A dream for every enthusiast: the Dakar is in Milan. Last night saw the inauguration of “Desert Queens,” the major exhibition dedicated to the world's most iconic and adventurous rally competition, as part of the 82nd edition of EICMA – the International Motorcycle Exhibition, open to the public from Thursday, November 6, to Sunday, November 9, at Fiera Milano Rho.
For the first time in Italy, the exhibition recounts over forty years of Dakar history through 31 unique motorcycles: from the Yamaha XT500 ridden by Thierry Sabine, creator of the legendary race, to the winning bike of the latest edition, the exhibition reveals the birth, evolution, and future of the most famous rally on the planet. The result of a collaboration between EICMA and ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation), partner of the initiative and organiser of the Dakar, “Desert Queens” is one of the special features of this edition, which consolidates EICMA's complete transformation from a trade fair to an experiential, cultural and immersive exhibition event.
Set up in the MotoLive outdoor area, in its eastern section, the exhibition is housed in a transparent marquee covering over 900 square meters, which recreates a Dakar bivouac, complete with sand and anecdotes. The exhibition takes visitors on a chronological and technological journey through themed sections on the evolution of clothing and safety systems, culminating in the progress made in navigation tools. The exhibition also includes original memorabilia, roadbooks, helmets, archival documents, and, of great interest, the original Dakar trophy.
An impressive central screen then projects films and testimonials retracing the most iconic stages of the Dakar: from the first African sands to the South American landscapes and the Saudi tracks. The multimedia content also includes in-depth videos in four specific corners dedicated to legendary figures such as Thierry Sabine and riders Fabrizio Meoni, Danilo Petrucci, and Aldo Winkler.
The stars of “Desert Queens” are the 31 original motorcycles that marked the different eras of the Dakar Rally.
Among the most iconic are:
The Desert Queens exhibition program also includes two daily events hosted by journalist Alberto Porta, offering visitors the chance to hear firsthand accounts from the protagonists themselves about the most interesting stories to emerge from their Dakar experience and encounter with the desert. Among others, Cyril Neveu, Ciro De Petri, Claudio Terruzzi, Danilo Petrucci, Beppe Gualini, Aldo and Andy Winkler, Tiziano Internò, Andrea Gava, Cesare Zacchetti, Paolo Lucci, Maurizio Gerini, and Manuel Lucchese are expected to attend.
The inaugural event, hosted by EICMA's head of communications & press office Alessandro Re, Desert Queens project manager, and journalist Alberto Porta, was attended by EICMA CEO Paolo Magri and Dakar director David Castera, along with EICMA president Pietro Meda and general manager Federico Aliverti.
“Desert Queens,” said Paolo Magri, CEO of EICMA, "is a tribute to the dream, the effort, and the greatness of the Dakar Rally. It is a celebration of the men and machines that challenged the desert and their own limits, driven by passion and the desire to go further. Bringing this legend to Milan, inside EICMA, means bringing together two worlds that share the same soul: that of adventure and innovation expressed by industry. Together with ASO, we wanted to create an immersive experience in an incredibly evocative location, rich in valuable content that combines show, memory, and technology, confirming EICMA's role as an international platform capable of enhancing every nuance of the world of two wheels."
“The Dakar Rally,” emphasized David Castera, director of the Dakar Rally, “is much more than a race: it is a human adventure, a technical laboratory, and a challenge that has been bringing together cultures, passions, and generations of riders for almost half a century. With Desert Queens, we wanted to share this spirit with the international public and, in particular, with the Italian public, which has always experienced motorcycling with genuine and profound enthusiasm. Being here at EICMA, together with those who represent global excellence in motorcycling, means paying tribute to the history of the rally and, at the same time, looking to its future. It is a pleasure and an honor to see the Dakar recounted with such passion, care, and respect for its protagonists."
The exhibition is organized by EICMA with the support of ICE - the Italian Trade Agency for the promotion abroad and internationalization of Italian companies. The exhibition project and curatorship are by EICMA, with the valuable and fundamental contribution of riders Tiziano Internò (Rally POV) and Beppe Gualini, the agency M@trix s.r.l., Gianmarco Blini Design, Valerio Cometti + V12 Design, and journalist Marco Riccardi.
Special thanks go to the private collectors, manufacturers, museums, and organizations that have made the precious exhibits available.
