We often hear of ironman efforts in motorcycling, but when it comes to the Dakar Rally in 2013, Australian Matt Fish might possibly take the prize as the most determined in the bunch. Riding for the Monster Energy-backed Husqvarna Rallye by Speedbrain team, Fish has made headlines on more than one occasion on debut.

Fish rode to that spectacular podium on Stage 2 in third overall, but has had a tough go of it in recent times. After four stages he was 24th, still a very credible place, but on the fifth he was forced to stop and help teammate Joan Barreda after he had a gas pump fault.

That dropped Fish well down the order, but his major challenge was yet to come. On Stage 6, a 454 kilometre special test split in two sections, Fish worked his way from the back of the field, but had a mechanical toward the end of the first half. We’ll let him explain from here…

Matt Fish aboard his Monster Energy Husqvarna at Dakar over the weekend.

“After stopping and helping my teammate finish Stage 5, I started from the rear of the field on Stage 6, but my motor stopped 11km from the end of the first half of that stage,” he told his fans on Facebook.

“After five hours of pushing I finished the first half, changed motors and continued on to finish at 4:20am. Then I started the next stage 55 minutes later. It’s been a rough few days.”

Can you believe that? It’s unheard of here in Australia, an incredible feat and one that has to make his Husqvarna team stand up and take notice (alongside his blistering speed displayed so far). You see, in his first Dakar, Fish is what they refer to as a ‘waterboy’ for the team’s leaders.

“The Dakar has always been a long life dream,” Fish explained before the race commenced. “What stopped me from coming [previously] was timing and support. I was lucky enough to do the world championship cross-country rounds [in 2012] and was noticed by Husqvarna. They decided to give me a go. The Morocco Rally put the icing on the cake. My good result over there made me go to the Dakar.

Fish is quickly making a name for himself at an international level.

“I would look up to the big guys. They were my heroes. I spoke to David Schwartz and Todd Smith about their past experiences. I know that I’m not at the level of Cyril Despres or Marc Coma – I need more experience. I’ve got the pace, but I need to get used to the road book and the dunes. What worries me are the long days.

“I’ll be a support rider for Barreda and Gonçalves. Hopefully they’ll have a good result, which would give me a good one too. I hope to be in the top 10 and maybe finish best rookie. Anyhow I’m ready to stop to help, I was happy to sign for that. All the top riders have been waterboys, so hopefully one day I will no longer be a waterboy.”

You have to hand it to Fish, he’s got the desire to succeed in one of the most gruelling challenges on the planet, and he’s making big inroads into making his dreams come true as a Dakar contender. At 32, the Tasmanian’s factory deal with Husqvarna may just be the first step in a special Dakar career.