Following on from the success of the Long Way Round our likable hero puts together another sponsorship deal with BMW which sees him entering the Dakar after more or less stating that was to be his next move in the book of the series! Oops!!
The team consisted of Simon Pavey (Ausi bike champ, multiple Dakar entrant and more importantly finisher.. and all round good egg going by the film), the personable Brit. rider/cameraman Matt Hall, a couple of gifted mechanics and Producer/team Captain Russ Malkin..
A typical slow start to the series and then the fun begins (which is just as well as Charley incessant whinging and swearing almost had me reaching for the OFF button). You get a real sense of how tough the race is both mentally and physically not to mention how fallible the X-5 is in anything other than the urban jungle. Some true grit moments along with heaps of admiration and bafflement for the people riding, driving or supporting this event. This really is one of the worlds hardest races and Charley and 'his' crew give you an insight into how quote "insane this all is" That being said how many of us would go for it If we had a year to prepare, £200K+ budget, co-riders,backup trucks, mechanics, ofice crew etc... oh and a lucrative DVD, book and Sky contract. Sorry Charley, the formula is getting a bit tired.. oh and ease up on the whinging and swearing will ya!