by sportswriters Dong Yixing and Shen Nan

BEIJING, May 30 (Xinhua) -- The Taklimakan Desert remembers. Its shifting sands have witnessed countless drivers and riders realize their ambitions over two decades of China's most brutal rally, but one story echoes deeper.

Fang Mingji, a humble policeman turned four-time champion, now races not just against time but alongside it -- with his son, Fang Xiangliang, tracing the same wheel tracks that forged a legend. As the 2025 Taklimakan Rally carves new paths, the Fangs are racing through generations against the eternal wilderness.

THE ACCIDENTAL CHAMPION

Mingji, now 52, chuckled at the label "legend" often attached to his name.

"There's no legend," he insisted, his voice carrying the grounded pragmatism of his former life. "I'm just a grassroots racer. I wasn't a professional initially, just an enthusiast."

His journey to becoming a four-time Taklimakan Rally motorcycle champion began not on a racetrack but on the streets of Nanning, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, as a police officer training colleagues to combat motorcycle-enabled crime.

For those familiar with the Dakar Rally -- the undisputed global pinnacle of off-road endurance -- the Taklimakan Rally stands as its Asian counterpart, carving its identity in Xinjiang's extreme terrain of dunes, Gobi desert, wetlands and more.

Yet when this proving ground launched in 2005, it felt worlds away for Mingji. "I didn't have the conditions -- not the work flexibility, nor the vehicle," he recalled. It wasn't until 2010, backed by a friend's sponsorship, that he used precious annual leave to finally stand on that starting line -- a wide-eyed rookie among seasoned riders. His strategy was simple: survive.

During the qualifying stage, he followed a veteran's advice to aim for a modest 20th to 30th place. "He even stopped to smoke during the qualifier," Mingji laughed. "I finished just behind him, around 20th."

Starting mid-pack, Mingji cautiously followed others for 30 kilometers before feeling "too slow." He began overtaking riders and, to his surprise, crossed the finish line in first place. "They said, 'Do you know you're first?' I was shocked. I hadn't passed that many."

While luck played a part -- with rivals getting lost or encountering trouble -- Mingji's steady police-honed discipline proved ideal. He won four of six stages and clinched the overall title. "It felt like a fluke, really good luck," he said, the surprise still audible years later.

The 2011 rally served as a harsh reality check. Burdened by expectations, his bike overheated on the first stage, activating a high-temperature protection system that stalled the engine. By the time it restarted, he had fallen far behind.

"I started chasing positions aggressively," Mingji recalled. That desperation led to a crash 80 to 90 kilometers into the third stage. "I tried to continue, gritting my teeth, but after dozens more kilometers, I couldn't go on."

Though scans revealed no fractures, the DNF was a humbling lesson. "That experience taught me the immense impact of mentality. Disrupting your own rhythm recklessly is extremely dangerous."

This forged a more seasoned approach. In 2013, he adopted a new mantra: safety first, ride at his own pace. "I wouldn't start fast... But as others made mistakes, my steady, error-free ride moved me up." It carried him to three consecutive titles from 2013 to 2015.

THE MAKING OF FANG XIANGLIANG

While Mingji's achievements are remarkable, his focus in recent years has shifted to nurturing "Xiao Fang" (Chinese for Fang Jr.) -- his son, Fang Xiangliang.

At age 5, Xiangliang received his first bike, an 800-yuan secondhand machine. By 6, he was competing in national children's motocross, and at 11, won his first under-13 national title.

The father's approach was cautious and collaborative. "We were very aware this path might be our choice, not purely his own," Mingji said. Family meetings helped shape Xiangliang's trajectory, including the shift from motocross to rallying.

Now 21, Xiangliang balanced academics and training as he grew up. "Weekdays for classes, weekends for training, taking leave for competitions," he recalled. He also enjoys badminton, volleyball, road motorcycles, DJing and singing.

"I'm a conservative rider," he said. "I don't take risks without certainty."

That mindset served him well at the 2023 Taklimakan Rally. As the youngest motorcycle competitor, his goal was simply to finish. His eighth-place result proved the strategy sound. "It met my expectations perfectly," he said.

The ultimate test came at the Dakar Rally. After Mingji completed the 2023 edition, Xiangliang finished third in the junior category and 50th overall in 2024 -- the best Asian result.

To prepare for Dakar 2025, Xiangliang paused his English studies at Geely University in Chengdu. "I chose to focus fully on what matters most right now -- motorcycles," he said, acknowledging that language skills remain important.

As Mingji juggles his roles as father, coach, teammate and racer, their on-track dynamic is unique. "In rally, strangely, every motorcyclist is somewhat a teammate," Xiangliang said.

"We exchange views, discuss, and then look at international race footage to blend subjective and objective insights," he added. On pressure from being "Fang Mingji's son," he was calm: "The best state is no pressure. I focus on training and progress."

THE MENTOR'S LEGACY

Mingji's influence stretches well beyond his family. Fellow riders Zhou He and Ayoub spoke with admiration.

"We all call him Brother Fang," said Zhou, racing his eighth Taklimakan with QJ Motor. "He's very dedicated to nurturing the next generation, especially Xiao Fang."

Zhou praised Mingji's mastery of roadbooks -- essential for navigation -- and his willingness to teach. Ayoub agreed: "Uncle Fang is a great role model. He taught us much younger riders how to read roadbooks."

During long training sessions, Mingji would gather newcomers around maps, showing how to interpret terrain and build roadbooks from scratch -- translating his own decades of experience into valuable mentorship.

"We're technically rival teams, but privately we're very close. Uncle Fang is incredibly open and giving, teaching us freely. He wants to contribute to China's racing career," said 24-year-old Ayoub from Inner Mongolia.

Mingji is acutely aware of China's development gap. "The gap with international riders is comprehensive," he said, citing a lack of specialization, infrastructure and grassroots participation.

"When Xiao Fang was training a decade ago, maybe 20 children at his age were involved nationwide. By high school, almost all had dropped out except one or two," he noted.

After retiring from the police service, Mingji focused more on supporting his son's international career and growing the sport.

THE ROAD AHEAD

In the 2025 Taklimakan Rally, Xiangliang aimed for a top Chinese finish with the Hoto Factory Team, while Mingji kept competing to stay up-to-date.

"If I'm not on the track, I can't get first-hand knowledge of new situations, rules and changes," he said.

Xiangliang's goals are clear. "To stand on the world podium, become world champion... More realistically, to win a Chinese championship and bring honor to the country."

While surpassing his father's four titles may be tougher today due to the depth of international competition, Xiangliang remains focused. "Winning the overall is harder, but a top Chinese finish would satisfy me."

With the Taklimakan Rally added to the FIA international calendar in 2024, it now spans 14 prefectures across Xinjiang, 71,000 kilometers, and has drawn more than 3,500 racers from around the world over the years.

For Mingji, the journey isn't over. "Age isn't the main issue," he said. "It's about the event permitting it, my fitness holding, and the cost being manageable. It's like an annual gathering of friends bound by the same passion. That atmosphere is priceless."

Though mechanical issues cut Xiangliang's podium hopes short in 2025, the rally gifted something deeper.

On the first special stage, after getting lost early, he was quietly joined by his father. Instead of surging ahead, Mingji paced beside him through the desert maze.

"Just being able to follow him, that alone makes me feel profoundly at ease," Mingji said afterward, his voice thick with a father's quiet pride. ■