Maximilian “Maxi” Schek will make his Dakar Rally debut in January, competing in the Original by Motul class. When he take the start, he will continue a family legacy that includes his grandfather and aunt.

Herbert Schek was a longtime BMW factory rider and longtime ISDT veteran who raced the Paris–Dakar Rally fifteen times from 1981 to 1998. He won the marathon category in 1984 and placed second in Class 3 a year after in a one-off with KTM. Outside of competing, he also helped prepare BMW France’s bikes for the likes of winners Hubert Auriol and Gaston Rahier.

His aunt Patricia Watson-Miller raced Dakar eight times from 1988 to 2007 and was the highest finishing woman thrice.

Now, 25-year-old Maxi is set to do the same. He began in trials when he was eight before switching to enduro at the age of 17, where he enjoyed tremendous success as he represented Germany at the ISDE.

He won Germany’s national cross-country championship in 2023 and 2024, including claiming every race at the former. Schek has also competed in rallies around Europe like the Hellas Rally Raid.

In 2024, he entered the Rallye du Maroc with the goal of qualifying for Dakar. Riding for Mike Wiedemann’s team, Schek placed 30th in Rally2.

“The Dakar has a reputation of being the greatest challenge in off-road racing,” Schek wrote. “Many dream of taking on this challenge, but starting places are limited, demand is significantly higher, and the requirements for a starting place are therefore unthinkable for most.”

As a Malle Moto rider, he will compete without outside assistance from teams. While it’s what he called an “enormous understanding”, he feels he’s more than up for the challenge.

Schek has a GoFundMe to help cover the costs of the race, which he estimates to be over €80,000.

Featured image credit: via Maxi Schek