| 20 March, 2013 - Dakar: The 2014 Dakar Poster Is Out - Already | #Dakar - We've just finished the 2013 edition of the popular Dakar rally, and already they've released the poster for the 2014 race.
You can't blame the organizers for not planning. So now all I got to do is wait 9 months....
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| 18 January, 2013 - Dakar2012: Day 14 - KTM Report | Almost there, one more day after this, and for those who don't like the Dakar it'll be over, and for those who love it, we can start looking forwards to next year's one.
One thing is certain, both Barreda and Caselli have proven themselves to be very worthy rookies. Top 5 motorcycles, yet again, are KTM; Things don't change. Not that I want it to...
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| 17 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: Day 13 - KTM Report | #Dakar - Interesting and another tough day, day 13 stage 12, from steaming hot to freezing cold. Another Yamaha wins the stage, but with no influence on the general rankings.
The 1st five were all different brands..... what a difference a few years make...........
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| 17 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: The Only Way Forward With A Motorcycle Is With ... | here are times in the Dakar rally that there's only one way forward on a motorcycle, and that's what happened in the disastrous stage yesterday where flash floods made it impossible for the competitors to continue their route.
Only the first part of the motorcycle race passed through unharmed, but when the last motorcycles arrived at the dry river beds, followed by the cars and trucks, the flash floods arrived. One motorcycle got really stuck, and needed some "help" getting out.
Amazing race, amazing photos.
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| 16 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: Day 12 - KTM Report | #Dakar - Rainy day, so much that the car & trucks section had to be cancelled, and several amateur motorcycle got stuck in fast rising water...
Kurt Caselli rides majestically, another future Dakar winner; KTM have done their thing, and taken the top spots of the leader board...........
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| 15 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: Day 11 - KTM Report | #Dakar - After the many upsets of yesterday in the motorcycle part (and also cars and trucks), the rally continues into stage 10, day 11.
The KTMs have taken the upperhand again, and it's looking like Despres is getting strong and stronger in the 2nd half. Strategy or Luck?
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| 15 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: Day 10 - KTM Report | #Dakar -Stage 9 Day 10, 1st day after day 9 which was a "rest" day for the Dakar. The first day after a rest day is always the most dangerous day on the Dakar, since riders are not as sharp as they should be.
Day 10 was also the longest of the rally, with Despres going balls-to-the-walls. But will he make it? ..........One thing is sure, Yamaha is no longer in the lead, the difference 1 day makes, but then, it's the Dakar! Poor Casteu and the unfortunate cow...
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| 14 January, 2013 - Dakar2013 - 20 Bivouac Photos | #Dakar - Yesterday may have been an official rest day at the Dakar rally, but it was anything but rest for the competitors and support staff. Motorcycles needed to be maintained, limbs needed to be straightened out, bellies fed and strategies revised for the 2nd part of the race.
The day after a rest day is always the most dangerous part of the rally, since attention spans are at an all-time low, so they racers need to keep sharp.
Here are 20 photos taken in the bivouac area during the rest day, provided by different media outlets.
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| 12 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: Day 8 - KTM Report | #Dakar - Last day before the well deserved rest day, and the first half of the race was cancelled due to heavy rain.
This was the 2nd part of the marathon stage, meaning no mechanic support the night before, so any problems on the motorcycle had to be repaired by the racers themselves. Is this going to be the Yamaha year?..........
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| 11 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: Day 7 - KTM Report | #Dakar - Day 7 sees the circus enter Argentina, and nice trip through very high mountains. But it did not good to the motorcycle favorite, Cyril Despres. He's gone back in the ranking, despite 1 & 2 stage win for KTM (Yamaha in 3rd).
They're almost halfway, so anything can still happen. It's the Dakar ...............Here's what KTM has to say
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| 10 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: Day 6 - KTM Report | #Dakar - First full day in Chile, with a very long stage. Early up, late to bed.
It looks like so far that the KTM domination is over. Even a God-like racer like Despres is having problems with Yams and Husqvarnas, now he's in a Yamaha sandwich. ..........
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| 9 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: Day 5 - KTM Report | #Dakar - Day 5 sees the boys (sorry, no girls this time) entering Chile for a short time.
The race continuous to make men out of boys, and many are seeing the end their dreams early. At the top 5 of the ranking, there's a hard fought battle between 2 Yamaha, 2 KTM and 1 Husqvarna rider. And the winner is..............
