After making his debut in January, Ludwig Messager will return to the Dakar Rally in 2028.

“After fulfilling my childhood dream of completing the legendary Dakar Rally in the Malle Moto category, the decision is made: I’m heading back to conquer the desert for the 2028 edition,” Messager proclaimed. “Bib number #111 is back in service.”

He also put out a call for additional sponsors with the following pitch:

To meet this extreme challenge that combines endurance, mechanical resilience and pushing oneself to the limit on your own, I am actively seeking companies and sponsors to join this extraordinary human adventure.

Why should you associate your brand with my project?

• Great visibility: Benefit from the exposure of the world’s biggest rally raid.
• Tailor-made communication: Your logo on my motorcycle, my suit, and exclusive content created in the heart of the dunes on my social media.
• Unity around strong values: The courage, selflessness, and mental fortitude of an ex-Chasseur Alpin in the desert. A unique source of inspiration for your employees and clients.

As indicated in his ad, Messager is a former member of the Chasseurs Alpins, the French Army’s elite mountain infantry unit. He was a non-commissioned officer in the Alpine Hunters from 2012 to 2020. Lessons from his service were then applied to his quest to race the Dakar, competing in the 2024 Rallye du Maroc and 2025 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge to earn his acceptance letter.

January’s Dakar started off modestly before he crashed in Stage 3, necessitating a visit to the psychotherapist to correct his neck ahead of the marathon. Another crash happened 30 kilometers into Stage 5, then a silent block on his Husqvarna broke at KM 209.

Mechanical issues returned on the tenth stage as a fork bushing came loose and leaked oil onto the brake disc. Still, these and two falls on the penultimate day didn’t stop him as he made it home. Messager finished 60th in Rally2 and 18th in Original by Motul, while his best daily result was 59th in Rally2 for Stage 6.

Featured image credit: Julien Delfosse / DPPI / ASO