It started as a joke. In 2025, Tim Zijlstra said he could probably get to the Dakar Rally by 2030. He didn’t mean much by it at the time, but being an amateur rider who just gave himself a five-year trajectory encouraged him to look into making the plan a reality.

After studying the Road to Dakar, Zijlstra outlined a roadmap from 2027 through 2029. He will spend much of 2027 competing in the Spanish national championship since he lives in northern Spain, along with the Adventure Galicia—which he tried for the first time in 2026—and 1000 Dunas Raid. In 2028, he’ll enter the Morocco Desert Challenge and Rallye du Maroc in addition to joining the FIM Bajas World Cup for the Baja TT Dehesa Extremadura and Baja Aragón. The 2029 Rally-Raid Portugal is next followed by returning to Extremadura and Aragón.

If he finishes all of these races, taking into account that some award more points because they’re longer or are in the desert, he expects to earn between 36 and 44 points. Zijlstra also thought of doing the 2027 Rally-Raid Portugal but opted to go to Morocco and pick up dune experience.

All of his entries will be done solo as a Malle Moto rider since he intends to compete in Original by Motul if he gets to Dakar.

“I never said it was a good plan, but without one a dream like this never becomes reality,” Zijlstra wrote in the description for his video detailing his project. “This is the plan as it stands today, and I’ll update it as things change.”

Zijlstra competed in motorcycle road racing for about a decade before entering the Adventure Galicia in April. Competing on a KTM 890 Adventure R, he finished 62nd overall.

How to Qualify for the Dakar Rally as an Amateur: Selection Process & Full Plan on YouTube

Featured image credit: Tim Zijlstra