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| 8 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: Day 4 | #Dakar - Over 20 motorcycles already out of the race, that's 10%, and counting. It's getting tougher and tougher.
KTM is no longer leading, Despres had to relinquish lead to fellow Frenchman Olivier Pain on a Yamaha, followed by David Casteu, also on a Yamaha..
Looks like this year we're not going to see that many Austrian motorcycles in the top spots...........
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| 7 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: Day 3 | #Dakar - We're really in the Dakar now, and in day 3 we've seen several motorcycles disappear from the leader boards.
It's time for the pure professional now to show their stuff, and stage 3 was no disappointment. It looks like Despres's new frenemy is Chaleco, with Marco Coma's inability to play...........
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| 7 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: The Lonely Bultaco Is Back | It takes a brave person to race in the Dakar on a motorcycle, and an even braver person to race on a very old motorcycle, in this case a 1978 Bultaco Frontera. Igancio Chivite is a 48 year old Spanish racer, and crazy about the old, and demised, Bultaco. Despite the demise in 1983 of the "old" Spanish motorcycle manufacturer (the company was started by the former MotoGP racer Sete Gibernau's grandfather), Chivite tried racing the motorcycle in the 2011 Dakar but had to retire due to problems in the 6th stage (and he had to spend 3 nights sleeping in the desert).
Now he's back, with the another "old" bike (and some modifications), and with a Herculean effort, he's going to try to finish this year. Currently, stage 2, he's in the respectable position of #150...........
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| 6 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: Day 2 | Saturday’s opening stage of Dakar 2013 may have been largely ceremonial but on Sunday riders plunged into some difficult territory in a loop circuit around Pisco tackling difficult dunes on Peru’s desert coast. KTM factory riders Ruben Faria and Joan Pedrero finished 2-3 overall behind leader Joan Barreda while Red Bull KTM title defender Cyril Despres is overall fifth...........
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| 5 January, 2013 - Dakar2013: Starts Today - The Statistics | One of the most grueling and tough rally enduro races in the world starts today, the famous, and often notorious, Dakar. Although they haven't been going to Dakar for years now, the race keeps the name Dakar. Today the 35th edition of this race starts, with trucks, cars, quads and of course the motorcycles racing in South America (Peru, Argentina and Chile) for 14 days. Since its creating, the Dakar has been raced in 27 different countries.
The record man for the most number of victories remains the Frenchman Stephane Peterhansel, with 6 motorcycle victories and 4 car wins.
The youngest contestant is 19 years, the Dutchman Robert Van Pelt on a motorcycle..........
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| 26 November, 2012 - Dakar2013: Scrutineering - The Movie | Well, movie is a big word. Maybe more a quick (8 minutes) overview video clip of the 2013 Dakar technical and administrative scrutineering. Thursday and Friday of last week (22/23 November) saw a big part of the famous Dakar race "land" in Le Havre, France. There, in between major oil refineries, oil trucks and heavy industries, in a big hanger, all European vehicles came together for a 2 day diesel fumes, drilling machines, loud exhausts and the smell of coffee feast.
Wherever you where in the scrutineering process, you can hear the thundering race & support trucks, the throaty roar of motorcycle engines and the sound of drillings and pneumatic machines beavering away at the 100s, if not 1000s, of vehicles. Thursday was the busiest day, but unfortunately I had another commitment, so I arrived early on Friday to capture some of the Dakar magic.
Below you'll find 4 photos and a video I took. The video was quickly made, and there's no narrative since none of the people present (racers) were English speaking. I would have loved to have an Englishman/woman talk us through the process... maybe next year. Anyway, you get to see what the scrutineering is all about...........
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| 30 July, 2012 - Dakar 2013: Motorcycles Sold Out | It might be a worldwide financial crisis for many, but for some passionate racers, it just doesn't matter. In the space of 2 months, the Dakar rally has sold out all its spaces for motorcycles. A total of 305 motorcycles & quads have registered for the race that starts next year in Santiago de Chile. But only 220 of them will actually start on the 5th of January 2013.
10 Latin-Americans, and the rest are motorcycle racers from 51 different nationalities. It's interesting to see so many people want to race in a "dream of a lifetime". Typically, it'll cost some $75,000 to participate, counting your bike, transport, etc. Some people have even mortgaged their house so that they can participate.
