dakar run.

Racing is also hard on the body and Camp is no stranger to injury, but he never quits and always repurposes setbacks as motivational and learning opportunities. He continuously gives back to the sport through race and product promotion, routing and navigation training and mentoring young riders toward successful careers in international racing. And following in his father’s footsteps, he is also an avid wildlife supporter, helping build an environmental radio network focused on preventing poaching.

Martin Camp views completing the Dakar Rally as a milestone in his racing journey and the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. He plans to continue adventuring, mentoring riders and promoting AMSOIL long after the sun sets on Dakar. We can’t wait to be part of his journey. You can follow Martin Camp on YouTube, Instagram and Facebook.