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The Team

Don Hatton Don Hatton – Team Rider: Don was born and raised in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island where he resides with his wife Natalie. Don has four grown children sons Kevin and Jason (married to Nicole) and daughters Chelsea and Alexandra. The family is very supportive and involved in Don’s Rally adventures.A successful Business Owner, Public Speaker and Adventure Sport enthusiast Don is very involved in his community. Don was a Director on the local Sportsplex and a former Director and President of the local Community Policing Advisory Committee. He has competed in Mountain Bike Racing both in Distance Events and Sprint Races. He has also been successful in completing several 24-hour Mountain Bike races in Whistler, BC.Don’s journey began with a 30 year dream to compete in the Dakar Rally,after his first attempt he expanded his dream and now participates in the major world championship motorcycle rally raids. He has successfully competed Twice in the Shamrock Rally of Morocco, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the Tunisian Rally, The Sardinian Rally, the Baja 1000.Finishing as high as fourth in the Moroccan Rally, and fourth in the Baja 1000. Don has made 3 attempts in the Dakar, thwarted once by the complete cancellation of the race, once by a major crash, and once by Food poisoning and mechanical issues. He is determined to do something 60% of the riders are unable to do, that’s complete the Dakar.

The last 5 years has been very exciting for Don he has been lost in the Sahara for over 2 hours, been shot at, mugged, lost in the Dunes of Dubai, had a serious crash almost ending his life, but he never gives up!!

Recently Don worked with Charley Boorman and Russ Malkin on the BC stage of Extreme adventures Canada and has a cameo in the film. He has been teaching Adventure riding on his farm and has worked many times with fellow Dakar rider and friend Simon Pavey.

2012 Don has returned to his roots in more ways than one; first he has implemented the training schedule that worked so well in 2009, secondly he and wife Natalie have recently returned to the insurance industry and opened a new Insurance Agency “Hatton Insurance Agency Ltd.”

2012 Don has joined his friend Simon Pavey and will be competing in January 2013 once again in the Dakar Rally.

Don’s goal: to finally finish the Dakar!!!

An accomplished motivational speaker, a successful business man and adventurer Don has some very exciting and motivating stories. He is available to speak to organizations and groups and can be reached through this website to schedule a talk

 

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Natalie Hatton Natalie Hatton – Administrative Support:Don’s wife, Natalie supports his dream of racing in the Dakar Rally but is hoping that one day he will get it out of his system, it’s to nerve wracking.”Don has talked about thsi race as long as I have known him” I had no idea how big this event is, I now have learned first hand the extent of administrative work it takes to get to the starting line, and the danger involved in the event itself.Natalie currently resides in the Cowichan Valley with Don and their children, Kevin, Jason, Chelsea, and Alexandra. She knows that Don has both the determination and will to make it to the finish line in Dakar! She has provided untold moral and administrative support to all Don’s previous efforts and continues to be Don’s number 1 fan and contributor.

Dons says: Natalie is the most amazing lady in the world, she had no idea what the Dakar was about or what she was getting into when she agreed to this adventure. Until the Dakar Natalies idea of adventure was a Boxing Day sale. Since we started this adventure Natalie has slept in a Bedouin Tent for 6 days in the Sahara, Been mugged in Morocco, Fought off scorpions and snakes while living in a tent in Tunisia. Faced the embarrassment of a desert toilet. Driven 12 hours across the Argentinean outback to see me in hospital after she received the call I was in critical condition. Yet she keeps on smiling and supporting me!!! She has either gone very insane or she really does love me.

Natalie is very proud of the contributions the team has made to charities from purchasing treated mosquito nets for villagers in Africa, and personally visiting the African villages. This has been a very exciting time in our lives, Natalie really enjoys helping the local African communities that host the major rallies and very much enjoys working with all of the people from around the world who are connected to the rallies. We have met many new friends.

She is not sure if she will go to the 2013 Dakar with Don… my money says she does!

 
Kevan Ibbotson Kevan Ibbotson (aka Dirt Pig) – Media Relations:Kevan grew up on motorcycles. He says “My dad had enduro bikes when I was a kid and after my first ride I was hooked. That was 1974. Since then I have ridden or owned pretty much every manner of motorcycles from dirt bikes to Goldwings.”Kevan has spent most of his professional career in the financial services industry. Along with his professional capacities he is also involved in a wide range of volunteer activities from teaching for Junior Achievement to volunteering with St John’s Ambulance. He brings no previous media relations experience or ability to the team other than his pure enthusiasm.When Kevan is not working he and his wife Karen are either traveling, or planning their next trip, or just coming back from a trip, usually revolving around motorcycles. Their most recent adventure was riding from their home in Nanaimo to the Arctic Circle in September 2009