At this moment I'm still contemplating to attend the mythic event, but it depends on me finding a magazine or newspaper that will help finance the trip (it costs a lot of money as accredited press to attend). We'll see...
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| 2 July, 2012 - Dakar: Honda To Compete With Motorcycle Factory Team | Since 23 years, Honda motorcycles has not competed officially in the famous Dakar race. It had competed officially with a works team between 1981 until 1989, and won the race 5 times.
But now they're back! The official works Honda team, called Team HRC, includes the Portuguese veteran Helder Rodrigues (3rd in the 2012 race) and Brazilian Felipe Zanol. The second team has British racer Sam Sunderland and Argentian Javier Pizzolito.
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| 9 May, 2012 - Cyril Despres Writes A Book and Why You Should Buy It | Any Dakar fan will know the name. You can't escape it if you watch the famous car & motorcycle rally. Cyril Despres, 4 time winner of the Dakar, and 9 times on the finish podium, needs no introduction.
Cyril is a mild manner gentleman, and an "alien" (to coin a MotoGP phrase) motorcycle racer. The Frenchman has published a book, entitled "4X Dakar", about his Dakar experience. As Cyril has said himself "Normally a rider waits until the end of his career before publishing a retrospective. Except that I have never been a fan of convention!".
The reason this factory KTM rider is publishing a book is to raise money for a school in Africa that he started after the untimely death of his friend Fabrizio Meoni in the 2005 Dakar rally in Africa. The school is located in the suburbs of Dakar, Senegal, and has 13 teachers and 321 children. But the area has 500 children who can not go to a school, so Cyril wants to expand the school and for that he needs money.
Click on the headline to continue reading this story.......
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| 21 March, 2012 - Dakar 2013 - Route Upside Down | The Dakar organization have just announced the 2013 route for the famous and gruelling Dakar rally, and it's a whopper. They are still going to hold it in South America (Africa seems to be off the cards for the time being), but instead of starting in Buenos Aires as they have in all previous editions, in 2013 they'll start in Lima, Peru.
So instead of going North, they will be going South. The route takes them partially through Argentina, and finishes in Santiago de Chile.
Click on the headline to read on.....
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| 16 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: Day 14 and Final | Last day of the famous Dakar rally, and in the motorcycle category, Cyril Depres has won. It's his 4th title, one more than his arch-rival Marc Coma. It was not an easy 3 weeks for either of them. For the spectators, we could not have asked for a better race, since it was played until Day 13 within seconds of each other. This made the race very interesting to watch.
Congratulations to both Cyril and Marc for making this year so interesting to follow.
BTW: Not only did motorcycle riders win the motorcycle category, obviously, but the top 2 in the car category were/are bikers, both having won the Dakar on a motorcycle. So to win the Dakar, you really need to be a motorcycle rider, maybe a lesson for Robby Gordon.
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| 15 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: Day 13 | Day 13 of the Dakar. 13 may be a unlucky number for some cultures, but for the French, 13 is an lucky number, and the proof is in the pudding. Frenchman Cyril Despres won this important and penultimate stage of the rally, and his unlucky opponent, Coma, lost so much time, that he will need a miracle to win the race. What's worse for Coma is that he might have to change engine, incurring a 45 minute penalty.
One more day, not a ride in the park, but still easy compared to the last 2 weeks worth of racing, and then it's over. This year was a bumper year, with an incredible track laid out for the motorcycles to cross. A lot of deep sand dunes made it spectacular to watch.
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| 14 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: Day 12 | Almost there, and all the cards have been played. The top 2 motorcycle riders, Marc Coma and Cyril Despres are still very close, with Coma re-taking the lead, but this time, Despres will not start immediately behind Coma, so the chances that he will overtake are slim.
The terrible dunes were reasonably easy, compared to the picture drawn by the organizers. More media attention is currently given to the fight between Gobby Gordon vs The Rest of the World.
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| 13 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: Day 11 | Apart from the two main motorcycle racers getting closer and closer, Day 11's only real excitement was the river crossing, with many riders flooding their motorcycle engines.
The real race starts tomorrow, day 12. Uncharted dunes, deep sand and stress (because we're in a marathon phase, with no mechanical assistance), so my guess is whoever wins Friday the 13th, will win the race.
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| 12 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: Day 10 | Last full day in Chile, and tomorrow on to Peru, a first for the Dakar rally. The motorcycles had another tough day, but that's the Dakar, a tough day follows a tough day.
