As seen in The Ground News: Vanessa Ruck, 37, has completed a 6,000 km race that took her from the casinos of Monaco to the Dunes of Dakar, Senegal, in 13 days.
Competing in the Africa Eco Race, which sees competitors race the old Dakar route, she was one of the few to successfully complete the race on her KTM 450 Rally Replica motorbike.
Vanessa said: “I’m absolutely shattered. I don’t think every single muscle in my body, and my brain, have ever been this tired.
“I feel really proud to have to be the first British woman to have done this. I’m not the first to try but to be successful is mind blowing.”
Nicknamed ‘the girl on a bike’, Vanessa’s result is even more incredible considering her near incident in 2014.
While riding her motorbike in the UK, a car pulled in front of her which she hit head-on. She was rushed to A&E with injuries to her head, shoulder, knee, and hip.
Starting bike racing after the incident, Vanessa’s achievements have come on an incredible road to recovery.
On her recent success in the race, Vanessa said: “It’s like I’ve reclaimed control – up until now the toughest thing I’ve ever done was fight on following my accident, but now the hardest thing I’ve ever done is something I chose. It makes me feel so alive.”
One of only 25 out of 46 in her category to complete the full race, she spent 103 hours on her bike and finished 27th overall.
Vanessa followed the race with a visit to Gambia with charity Two Wheels for Life.
The charity aims to fund motorbike transport for healthcare services in Africa.
A brand ambassador for the charity, Vanessa said: “The infrastructure in Gambia is very limited, it’s lot of dirt roads and it’s a long time to get anywhere.
“Motorcycles are ideal due to able to 410km a tank and their agility. Two Wings for Life brings in 66,000 litres of fuel for their 440 vehicles which they then distribute to make sure people can get help.”
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The EasySim.global: Vanessa Ruck, also known as ‘The Girl on a Bike’, made history by becoming the first British woman to finish the gruelling 6,000km Africa Eco Race. The challenging 13-day motorcycle endurance race, which follows the original Pari-Dakar route, proved to be a formidable test of skill and resilience.
Vanessa’s courageous journey
Facing terrain with an attrition rate so high that only 54 percent of the motorcycle category riders successfully completed it, Vanessa tackled sand dunes and blistering temperatures on her KTM 450 Rally Replica motorbike. She not only finished the race, making her the first British woman to do so, but finished 27th overall, an incredible achievement.
“I still can’t quite believe I actually made it the finish,” says Vanessa. “I trained hard and knew I would have to fight with all I have but to finish was my ultimate goal – and I did it! I can now truly understand why finishing the Dakar is such a respected achievement. It was brutal, but epic in so many ways.”
” I can now truly understand why finishing the Dakar is such a respected achievement. It was brutal, but epic in so many ways. “
Battling the odds
Recovering from a severe injury after a dramatic accident in 2014, Vanessa transitioned to off-road motorbike endurance racing. Her progression through tough events resulted in her groundbreaking achievement at the Africa Eco Race.
“Up until now, the toughest thing I’ve ever done was fight on following my accident,” she says. “But now the hardest thing I’ve ever done is something I chose. It makes me feel so alive.”
A triumph over chronic pain
Beyond participating in races, Vanessa now visits schools to inspire children and young people to engage in various sports. As a TEDx and award-winning speaker, she empowers others to realise that anything is possible with determination.
Speaking from Dakar post-race, she shared, “I’m absolutely shattered. I don’t think every single muscle in my body, and my brain, have ever been this tired.” Over 104 hours in the saddle riding, Vanessa emphasises the need for unwavering focus in such races. “You have to be so focused,” she says. “A second of lapse on your focus can mean you get lost, or the rock you don’t see can take you off your bike.”
easySim sponsorship
Navigating challenging terrains across two continents, Vanessa relied on eSIMs from easySim for communication, navigation, and safety. As well as helping Vanessa and her team to provide real-time updates to those following the race, the eSIMs also provided a lifeline in the vast and demanding landscape.
