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 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, 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 was a nonstarter, he expanded his goals To date has now competed in most of the major world championship motorcycle off road rally rounds. Don was the first Canadian to take a full team to the Dakar, and has competed in more international off-road Motorcycle rallies then any Canadian.
In addition to competing 3 times in the Dakar Rally, he has successfully competed twice in the Shamrock Rally of Morocco, the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the Tunisian Rally, The Sardinian Rally in Sardinia Italy as a member of Cyril Despres Factory KTM team, and the Baja 1000.
He finished as high as fourth in the Moroccan Rally, and fourth in the Baja 1000.
Dakars black cloud has definitely challenged Don He has entered the Dakar four times , In his first entry the entire event was cancelled due to terrorist threats, 2009 a major crash put him in intensive care for 7 days, 2010 food poisoning and mechanical issues ended his rally. 2013 he was run over by one of the racing Lorries, he patched his bike together rode 18 more hours only to have at 3:00 am a major mechanical failure in a sand dune 6 KM form the end of the stage once again put him out of the Dakar.
The last 7 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, Rode 5 hours in a Sand storm that completely whited out the desert, he had a serious crash that almost ended his life, yet he never gives up!!
Recently Don worked with Charley Boorman and Russ Malkin on the BC stage of Extreme Frontiers Canada and has a cameo in the film. He instructs Adventure Riding courses on his farm and has worked several times with fellow Dakar rider and friend, Simon Pavey.
He was the featured off road instructor on the television series “ Motorcycle Experience; appearing in 12 episodes.
In 2012 Don returned to his roots he and wife, Natalie returned to the insurance industry opening a new Insurance Agency, “Hatton Insurance Agency Ltd.” His first task was to develop an insurance program for motorcyclists which he brought to market this year.
Don teamed with his friend Simon Pavey in the 2013 Dakar Rally riding a Husqvarna, with assistance from Husaqvarna factory rally team.
An accomplished motivational speaker, a successful businessman and adventurer Don has some very exciting and motivating stories.
