The fresh winner of the Dakar Rally in the truck category, Martin Macik, defended his title with great success and dominance. But who is this 35-year-old powerhouse from the Czech Republic?
In the centrally located Czech town of Benešov, Martin Macik Jr. was born on April 23, 1989. Later that same year, the Velvet Revolution took place, marking the end of the communist dictatorship. Junior belongs to the first generation to grow up in the embrace of a fresh democracy.
Martin’s father competed in his first Dakar Rally in 2003 in a LIAZ truck. Exactly ten years later, Junior joined as well, but in the role of navigator. By then, Senior had already focused on the technical development of the rally truck. In 2015, Martin Macik Jr. made his debut as a driver. Now, ten years later, he holds his second consecutive Dakar title.
On his website, Martin introduces himself as follows: “I am a person who pursues his goals and is not afraid to take risks. I do what I love, and I want to be the best at it.” Rally driving is his greatest passion. Together with his father, he founded the company MM Technology and built it from the ground up. During this Dakar Rally, no fewer than nine rally trucks built by MM Technology participated.
In addition to developing and constructing rally trucks, MM Technology also prepares buggies and restores vintage cars. A normal person would already have their hands full managing such a company, but for Martin Macik, that is far from the end of his pursuits.
In recent years, this busy bee has also made a name for himself with MM Production, which includes MM Photo and MMP Video. Unsurprisingly, these media and marketing activities are mostly involved in the rally-raid sport. His love for marketing and event organization also extends to his theater talk show about the Dakar obsession and open-air events where he showcases rally action on a motocross track to the public.
If he ever finds a moment to relax, he can do so in one of his two lunchroom-coffeehouses in Prague. Across all these entrepreneurial activities, one thing stands out: everything is executed with meticulous attention to detail. The finish of the trucks, the communication, and from personal experience, I can confirm that this high standard also applies to the interior and the food at Pilot Café Letná.
Martin Macik is a busy bee making history, and his story is far from over.
Photos: MM Production