Despres lost tme against his arch-rival Coma, and now only 21 seconds seperate them. 21 seconds is nothing, and anything can happen in the next few days, it's that close.
Spanish rider Joan Barreda took his first ever victory in the Dakar on his Husqvarna, and looks promosing as a future winner.
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| 11 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: Day 9 | ay 9 saw the incredible and scary sand dune of Iquique, a monster of a dune that would make any downhill skier green of envy, but now the Dakar racers needed to ride it down on their motorcycle after the longest stage of the whole race. Not an easy accomplishment.
Day 9 saw the motorcycles racing in sand and fesh-fesh for some 500 kms, and Despres regained the lead from Coma, but you can see that both racers are tired.
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| 10 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: Day 8 | The Dakar race is now in its 2nd week, and things have been happening, some of them not good. Apart from Despres falling into a mud trap and loosing 15 minutes, the organizers decide to credit him with time lost in the trap, but none to Marc Coma who managed to avoid the trap, but spent some time doing so.
Life is not fair, but who cares? In the mean time, the motorcycle are doing their best to finish. They are rapidly approaching Peru, a first for the Dakar.
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| 9 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: The Easy Way Of Racing A Motorcycle | You'll probably all seen the TV images of motorcycle racers in the famous Dakar rally, laboring through the dunes, stranded in mud, broken down alongside the road while trucks are thundering past at an alarming speed.
It's all part of the fun of racing your motorcycle in the Dakar rally. Until this photo......
This clearly shows there's another way of taking part in the Dakar with a motorcycle...
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| 7 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: Day 6 | Stage 6 of the Dakar rally may have been cancelled due to bad weather in the mountain passes, but it didn't mean that the motorcycles were not riding. Just because there was no race, the motorcycles still needed to brave the extreme cold temperatures and snowy roads through an almost 5,000 meter high mountain pass.
Imagine that the day before they were exposed to 40°C, and now it's freezing. I wonder how many will start the race on Saturday with a cold or flu? If you think it was a ride-in-the-park, forget it.
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| 6 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: Day 5 | The terrible sand dunes of Fiambala are done, and this time the weather helped everyone a little hand. It had been raining for days before the day all motorcycle had to cross the frightening sand dunes, and now the sand was harder and firmer for motorcycles.
Chances were that you would not get as stuck as in previous editions of the race. Cyril Despres took the most advantage of it, and beat his arch-rival, Marc Coma, to the finish, increasing his lead. But the race is only over when the fat lady sings. Dutchman Frans Verhoeven got problems and lost his 3rd place, replaced by Helder Rodrigues.
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| 5 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: Day 4 | The Dakar rally is now in full swing. All competitors are on their rhythm, but many are falling off, especially in the motorcycle field. Have the organizers made this year's edition too tough? 22 riders have withdrawn in 3 days!
It's amazing to watch the superpros battling it out, it makes the "normal" pros look ... normal. The fight between Despres and Coma is intensifying, and even a really great enduro rider like Verhoeven just doesn't get close. The fight between the two arch rivals looks like it's going to be until the last round, they are so evenly matched.
Here are the photos of Day 4, courtesy KTM and Maragni M.
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| 4 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: Day 3 | Day 3 of the famous and fabulous Dakar race for 2012, and the motorcycle field is being thinned out, more a culling.
The USA riders are down to 4, but others are not doing any better. It looks like this year's edition is very tough, with the local hospitals getting crowded.
Here are the photos of the epic day.
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| 3 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: Day 2 - The Photos | Here are many photos, courtesy KTM motorcycles and Maragni M., of Day 2 of the Dakar race.
Funny enough, many of the KTM motorcycle riders are Polish.
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| 2 January, 2012 - Dakar2012: Cyril Despres Rolls Out The Big Guns - Literally | | It looks like the Dakar 2012 edition is heated up already. With the number of wins between arch-rivals Marc Coma and Cyril Despres at 3 - 3, both motorcycle riders are going to be at their best to win this year's race.
Cyril Despres has decided with team mate Ruban Faria to win this year, and he's brought in the big guns, and I mean BIG GUNS.
This should give Marc Coma something to think about.... |
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| 21 December, 2011 - Dakar2012: David Fretigne Not Starting | | It's a real pity for the Dakar race. One of the very few motorcycle racers who could have made a stab at the monopoly of Cyril Despres and Marc Coma for the leadership, is Frenchman David Fretigne.