“My focus for the race was racing,” she says. “I didn’t have time to worry about phone connectivity and so easySim was the ideal choice. Effortless set up, plenty of data bundles, and seamless coverage across borders.”
A team effort
Joe Mercer of Desert Rose Racing provided crucial support for Vanessa’s race. Having backed her in previous rallies, Joe brought extensive experience from assisting riders in over 65 rally-raid events.
Vanessa also benefitted from the support of two friends, Anika Bailey and Keri-Anne Thurley, who assisted with nutrition, welfare, and filming for her social channels, as well as providing general psychological support.
Female Power Prevails
Despite skepticism about a woman’s capability to complete the race, Vanessa showed no intention of surrendering despite the physical strain on her body and the hurdles of the competition. Numerous riders experienced crashes on most days, resulting in injuries. By the end, only 25 riders out of 46 completed all stages of the race.
It’s also worth noting that, unlike many sports, the women’s category in this race lacks any differences compared to the men’s. Vanessa faced the identical distance, rode the same-sized bike, and carried the same amount of gear as the male participants – many of whom were at least double her size.
Racing for a purpose
Vanessa also had personal reasons for choosing the Africa Eco Race. Besides the rally’s reputation as one of the toughest races out there, Vanessa was drawn to its ecological and social initiatives. The race supports local communities with programs like Energy of Hope, which provides solar lamps to rural school children. “Over 2,500 lamps have been handed out so far,” Vanessa says. “The rally has funded the planting of over 2,000 trees in the capital of Mauritania as well.”
Vanessa also has a philanthropic angle to her racing pursuits. She is a brand ambassador for Two Wheels for Life, a charity providing healthcare mobility solutions in Africa. “I feel so fortunate to be able to explore the wonders of many parts of Africa while racing,” she says.
“These countries are incredible places to visit, but sadly the health care and transport infrastructure is far from ideal. By working with Two Wheels for Life I have the opportunity to give something back to the people in a part of the world where motorcycles and their effective use literally saves lives.”
Vanessa’s next chapter
Emerging from this monumental challenge, Vanessa now extends her presence to speaking engagements and aims to empower others through her narrative.
“I’ve broken down in tears on stage, I’ve stuttered and had to process the emotions,” she says. “But in my heart, I know it’s worth it. If I can turn my trauma and fight into powerful advice to assist others in their life battles, then it makes what I went through worthwhile – or at least in my head, it helps me process why it had to happen to me.”
For the rest of The EasySim.globalarticle see here.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Offroad Cracks: Experience the thrilling conclusion of AFRICA ECO RACE 2024. Champions crowned, tributes paid, and extraordinary moments on the legendary Dakar route.
This Sunday, the 14th. January 2024, as the tradition since the founding of the AFRICA ECO RACE, ended the 15th. Edition at Lac Rose in Dakar. A real celebration: This parade of winners and finishers on the podium was organized by the Senegalese Auto Moto Federation, the host organization of this event. The ceremony was preceded by the traditional special test on Lac Rose, a 22 km route from Niokob Beach to the mythical lake, where motorcycles are still in the race, Cars and trucks completed the route.
A last honorable fight, but it surprises every year. In the motorcycle category, all drivers of the AFRICA ECO RACE 2024 decided to honor one of them, the disabled driver Nicola DUTTO. To this end, the bikers followed the Italian and his two guardian angels, who accompanied him throughout the rally so that he could open and win this last sector shown.
A tribute to this extraordinary athlete, who has traveled almost 6,000 km of the route, strapped onto his KTM, equipped with a roll cage that protects his legs in the event of a fall. After the race, the three best drivers of the overall standings, the Italian Jacopo CERRUTI on APRILA, also first in the multi-cylinder race -1000 CC, his compatriot Alessandro BOTTURI, also first veteran, and the Andorran Pol TARRES on Yamaha, magnificent bronze trophies.
