AMERICAN RALLY ORIGINALS

The Toughest Thing... Ever

- David Pearson and Kyle McCoy

The human spirit pushes so many of us to find the limits of what "tough" means. But how do you define the toughest thing you've ever done? Was it tough physically, mentally, or emotionally? Going in, did you know what to expect, or did the difficulty increase over time?

IN the motorcycle world, "tough" is synonymous with the Dakar Rally. Off-road racing fans know the Dakar is one of the hardest challenges in the world-from all aspects and all directions of a competitive sport. Some years, fewer than half the competitors complete the course. With an attrition rate that hovers in the 40-50% range, just completing the event is considered a "win."

When Kyle McCoy finished Dakar in 2020, it was just such an accomplishment. As a former Army Ranger and ultra-runner, Kyle has tested his limits on many occasions, including finishing (and even winning) many extreme and challenging races (think: 150 miles on foot in Antarctica). Despite his success in these competitions of endurance, he wanted more, an even bigger challenge. His mind kept circling back to the racers competing in the Malle Moto class at Dakar. Riders who competed without support; no mechanical help and sleeping on the ground in tents and bags; limited sleep, freezing cold 4:00 a.m. starts; scorching midday desert temperatures; and running for parts, food, and supplies to keep the bike and body moving forward. Kyle saw the pain, frustration, and challenges those riders had to overcome and thought competing in Malle Moto was even tougher than the endurance sports he was competing in. Spurred on by a desire for the ultimate challenge, he decided to return to Dakar as a Malle Moto competitor, determined to finish the toughest race in the world and do it in the toughest class.