The MM Technology factory truck, nicknamed Benny, made his first journey off the beaten path. During a private test session, he tackled a 35-kilometer trial flawlessly and successfully passed the scrutineering. MM Technology gathered 8 out of their 9 trucks in the desert, creating the first official group photo of nearly the entire fleet.

The Truck Called Benny Took on the Saudi Arabian Terrain

Before the start of the Dakar Rally, all competitors had the chance to test their machinery off-road during a private test session. Benny, the MM Technology factory truck, embarked on his maiden run across the Saudi Arabian landscape. Aside from a minor navigational hiccup on the way to the test site, the session went off without a hitch.

“We started off great! Our navigator Frantisek got us a little lost.”, said pilot Martin Macik Jr., chuckling, and added, “But everything turned out fine, we were only delayed a couple of minutes and several trucks that were among the first on the course got lost too. Benny ran like clockwork. The terrain was hard and dusty, similar to what we’d experienced in Morocco, so there weren’t any big surprises. Now we’re excited to start the rally.”

Seamless Scrutineering Process

The first day of the new year was dedicated to administrative and technical scrutineering for all MM Technology trucks. Although this step may seem routine, preparation is key, as even small issues can arise. Mechanic David Svanda explains:

“We prepare thoroughly for scrutineering, both the technical and administrative part. We don’t take anything lightly because there’s always a chance something needs to be adjusted on-site. Last year, for instance, the names on one truck were deemed too small and had to be redone. This year, all MM Technology trucks passed without major problems. The only thing we had to do was to register a new driver’s seat in Benny, but that was quick,” he summarized.

A Family Portrait

This year, MM Technology is fielding a total of 9 trucks at Dakar, all proudly made in Sedlcany. Despite tight schedules, the team managed to gather almost all the trucks in one spot in the desert for a group photo, missing only one.

“It wasn’t easy because each crew has its own daily program, but we got all the trucks together except Arnold, which is running as fast assistance with the Tibau Team Rally and had to attend scrutineering. Seeing almost all the trucks together was a bit emotional. It really hit me what a historic moment this is for MM Technology and how much work it took to get here,” shared Martin Macik Jr.

Prologue to Determine Starting Order

After getting a taste of the local terrain and completing scrutineering, Benny is ready for the starting line. All that’s left is to tackle the prologue, which will determine the starting order for the rally. The atmosphere in the bivouac remains relaxed for now, but there’s a subtle tension building in the air as crews anticipate how their performance will shape up.