But alas, David was badly hurt in an accident 2 years ago, and already had to renounce the 2011 edition of the Dakar. But unfortunately, the doctors did not deem him fit enough to race in this grueling race. The sawbones stated that if David would make a heavy fall (which almost every Dakar racer will do during the race), he might risk a life-long paralysis.
So the Husqvarna rider will have to sit out the race for another season. Pity. |
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| 8 December, 2011 - Dakar 2012: The Figures | The world famous, or notorious, race, the Dakar, is a few weeks from starting. It's probably the most famous rally race, for cars, motorcycles and trucks. Video and photos of the incredibly tough race are seen throughout the world. The race is still being held in South America, despite calls of many to return to its roots in Africa. But the South American race holds many supporters, particularly the locals in Argentina who are all race mad.
Here are some of the figures and statistics of the Dakar, race. Notably is that there are a lot less KTM motorcycle taking part.
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| 21 November, 2011 - Dakar 2012 and Porn0 | Racing your motorcycle in the Dakar rally is expensive, and professionals but also amateurs, get sponsors to help them out financially.
But French motorcycle racers has found a very special sponsor; Marc Dorcel is a large French porno group, and they are sponsoring Hugo Paven for the 2nd year.
Lucky guy! Racing in the Dakar (for the 5th time), having a sponsor pay for everything, AND it's a porn0 shop...
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| 27 April, 2011 - Cyril Despres Moves Slowly To The Dark Side Of Racing | Multiple Dakar winner, Cyril Despres, looks like is getting ready to trade in his KTM motorcycle for a car. He's not the only one, since other Dakar legends did similar, and went on to win the Dakar in a car.
But in the mean time, Despres tried his luck racing a Corvette. So far, he's still planning to race a motorcycle in the 20122 Dakar, but what about 2013?
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| 1 April, 2011 - Valentino Rossi Announces Participation In The 2012 Dakar | In an interview with La Repubblica, Valentino Rossi let it be known that he has negotiated with Ducati a release during next year's off season to participate in the Dakar 2012. His love for rallies and motocross is no secret to anyone.
He has had several training session on a KTM with multiple winner Cyril Despres, with more to follow at the end of the MotoGP season.
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| 19 January, 2011 - Dakar 2011: Some KTM Statistics | KTM released some very interesting statistics about their 2011 Dakar motorcycle rally.
Impressive figures: it shows you what they have to put up with.
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| 15 January, 2011 - Dakar 2011: KTM Celebrates Fantastic 10th Consecutive Victory | It's over for another year! The Dakar finished today in style, with Dutchman Frans Verhoeven winning the final stage.
Poor Chilean rider, Chaleco, who was in a good overall third position, broke his motorcycle, and is no longer on the podium.
Marc Coma wins his third Dakar, and Cyril Despres ends in 2nd overall. Helder Rodrigues on his Yamaha finished 3rd.
KTM's dominance in rally races has remained untouched, despite the 450cc rule. 8 KTMs made it to the top 10. One Yamaha and one Honda make up the rest of the top 10.
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| 12 January, 2011 - Dakar 2011: Stage 10-Coma Snaps Another Vctory | The Dakar is back in Argentina, and is close to being finished. The time difference between the two top KTM motorcycle riders, Coma and Despres, is still very small. Onemishap could upset the balance.
Stage 10 was tough, specially for last year's winner, who lost a good 7 minutes on Coma. Faria, on his KTM came in 3rd.
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| 11 January, 2011 - Dakar 2011: Stage 9-No More Cat and Mouse, Despres Says | I's getting tougher for KTM. No KTMs made it to the stage podium! A Yamaha, a BMW and a Sherco held place 1, 2 & 3 (Jonah Street, Frans Verhoeven and David Casteu).
So no KTM made it to the podium for this stage. Is that a first?
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| 11 January, 2011 - Dakar 2011: The Lonely Bultaco Abandoned His Dreams | It's really too bad, but it was pretty predictable. The lonely 2-stroke Bultaco motorcycle had to abandon his attempt to finish in this year's Dakar rally.
Ignacio Chivite, the Spanish rider, was exhausted after 2 nights without sleep and many mechanical problems. He had started making mistakes that could cost him his life, so he stopped at stage 6.
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| 9 January, 2011 - Dakar 2012: Stays In South America And Will Include Peru | Was speaking with a contact at ASO (the Dakar organizers), and not only will the Dakar most probably continue next year in South America, but apart from Argentina and Chile, it will also include Peru.