Afterwards, winners were rewarded in various categories, including the Swiss Alexandre VAUDAN first in the class under 450 CC, also first in the Acerbis Rookie Rider Challenge on KTM, Patrice CARILLON first in the Motul Xtreme Rider Challenge on KTM and the Italian Giovanni STIGLIANO first in the class over 450 CC CC on HUSQVARNA, the Spaniard Juan PEDRERO 1. in the multi-cylinder over 1000 CC on HARLEY DAVIDSON, not to mention the British Vanessa RUCK, the first female driver on KTM. Finally, all drivers who reached the goal received a bronze medal that symbolized performance to remain in the ranking.
The French Gautier PAULIN and Remi BOULANGER, overall winners, were logically the first to place their SSV APACHE on the podium on four wheels, to receive the two bronze trophies and the two trophies in the category SSV T3 U.
Next followed were the Belgians Pascal FERYN and Kurt KEYSERS, second in the rally and first in the 4 × 4 petrol category on their Toyota, while the Spaniards Carlos VENTO and Carlos RUIZ MORENO also led the CAN AM to victory in T4 in third place. The Czech Tomas TOMECEK was rewarded with his TATRA for his fifth victory in the truck category.
The French Frédéric HENRICY and Eric BERSEY emerged as winners from the SSV EXTREME RACE Challenge on POLARIS, the Dutch Teun STAM and Rene BARGEMAN won in 4 × 4 Diesel on TOYOTA, Moroccan Souad MOUTKADIRI was the first African driver to finish the race with her CAN AM, while the Italians Giulio VERZELETTI and Giuseppe FORTUNA won the category Truck -10000 CC on his MERCEDES.
Finally, the Italians Stefano ROSSI and Jacopo CASINI received the Experimental Vehicle Trophy on a hydrogen-powered NISSAN, while Eric and Grégoire COQUIDE won the OPEN category, also on a NISSAN. Not to forget the honor of racing veteran Yoshimasa SUGAWARA,a legend in the discipline and finisher at the age of 83 driving a vehicle that he built himself. In the classic race, the Belgians Tom and Eric CLAEYS received the winner’s cup in front of their compatriots René DECLERCQ and John DEMEESTER, while the Austrian Peter BRABECK-LEMATHE and the Frenchman Jean Michel GAYTE completed the podium.
For the rest of The Offroad Cracksarticle see here.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Dirthub: Vanessa Ruck makes history as the first British woman to conquer the gruelling 6,000 KM Sahara Race on her KTM 450 Rally. Witness her triumph!
Vanessa Ruck fought to the end finishing 27th overall, showing the male dominated industry that women can do it too
First British female ever to finish one of the world’s toughest endurance races
Facing over 6,000km of brutal African terrain with an attrition rate so high that only 54% of the motorcycle category riders successfully completed
The gruelling Africa Eco Race follows the original Pari-Dakar route in an extreme 13-day motorcycle race over sand dunes in blistering temperatures
Over 104 hours in the saddle riding
46 motorcycles started and only 25 riders completed 100% of all stages
Words & Images: The Girl On A Bike
Vanessa Ruck, a UK based and British motorcycle enthusiast, stepped up to a formidable new challenge for January 2024: the 13-day, 6000 km gruelling Africa Eco Race from Monaco to Dakar, Senegal in Africa following the route of the original Dakar Rally. She successfully completed the extreme endurance event on her KTM 450 Rally Replica motorbike, claiming first place in the women’s motorcycle category, and in doing so became the first British Woman to successfully complete the historical event.
Nicknamed The Girl On A Bike, Vanessa Ruck is renowned within the global motorsport community. Vanessa has shown incredible courage and resilience by recovering from severe injury after a dramatic accident and taking up off-road, motorbike endurance racing. In just a few years, she has progressed through some of the toughest events in the calendar, as her skills and strength has improved, culminating in her successful attempt at this years Africa Eco Race!
