Connell will take on the 2010 race aboard his own Husaberg FE570. For Connell the Dakar has been a long time goal, but the bug hit and preparation began last year.

"I was given the opportunity to go to the 2009 Dakar as a support crew for David Schwartz and because of that I had a good opportunity to see how the event works and what was involved in doing it," Connell explained.

"I've been a long distance rally fan for a long term and I've participated in the Australian Safari four times, but at the end of the day, the Dakar is the ultimate. It's the Everest of cross country rally."

One of the oldest competitors in the field, Connell was expecting some concern from family and friends, but his careful approach and thorough preparation has kept the eye-brow raising to a minimum.

"I thought that people might sort of think 'woah' but there's a number of older guys doing it, and for myself I'm probably in better physical condition now because I'm doing it, then I have been in 20 years!," Connell said with a chuckle.

"For me each race is about participating, and getting to the end really."

Nevertheless, the Dakar is not for the meek and the 53-year-old Aussie says the event is a daunting one.

"Absolutely it is. As we all know, the event has a certain reputation, and not without reason.

"Realistically I'm going to be pushing the odds to even get to the finish, this year (2009) 60 per cent of people on bikes didn't finish because of injury or physical fatigue or all those reasons," he explained.

"I'm realistic enough to know that it's going to be a 'dig-deep' scenario to get to the finish. So I've prepared myself, the bike and the rest of the team the best I could and I'm just going to give it my best shot."

Knowing that just finishing the Dakar is a dream many fail to achieve, Connell has adopted a pragmatic approach to the 2010 edition.

"I'm not going to be in the top 30, 20 or 10, it's just going to be about getting to the finish," he said. 

"I'm not going to stick my neck out so I'll minimize risk at all wells. I've got nothing to prove."

For a man with nothing to prove, Connell has chosen an almighty test.


Click here for more of Jacob Black's Deep in the Dust.

:: SBS ONE will show daily highlights of Dakar 2010, every night at 6:00pm AEDT from January 3 to 17. Or stay online at www.sbs.com.au/dakar for video extras, all the latest news, and expert blogs.