They may even go as far as the capital, Lima.
So, no return to Africa for the time being, and an extension of the route.
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| 9 January, 2011 - Dakar 2011: Stage 7-Despres & Coma 2nd and 3rd | After a day of rest, the Dakar sets out again into the desert of Chile. An Aprilia from Chaleco wins the stage, in front of his home crowd.
For stage 7, Cyril Despres ends in 2nd, Coma 3rd, while the difference between the two top KTM riders is shrinking.
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| 5 January, 2011 - Dakar 2011: Stage 4-2nd Stage Win For Coma As Two-Way KTM Battle Ensues | Wow, an Aprilia motorcycle on the podium.... Stage 4 of the Dakar 2011, and the difference between Marc Coma and Cyril Despres can be measured with a stopwatch.
But the Chilean Chaleco on his Aprilia has invited himself on the podium, just when they arrive in Chile.
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| 4 January, 2011 - Dakar 2011: Stage 3-1st Stage Win For KTM’s Marc Coma | Cyril Despres made a navigation mistake, and lost some time. He's still leading Marc Coma, but in Dakar terms, only by nanoseconds.
KTM still leading the field, but less and less of them. Can they survive?
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| 3 January, 2011 - Dakar 2011: Cyril Despres Wins Stage 2 | 2nd Stage of the 2011 Dakar, and after Faria's penalty, Despres started as leader, and remained the leader.
Will the 450cc rule finally kill KTM's dominance, or are they that good that they'll win again. This time there were less KTM's in the Top 10.
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| 8 December, 2010 - Dakar 2011: Simon Pavey Caves In And Rides Again | Despite having sworn never to race the Dakar rally on his motorcycle again a few years back, BMW Off-Road Head Training Instructor and off road trainer to the stars, Simon "Si" Pavey, has been lured into racing again.
Next month sees him racing under the number 51, his BMW motorcycle for the 8th time in the Dakar!
Good luck Si!
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| 24 November, 2010 - Dakar 2011: BMW Motorcycles In Trouble | David Fretigne, French superstar enduro racer and BMW's hope for winning the Dakar race, has been declared unfit to race in the upcoming Dakar race.
David crashed in last month's Rallye du Maroc, breaking vertebrae and ribs, and has not been able to fully recover.
Now BMW's hope lies totally on Dutchman's Frans Verhoeven's shoulders.
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| 22 November, 2010 - Hayabusa Racing The 2011 Dakar Rally | Even if you've not been following the famous Dakar race, or just not interested in it, you'd know that a Hayabusa motorcycle is totally not the motorcycle to use in the Dakar. But still...
Two Dutch motorcycle racers (one of them being the former MotoGP racer Jurgen van den Goorbergh) are going to take part in next year's Dakar in a Hayabusa. Except it's not a motorcycle....
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| 4 October, 2010 - 46 Dakar Motorcycles Over The Years | 46 motorcycles that have participated in the famous Dakar rally, from the very first year until 2011 (okay, the last one still has to race).
Some of them are very special, like the Vespa scooter. They're not all KTMs, believe it or not, KTM do not hold the number of victories.
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| 1 October, 2010 - Dakar 2011: A Lonely Bultaco Motorcycle Joins The Fun | Believe it or not, but a 1978 Bultaco 2-stroke Pursang 370 is going to take part in the 2011 Dakar rally. This old motorcycle has already seen quite some action in its life time, and now it has been entered by a Spanish racer, into world's toughest motorcycle race.
That takes guts!
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| 7 September, 2010 - Dakar: 2011 Edition Motorcycles Entries Closed! | If you were planning to race your motorcycle in the 2011 edition of the Dakar rally, and have not registered for it, you can forget it.
The 200 competitor list is now full, and the waiting list is enormous. This year's 450cc max rule is making it more interesting to compete with the big boys, and manufacturers like BMW, Yamaha, Aprilia, Sherco and Honda are all putting in their money's worth.
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| 21 July, 2010 - Enduro: David Fretigne Moves From Yamaha To BMW | French motorcycle rally/enduro champion, Dakar 450 cc class winner and 3rd overall, and many victories in enduro races, has decided to move from Yamaha to BMW.
After 11 years riding for Yamaha, BMW have offered him an interesting racing package to allow him to hopefully win the Dakar race.