Infamous for its difficulty, the intimidating Africa Eco Race was set in Vanessa’s mind as a pinnacle event to attempt to complete on a motorcycle. Completing the event is a huge accomplishment in itself, but to do so in such a male dominated environment, makes this achievement even more remarkable. The Africa Eco Race features some of the harshest terrain in Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal. Making completing this task even more notable, she achieved this while fighting through chronic pain, pain that she lives with and manages every day, since her accident back in 2014.
As one of only 25 of the 46 riders in the Moto category in the 2024 event managing to complete the whole course, Vanessa spent over 103 hours in total on her bike.
Nearly ten years on from her accident Vanessa says “It’s like I’ve reclaimed control – up until now the toughest thing I’ve ever done was fight on following my accident, but now the hardest thing I’ve ever done is something I chose! It makes me feel so ALIVE!!”
Now, as well as taking part in races, she visits schools to inspire young girls and boys alike to take part in different sports. As a TEDx and award-winning speaker she is inspiring others to realise that absolutely anything is possible if you put your mind to it, even with a slightly reconstructed body.
Speaking from Dakar following the race, she said: “I’m absolutely shattered. I don’t think every single muscle in my body, and my brain, have ever been this tired.”
She said: “You have to be so focussed. A second of lapse on your focus can mean you get lost, or the rock you don’t see can take you off your bike.”
While tacking the long gruelling days in the desert alone, Vanessa was supported by a team of three. Mechanically such a race requires considerable support which came in the form of Joe Mercer of Desert Rose Racing. Joe has supported Vanessa in all her previous desert rallies in addition to bring experiences from supporting riders in over 65 rally raid events.
She also had two friends, Anika Bailey and Keri-Anne Thurley to support on nutrition, welfare, filming for her social channels, and general psychological support. Logistically they utilised Vanessa’s Land Rover Bowler Defender to tow the support trailer loaded with tools, spares, 10 spare Michelin tyres and over 35kgs of racing nutrition.
Other competitors described the team with three girls as a breath of energy in the desert, always smiling and happy but with fierce focus to make the finish.
Female power While many doubted a female’s ability to finish, Vanessa showed no signs of giving in, despite her bodies pain and the challenges of the race. Most days saw multiple riders crashing out causing both injuries. Also worth noting that unlike in many sports, the women’s category has no variation to the men’s. Vanessa was tackling the exact same distance, on the same size bike and with the same amount of kit as the guys who are often more than twice her size.
Racing for more than just the thrill Vanessa had personal reasons for choosing the Africa Eco race. Besides the rally’s reputation as one of the toughest races out there, Vanessa was drawn to its ecological and social initiatives. The race supports local communities with programs like Energy of Hope, which provides solar lamps to rural school children. “Over 2 and a half thousand lamps have been handed out so far,” Vanessa stated. The rally has also funded the planting of over 2,000 trees in the capital of Mauritania.
Vanessa also has a philanthropic angle to her racing pursuits. She is a brand ambassador for Two Wheels for Life, a charity providing healthcare mobility solutions in Africa.
“I feel so fortunate to be able to explore the wonders of many parts of Africa while racing. These countries are incredible places to visit, but sadly the health care and transport infrastructure is far from ideal. By working with Two Wheels for Life I have the opportunity to give something back to the people in a part of the world where motorcycles and their effective use literally saves lives.”
While most would be signing off for a few weeks rest after such a race, Vanessa is already on route to The Gambia for a weeks charity work supporting Two Wheels for Life. She’ll be utilising her presenting skills and social media reach to help share the story of the work they do within mobilising healthcare in Africa through the use of motorcycles.
Vanessa is an inspiration to many and we congratulate her on her incredible achievement finishing the Africa Eco Race.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Bandw: Experience the thrilling conclusion of Africa Eco Race 2024 at Lac Rose, Dakar, honoring exceptional athletes and celebrating victories across categories.
