Dave Schwarz will use the eight day, 3700 kilometre 2011 Australasian Safari, set to start in Western Australia on September 22, as a warm up for the 2012 Dakar Rally.

The 2012 South American Dakar event is only five months away, which starts in the Atlantic Ocean city of Mar de Plata, Argentina. The ASO Dakar Organisation received over 310 applications for entry, with only 220 riders accepted. Riders will compete over 14 gruelling stages with only one rest day. The event covers five stages in Argentina, five in Chile and four in Peru. The Rallye will finish on January 15 in the Pacific Ocean city of Lima in Peru.

In 2005 Schwarz competed in the African Dakar and came home in a amazing third Outright in the 450 Super Production Class, and 37th Outright. He also entered the 2008 Dakar, however the event was cancelled at the last minute due to guerrilla snipers that planned to target Dakar competitors once they got to Mauritania. In 2009 the event was moved due to South America due to safety reasons and Schwarz once again put his name down to compete. At one stage he was sitting as high as 12th Overall, then settled to be consistently inside the top 20 Overall. His run was shattered in Stage 13 when he suffered a four-hour time penalty when he missed a last minute checkpoint.

Although generously supported by Husaberg Australia with bikes, parts and logistics, Schwarz still needs to come up with about half of the $125,000 it takes to compete in this iconic event.

Anyone who would like to donate or sponsor Schwarz to ride the 2012 Dakar please email rholden66@bigpond.com. A full 2012 sponsorship proposal can be provided to interested parties.