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Dakar 2006

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richo

Joined Dec 2005
4K Posts | 0+
I finally got a chance to see the Dakar update today. Is anyone else following it??? I'm not usually into Rallies, Motocross, Trucks, Sand dunes or Africa, but I love the Dakar! I think it's the ultimate test of strength, stamina, skill and sanity. And the cars and trucks have it a bit tough too. I think it would be the experience of a lifetime.
So anyway I noticed it's all KTM's up the front. What happened to that all conquering 2WD Yamaha from last year? As for the cars and trucks.... Well a woman in a VW is coming 3rd in cars and a Russian has been dominating trucks..... I think I'll stick to bikes.
 
I do follow the Dakar quite closely since it's the only motorsport available now. The Dakar is as much about navigating (if not more) as it is about driving, that's why a woman is 3rd (and actually won it a few years ago) a "biker" has won it the last 2 years and 50 y old guys are still competitive.

In bikes is much harder, there's no co-driver to help you navigating and it's very dangerous, last year 2 riders died (Meoni and Carnicer, RIP).
 
follow it every year. speed channel use to show it. would love to try & do this at least once in my life. 4 wheels tho. the bikes would be a bit tough me thinks. hey richo lets get a team up!!!
 
Eurosport has pretty decent coverage of it in the uk, which is cool..................love watch the trucks!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Jan 7 2006, 05:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>follow it every year. speed channel use to show it. would love to try & do this at least once in my life.

Hope you have big pockets Kev
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I got chatting to 4 guys, all mates in their 40's who we were fitting them up with knee braces at a dirtbike show last year, its cost them around £50,000 each just to get to the start line
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Some had little sponsorship deals, most just used their own funds or raised the cash............thats a lot of wonga.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Jan 8 2006, 03:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>hey richo lets get a team up!!!

Ok, But I'm saddling a KTM. Getting seen in a tin top would ruin my image.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BEN @ Jan 8 2006, 09:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Eurosport has pretty decent coverage of it in the uk, which is cool..................love watch the trucks!!
Hope you have big pockets Kev
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I got chatting to 4 guys, all mates in their 40's who we were fitting them up with knee braces at a dirtbike show last year, its cost them around £50,000 each just to get to the start line
<
Some had little sponsorship deals, most just used their own funds or raised the cash............thats a lot of wonga.
50,000!!!!!!
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i guess i should start playin the lottery!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Jan 8 2006, 10:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ok, But I'm saddling a KTM. Getting seen in a tin top would ruin my image.
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Australian rider Andy Caldecott has died after crashing in today's Dakar stage. RIP Andy.
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RIP...........its a tough sport and they know it. Thats what a fair chunck of the 50k is used for, medical support & insurance.
 
I was just looking at the results yesterday. He was coming 10th wasn't he? RIP
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (teomolca @ Jan 9 2006, 10:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Australian rider Andy Caldecott has died after crashing in today's Dakar stage. RIP Andy.
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Seeing he's considering a move to WRC, how do you think Rossi would fare in the Dakar?

I don't think he could win. It takes more than skill. A lot more. It takes stamina (as in driving/riding rough roads at insane speeds for weeks on end, and sleeping in the dirt when you get the chance to sleep, not riding around a sealed track for 45 minutes) It also takes experience (Winning a Dakar in your first year would be quite a feat) it also takes a hell of a lot of work, and a sense of competition (By that i mean working endlessly all year to win one race, not punching Max Biaggi)

Not to mention the early starts. It's well known that the Doctor is a big fan of sleeping in, one of the many reasons that he eventually split with Honda.
 
I don't think Rossi would want to race a Dakar, a Dakar is not a 3/4 of an hour race like MotoGP, it's a 15 day race, where pain and suffering are the trademark. Rossi is not that kind of guy.
 
Agreed for all those reasons you guys have mentioned. But also Dakar is known for being extremely dangerous, Rossi has always been one to side with safety. MotoGP, WRC and Formula 1 are about as dangerous as Rossi swings.
 
Congratulations to him, Looking forward to it again next year.

How beutiful was Senegal and Guinea compared to the sand dunes and stuff in Mali and Mauretania (God I hate trying to spell african countries) Love to do some trail riding there. But I think the deserts really what Dakar's about
 

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