Sunday, January 14, 2024, as tradition dictates since the creation of the AFRICA ECO RACE, the 15th edition concluded at Lac Rose in Dakar.
A true celebration, this parade of winners and finishers on the podium was organized by the Senegalese Auto Moto Federation, the host organization for this event. The ceremony was preceded by the traditional special stage at Lac Rose, a 22 km stretch from Niokob Beach to the mythical lake, where motorcycles, cars, and trucks still in the race completed the circuit. A final honorable battle that, however, surprises every year.
In the Motorcycle category, all the riders of the AFRICA ECO RACE 2024 decided to honor one of their own, the handicapped rider Nicola DUTTO. To do this, the bikers followed the Italian and his two guardian angels who accompanied him throughout the rally, allowing him to open and win this final timed sector. A way to pay tribute to this extraordinary athlete who covered almost 6000 km of the course strapped to his KTM equipped with a roll cage protecting his legs in case of a fall.
After the race, the top three overall riders, Italian Jacopo CERRUTI on APRILA also 1st in Multicylinders -1000 CC, his compatriot Alessandro BOTTURI also 1st Veteran, and Andorran Pol TARRES on YAMAHA, received magnificent bronze trophies. Subsequently, winners in different categories were also rewarded, including Swiss Alexandre VAUDAN 1st in under 450 CC, also 1st in the Acerbis Rookie Rider Challenge on KTM, Patrice CARILLON 1st in the Motul Xtreme Rider Challenge on KTM, Italian Giovanni STIGLIANO 1st in over 450 CC on HUSQVARNA, Spaniard Juan PEDRERO 1st in Multicylinders over 1000 CC on HARLEY DAVIDSON, not forgetting the British Vanessa RUCK, the first female rider on KTM.
Finally, all finishing riders received a bronze medal symbolizing the feat of staying in the rankings. On four wheels, Frenchmen Gautier PAULIN and Remi BOULANGER, overall winners, logically were the first to place their SSV APACHE on the podium to receive the two bronze trophies and the two trophies in the SSV T3 U category.
Next were the Belgians Pascal FERYN and Kurt KEYSERS, 2nd in the Rally and 1st in the 4×4 Petrol category on their TOYOTA, while in 3rd position, Spaniards Carlos VENTO and Carlos RUIZ MORENO also led the CAN AM to victory in T4. Czech Tomas TOMECEK was rewarded for his 5th victory in the truck category driving his TATRA.
Frenchmen Frédéric HENRICY and Eric BERSEY emerged victorious in the SSV EXTREME RACE challenge on POLARIS, Dutchmen Teun STAM and Rene BARGEMAN won in 4×4 Diesel on TOYOTA, Moroccan Souad MOUTKADIRI finished as the first African female rider with her CAN AM, while Italians Giulio VERZELETTI and Giuseppe FORTUNA clinched victory in the Truck -10000 CC category on their MERCEDES.
Finally, Italians Stefano ROSSI and Jacopo CASINI received the Experimental Vehicle trophy on a NISSAN powered by Hydrogen, while Eric and Grégoire COQUIDE won the OPEN category, also on NISSAN. Also, not to forget to honor the race veteran Yoshimasa SUGAWARA, a legend in the discipline and finisher at 83, driving a vehicle he built with his own hands.
In the Classic race, Belgians Tom and Eric CLAEYS were awarded the winners’ trophy ahead of their compatriots René DECLERCQ and John DEMEESTER, while Austrian Peter BRABECKLEMATHE and Frenchman Jean Michel GAYTE completed the podium.
The ceremony at Lac Rose also featured a parade of around fifty vehicles from the auto and motorcycle raid on the podium to present participants with a souvenir medal. The final highlight of the AFRICA ECO RACE 2024 was the group photo of the 160 members of the organizing team and service providers. Like many competitors, all pledged to be present for the 2025 edition!
