Purevdorj Murun has been racing bikes for over a decade, primarily specializing in rallies in his dwelling nation of Mongolia and different nations in Asia. In January, he’ll head to West Asia for his Dakar Rally début.
Murun competes in motocross and rallies throughout Asia, whereas additionally having fun with success again dwelling such that he was named “The Finest Moto Rider” of 2023 by the Mongolian Car Bike Sports activities Federation. His father Purevdorj Bayarjargal additionally does cross-country rally in a side-by-side car.
He had tried to use for the earlier three Dakars however was rejected every time earlier than lastly being accredited for the 2025 version.
“Lengthy-distance cross-country racing is my favourite sport,” Murun informed Ergelt. “Any such competitors lasts a minimum of three days. The Dakar Rally, referred to as the Olympics for motorsports lovers, lasts fourteen days. It’s not simple to make use of all of the power you need to journey an off-road bike for for fourteen days. But it surely’s a great problem and the most effective probability to signify your nation in a world competitors.”
In February, he entered his first World Rally-Raid Championship occasion on the Abu Dhabi Desert Problem within the United Arab Emirates. Regardless of the odd snag like getting caught within the dunes for twenty minutes in Stage #2, he impressed by ending seventh total in Rally2 with a finest each day efficiency of seventh in Stage #4.
From there, Murun centered on two of the hardest rally raids in Asia. In June, he completed ninth on the Taklimakan Rally in China; regardless of an engine drawback, he ran high 5 and in podium vary for the ultimate 5 days. Murun went northwards a month later to race the Silk Means Rally, which started in Russia earlier than ending in Mongolia. He set the quickest time total however completed second on account of time penalties.
He plans to start coaching for Dakar in mid-September. Funding for the journey comes from his household and sponsors, and he famous that he doesn’t obtain any monetary assist from the Mongolian authorities.
“The Dakar Rally was only a childhood dream of mine. I all the time mentioned that he would race in Dakar sooner or later, however that distant dream is about to return true,” he continued. “I had been submitting and submitting functions for the race for the previous three years. 150 riders chosen from greater than a thousand compete within the competitors.”
The 2025 Dakar Rally runs 3–17 January. When he arrives in Saudi Arabia, Murun hopes to be the sixth Mongolian to finish the race.
