Dakar 2010 - 1-17 January

[Rod Richardson]

Well.............a bit of a drought period ahead for racing nuts until Dakar 1-17 January 2010

http://www.dakar.com/

[Rod Richardson]

Aprilia virgin venture into rally-raid by entering 3 x 450cc bikes in the Dakar (Argentina-Chile) commencing in 16 days time. http://www.dakar.com/

For us in Aus, the SBS Dakar website will have reports and video updates as well. There are already a few available on http://www.sbs.com.au/dakar2009/ (regardless that the site refers to 2009 event)

Merry Christmas to the believers.
Happy whatevers to the remainder.

I had a think about whether I'm a believer or a remainder and now I've got the Monkees song I'm a Believer stuck in my brain.
Thanks for Dakar info.

[NinjaMaster]

Ahh, the ol' Dakar/Christmas/New Year thread. Well, hope everyone had a happy Christmas, great new year and a merry Dakar. :up:

[Rod Richardson]

161 bikes are scheduled to start the Dakar on 1 January including a gaggle of KTM’s and Yamahas as expected in additional to a sprinkling of Hondas, Aprilias, BMWs, Shercos, a couple of Chinese Jinchengs and solitary Husaberg. Husky and Beta bikes as well as something called a Super Rocket ridden by a Swedish female who I hope doesn’t shoot off into space.

Odd place for the start of the rally.........in Argentina's Colon.

Keep up to date worldwide on http://www.dakar.com/
or downunder on………........... http://www.sbs.com.au/dakar/ now updated

[Rod Richardson]

Stage 2 progress at 138km mark.............................................. .........................
Stage 1 winner Casteau on the Sherco leads Fretigne (Yam) by 19 secs. Manca (KTM) in 4th -26secs and Coma 5th -51secs.

Leading Aussie is Barrier-Vanju in 73rd, Pollard in 105th and remarkably, Connell holding his own in 109th of the 159 riders still in the rally.

No word yet on the position of the Garland-Suzuki Isuzu ute.

I'm going to bed................buenos snoozus.

[Rod Richardson]

Stage 4 results
More than 20 bikes went out on stage 3 including Australia's Garry Connell.
Overall results to date have Despres (KTM) leading followed by the relentless Casteu (Sherco) -8'53", Rodriquez (Yam) -23'45".

Coma (KTM) in 6th -38"50" after a 22 sec penalty is grinding his way back up the ladder.

Australians Pollard now in 51st, Barriere-Varju in 64th.

(Aussies Garland-Suzuki in the Isuzu ute now in 19th)

[Rod Richardson]

Standings after Stage 6

Despres (KTM), Lopez (Aprilia), Rodrigues (Yam), Coma (KTM), Ullavalseter (KTM). Aussies, Pollard up to 42nd, Barriere-Varju 53rd.

See the rest on http://www.dakar.com/us/DAKAR/2010/stage-6/standings/bikes/overall.html

For Aussie competitor’s blogs, search the “Blogs” tab on http://www.sbs.com.au/sport/

No word on Garland/Suzuki in the Isuzu ute as at the time of this post.

Stage 6 for the bikes through the Atacama Desert was obviously a cruel one.
Manca on the KTM who had unselfishly stopped and given his rear wheel to Coma on the previous day’s stage after the Pirelli rear tyre on Coma’s bike shredded, unfortunately crashed 10 ks into the Stage and is in intensive care with serious head injuries.

Last year, the Pirelli rear tyre on Despres’ bike had also shredded in the early stages race and squashed any chances of victory. He switched to Michelin for this year’s event.

Stage 5 had also taken out Casteu on the Sherco when he went over the bars and suffered a busted leg.

However, the Sherco had performed brilliantly until then and the Aprilia 450s continues to do so resulting in Lopez holding 2nd place overall. The other Aprilias are in #14 & #24 respectively while the remaining Sherco is in #31.

[Rod Richardson]

At halfway point (Stage 7)
Depres (KTM), Rodriguez (Yam), Ullavalseter (KTM), Lopez (Apr)

Coma given a 6 hour penalty for wheel change and drops to 24th (in dispute)......I don't know the rules in that regard but suspect it must have been in relation to the Stage 5 incident when, according to the video commentary, Manca had given him the rear wheel from his bike.

Aussies Pollard in 42nd and Barriere-Varju 61st

[NinjaMaster]

I'm amazed at that Coma news. I'm sure I remember similar happening in previous events without penalty. Hope he can fight it and win so his teammates efforts weren't wasted.

[Rod Richardson]

Stage 10 results of this dueling grueling mega-marathon.

Despres (KTM) followed by Ullavalseter (KTM), Lopez (Apr) and Rodriguez (YAM).

Coma down in 17th but if it wasn't for his penalties he would be in 2nd only 36minutes behind Despres.

I understand that the 6 hour penalty was for being provided with the wheel by a person not in the rally.

Amazing that the ladies have stood up to the hammering with Annie Seels in 50th and Christina Meier in 91st.

Aussies Pollard and Barriere-Varju in 43rd and 58th respectively.

[Rod Richardson]

Oops.........I forgot to mention a third lady named Tamsin Jones from GBR who is in 92nd place keeping in mind that over one-third of the bikes are out as a result of either rider exhaustion or mishaps or bikes breaking down or breaking up.

[Rod Richardson]

Stage 13..............penultimate stage

The last day of the rally will start with Despres the leader followed by Ullavalseter then Lopez, Rodriguez, Fretigne, Duclos and Street.

The Aprilia twins have held up really well with Lopez' in 2nd, Ceci in 14th and Zanotti 18th

Aussies Pollard and Barriere-Varju in 38th and 57th respectively.

Rather amazed by the ladies not only going the distance but in particular with Seel in 45th spot. Meier and Jones in 86th & 87th after about 40% of the field didn't make it this far.

[Rod Richardson]

And that's how they finished finished apart from Zanotti, Barriere-Varju and Meier improving by one place. :up:

The remaining Sherco also finished well in 28th with Frenchman Pisano on board.

Aprilia and Sherco must be pleased with their first venture in this rally.