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Bournemouth Echo: Bournemouth University graduate Vanessa Ruck became the first British female to complete the Africa Eco Race, a 6,300km long endurance race that covers much of the original route of the Dakar Rally.
The motorcyclist finished 27th overall, with just over half of the motorcycle entries completing all stages across the 13-day event.
After the Dakar Rally moved to be staged in South America and now Saudi Arabia, the African Eco Race was launched with a focus on security issues and sustainable development.
Following technical checks in Monaco, competitors raced from the Moroccan coast, through Mauritania, before finishing in the Senegalese capital of Dakar.
Nicknamed the Girl on a Bike, Ruck successfully completed the extreme endurance event on her KTM 450 Rally Replica motorbike, claiming first place in the women’s motorcycle category after 103 hours in the saddle.
Ruck shared: “I’m absolutely shattered. I don’t think every single muscle in my body, and my brain, have ever been this tired.”
“You have to be so focused. A second of lapse on your focus can mean you get lost, or the rock you don’t see can take you off your bike.”
After recovering from serious injuries sustained after being hit by a car whilst riding her bicycle, Ruck has gone on to became a motivational speaker, sharing her story.
Now, she is giving back by supporting charity Two Wheels for Life, a motorcycle-based charity that aims to ensure life-saving healthcare is available for rural African communities.
“I feel so fortunate to be able to explore the wonders of many parts of Africa while racing,” she continued.
“These countries are incredible places to visit, but sadly the health care and transport infrastructure is far from ideal.
“By working with Two Wheels for Life I have the opportunity to give something back to the people in a part of the world where motorcycles and their effective use literally saves lives.”
Ruck will remain in Africa for a week after completing the rally, working in the Gambia with Two Wheels for Life.
For the rest of The Bournemouth Echoarticle see here.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The BBC: A British woman has finished the grueling 6,000km 2024 Africa Eco Race across the Sahara on a motorbike.
Nicknamed The Girl On A Bike, Vanessa Ruck, who grew up in Tunbridge Wells, was hit by a car while cycling in 2014.
Seven years of recovery followed, requiring her to face seven surgical procedures before she discovered motorcycles.
Now, as well as taking part in races, she visits schools to inspire young girls to take part in different sports.
The race followed the route of the old Dakar Rally from Nador in Morocco to Dakar in Senegal and finished on Sunday.
Speaking to BBC South East from Dakar following the race, she said: “I’m absolutely shattered. I don’t think every single muscle in my body, and my brain, have ever been this tired.”
She said: “You have to be so focussed. A second of lapse on your focus can mean you get lost, or the rock you don’t see can take you off your bike.”
Ms Ruck said she undertook the 13-day race to prove that she still could face a challenge following her accident in 2014.
“I’ve been determined to get myself back, maybe not to be pain-free, but to a point where I can get out there and make the most of every day.
“For me, coming from my accident and recovery, fighting to get to that finish line, was a way of going ‘up you’ to my accident, and saying ‘you haven’t controlled by whole life’.”
She said she had discovered a new love of motorcycles through her recovery.
The Girl On A Bike vanessa ruck Vanessa Accident 2
“The Dakar is the big famous event, it’s the ultimate test.”
She said the longest day on her bike was 13.5 hours and some of the days were 90% on sand, with 400m high dunes.
She said: “There aren’t enough females doing these sorts of sports. I’m the first British female to ever finish this event, which I’m really proud of.”
She said: “I just want to get the word out, to show all those little girls who think they should be in princess dresses and have shiny nail polish that you can still have shiny nail polish and still race motorcycles too.”
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Yahoo News: British woman, Vanessa Ruck conquers 6,000km Africa Eco race on a motorbike. Inspiring recovery journey unfolds in the ultimate Dakar adventure.
A British woman has finished the gruelling 6,000km 2024 Africa Eco Race across the Sahara on a motorbike.
