Dakar 2017: David Casteu

You don’t find people rushing for a selfie with a team manager! David, Sherco’s new team manager is a very popular fellow at the ceremonial start in Asuncion in Paraguay with the ladies (who are mighty fine, I must add) rushing to take pictures with him. I put it down to the charm of a Frenchman, and only later do I find out the guy smiling for all those pictures is David Casteau. He has ridden the Dakar 13 times with a best finish of second on the 2007 edition with the KTM factory 690. Peterhansel, Coma, Roma, Depres, all were his contemporaries and he was right up there at the sharp end of the field.

This is his first year as team manager, a very important job as he keeps reminding me. David’s a super-chirpy guy, full of energy as you would expect of somebody who has done 13 Dakars on a bike.