Nicknamed The Girl On A Bike, Vanessa Ruck, who grew up in Tunbridge Wells, was hit by a car while cycling in 2014.
Seven years of recovery followed, requiring her to face seven surgical procedures, before she discovered motorcycles.
Now, as well as taking part in races, she visits schools to inspire young girls to take part in different sports.
The race followed the route of the old Dakar Rally from Nador in Morocco to Dakar in Senegal and finished on Sunday.
Speaking to BBC South East from Dakar following the race, she said: “I’m absolutely shattered. I don’t think every single muscle in my body, and my brain, have ever been this tired.”
She said: “You have to be so focussed. A second of lapse on your focus can mean you get lost, or the rock you don’t see can take you off your bike.”
Ms Ruck said she undertook the 13-day race to prove that she still could face a challenge following her accident in 2014.
“I’ve been determined to get myself back, maybe not to be pain-free, but to a point where I can get out there and make the most of every day.
“For me, coming from my accident and recovery, fighting to get to that finish line, was a way of going ‘up you’ to my accident, and saying ‘you haven’t controlled by whole life’.”
She said she had discovered a new love of motorcycles through her recovery.
“The Dakar is the big famous event, it’s the ultimate test.”
She said the longest day on her bike was 13.5 hours and some of the days were 90% on sand, with 400m high dunes.
She said: “There aren’t enough females doing these sorts of sports. I’m the first British female to ever finish this event, which I’m really proud of.”
She said: “I just want to get the word out, to show all those little girls who think they should be in princess dresses and have shiny nail polish that you can still have shiny nail polish and still race motorcycles too.”
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Kent Online: Experience the thrilling conclusion of Africa Eco Race 2024 at Lac Rose, Dakar, honouring exceptional athletes and celebrating victories across categories.
A Kent woman who was hit by a car in 2014 has completed a treacherous race across the Sahara on a motorbike.
Vanessa Ruck from Langton Green in Tunbridge Wells was struck by a car while out cycling 10 years ago.
She went through seven years of recovery which saw seven surgical procedures on her face.
After this, she discovered her love for motorcycles.
Nicknamed The Girl On A Bike, the challenge saw Ms Ruck travel 6,000km in the 2024 Africa Eco Race across the scorching desert.
The race followed the route of the old Dakar Rally from Nador in Morocco to Dakar in Senegal and finished on Sunday.
She said the longest day on her bike was 13 and a half hours and some of the days were 90% on sand, with 400m high dunes.
“I’m absolutely shattered,” she told the BBC after finishing the challenge.
“I don’t think every single muscle in my body, and my brain, have ever been this tired.
“You have to be so focused. A second of lapse on your focus can mean you get lost, or the rock you don’t see can take you off your bike.”
Ms Ruck, who is in her 30s, added she wanted to take on the 13-day race to prove that she still could face a challenge following her accident.
Sharing her triumph on Instagram, the daredevil said: “That was by far the toughest, most gruelling and most brutally demanding challenge I’ve faced both physically and mentally! I managed to survive every single stage safely and smoothly.
My body feels beaten beyond the boundaries of my limits but I never quit.”
As well as taking part in races, Ms Ruck visits schools to inspire young girls to take part in different sports.
In 2022 Ms Ruck made history after she became the first woman to enter a gruelling motorcycle rally challenge which even claimed one competitor’s life.
The avid biker shifted gears as she battled extreme temperatures, sand dunes, hills and mountains at the Tunisia Desert Challenge and at one point her heart rate reached 194 beats per minute as she twisted the throttle through 85kmh (53mph) winds.
If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life-changing accident, which started it all.
As seen in The Automotor News: Discover the thrilling moments and triumphant winners at AFRICA ECO RACE 2024’s closing ceremony. Join us as we celebrate the extraordinary achievements on the podium and relive the surprises of this annual event.
CLOSING MOMENT OF THE AFRICA ECO RACE 2024
This Sunday, January 14, 2024, as tradition dictates since the creation of the AFRICA ECO RACE, the 15th edition concluded at Lac Rose in Dakar. A true celebration, this parade of winners and finishers on the podium was organized by the Senegalese Auto Moto Federation, the host organization for this event. The ceremony was preceded by the traditional special stage at Lac Rose, a 22 km stretch from Niokob Beach to the mythical lake, where motorcycles, cars, and trucks still in the race completed the circuit. A final honorable battle that, however, surprises every year.
In the Motorcycle category, all the riders of the AFRICA ECO RACE 2024 decided to honor one of their own, the handicapped rider Nicola DUTTO. To do this, the bikers followed the Italian and his two guardian angels who accompanied him throughout the rally, allowing him to open and win this final timed sector. A way to pay tribute to this extraordinary athlete who covered almost 6000 km of the course strapped to his KTM equipped with a roll cage protecting his legs in case of a fall.
After the race, the top three overall riders, Italian Jacopo CERRUTI on APRILA also 1st in Multicylinders -1000 CC, his compatriot Alessandro BOTTURI also 1st Veteran, and Andorran Pol TARRES on YAMAHA, received magnificent bronze trophies. Subsequently, winners in different categories were also rewarded, including Swiss Alexandre VAUDAN 1st in under 450 CC, also 1st in the Acerbis Rookie Rider Challenge on KTM, Patrice CARILLON 1st in the Motul Xtreme Rider Challenge on KTM, Italian Giovanni STIGLIANO 1st in over 450 CC on HUSQVARNA, Spaniard Juan PEDRERO 1st in Multicylinders over 1000 CC on HARLEY DAVIDSON, not forgetting the British Vanessa RUCK, the first female rider on KTM. Finally, all finishing riders received a bronze medal symbolizing the feat of staying in the rankings.
On four wheels, Frenchmen Gautier PAULIN and Remi BOULANGER, overall winners, logically were the first to place their SSV APACHE on the podium to receive the two bronze trophies and the two trophies in the SSV T3 U category. Next were the Belgians Pascal FERYN and Kurt KEYSERS, 2nd in the Rally and 1st in the 4×4 Petrol category on their TOYOTA, while in 3rd position, Spaniards Carlos VENTO and Carlos RUIZ MORENO also led the CAN AM to victory in T4.
Czech Tomas TOMECEK was rewarded for his 5th victory in the truck category driving his TATRA. Frenchmen Frédéric HENRICY and Eric BERSEY emerged victorious in the SSV EXTREME RACE challenge on POLARIS, Dutchmen Teun STAM and Rene BARGEMAN won in 4×4 Diesel on TOYOTA, Moroccan Souad MOUTKADIRI finished as the first African female rider with her CAN AM, while Italians Giulio VERZELETTI and Giuseppe FORTUNA clinched victory in the Truck -10000 CC category on their MERCEDES. Finally, Italians Stefano ROSSI and Jacopo CASINI received the Experimental Vehicle trophy on a NISSAN powered by Hydrogen, while Eric and Grégoire COQUIDE won the OPEN category, also on NISSAN.
Also, not to forget to honor the race veteran Yoshimasa SUGAWARA a race legend, in the discipline and finisher at 83, driving a vehicle he built with his own hands..
In the Classic race, Belgians Tom and Eric CLAEYS were awarded the winners’ trophy ahead of their compatriots René DECLERCQ and John DEMEESTER, while Austrian Peter BRABECK-LEMATHE and Frenchman Jean Michel GAYTE completed the podium.
The ceremony at Lac Rose also featured a parade of around fifty vehicles from the auto and motorcycle raid on the podium to present participants with a souvenir medal.
The final highlight of the AFRICA ECO RACE 2024 was the group photo of the 160 members of the organizing team and service providers. Like many competitors, all pledged to be present for the 2025 edition!
For the rest of The Automotor Newsarticle see here.
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