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| 6 July, 2010 - Video: Dakar 2011 Promo | Like any self-respecting major sport event, there's a promotional video of the next event.
Here's the promo for the 2011 edition of the famous Dakar race. Plenty of motorcycles, cars and trucks... and many emotions.
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| 4 June, 2010 - KTM Propose Special Dakar Motorcycle For 2011 Race | KTM are proposing a special 450cc motorcycle for the 2011 Dakar rally.
It's a special built, not a revamped 450EXC, and in the package are the Dakar fees, a max of 2 spare engines and the motorcycle itself. Cost... a small amount..... €56,000. Gasp... and that excludes maintenance, support, logistics, etc.
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| 17 May, 2010 - A Notable Dakar Victim In The Libyan Airplane Crash | Emilie Poucan, the person responsible for the press at the Dakar race has died in the airplane crash in Libya last week.
She was returning from South Africa where she celebrated her 32nd birthday.
She'll be missed.
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| 12 May, 2010 - Dakar Race Caused USD 570K Worth Of Damage In Chile | According to the organization in Chile that looks after national monuments, the Dakar race has caused some US$570,000 worth of damage to historical sites.
They want the Dakar organizers to cough up the dough...
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| 29 April, 2010 - Dakar 2011: Go North Young Man, Go North | The Dakar route for 2011 has been published, and it's a stinger.
It goes all the way to the North, close to Peru, where the deserts make the Sahara look like Miami beach...
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| 23 March, 2010 - Dakar 2011: Stay In South America | It has been announced that the Dakar rally will stay in South America for next year (2011).
More info about the route will be published next month.
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| 18 January, 2010 - Dakar 2011 In Africa - EAST! | According to one of the main sponsors of the Dakar rally, France 2 (the French state owned television), the Dakar organizers are looking into moving the 2011 Dakar race back to Africa next year, but to the North East.
They have received invitations from Tunisia, Libya and Egypt to race in their countries. Decision will be made in several weeks.
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| 15 January, 2010 - Dakar 2010: Day 15 - KTM Report | Day 15 and almost last day. Here's the KTM Motorcycle report of the Dakar.
Good finish for Norway (finally Pal wins, and gets 2nd overall place), and yet again the Aprilia ends in the top 3. Next year is going to be interesting with all bikes running 450cc.
Unless a miracle happens tomorrow, Despres will have won the Dakar (again).
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| 14 January, 2010 - Dakar 2010: Day 14 - KTM Report | Day 14 of the Dakar, here's the KTM report. Bummer than Verhoeven lost yesterday's victory, the Dakar management have some favorites....
The motorcycle field has been decimated, but Despres's position is solid. Tomorrow is the penultimate stage, and the most technical (last year, many bit the dust).
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| 13 January, 2010 - Dakar 2010: Day 13 - KTM Report | Day 13 of the Dakar, almost there.... we're back in Argentina, and the motorcycle riders have had to go through the impressive Andes mountains.
Another day, another tough stage. For a change, it was not Coma who won, but Dutchman Verhoeven, followed by USA Jonah Street. All that because of a screwup by a local cop who closed the wrong road. The top riders went wrong, the rest went right.
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| 12 January, 2010 - Dakar 2010: Day 12 - KTM Report | Day 12 of the Dakar rally, and Coma is on a winning streak, but Despres remains the leader of the motorcycle race.
This is the last day in Chile, back in Argentina tomorrow.
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| 11 January, 2010 - Dakar 2010: Day 11 - KTM Report | Day 11 in the ongoing saga of the Dakar rally. Interesting start for the motorcycles, a first in the Dakar. A motocross style departure...
Despres still leading, and Marc Coma still winning stages without having any chance of winning the Dakar.
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| 10 January, 2010 - Dakar 2010: Day 10 - KTM Report | The day after the rest day, Day 10 of the Dakar, sees a really long and tough stage.
Coma is out thanks to 6 hours penalty, and Despres is playing it safe.
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| 9 January, 2010 - Dakar 2010: 8 Photos Of Motorcycles On Day 8 | The Dakar is not just about the top riders, it's really about the unsung heroes, the motorcycle riders you never get to see on TV or media.
Here are 8 photos of the real Dakar riders.
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| 9 January, 2010 - Dakar 2010: Day 8 - KTM Report | Day 8, Stage 7 and we're on the halfway mark of the 2010 edition of the Dakar (Saturday is rest day).
This was the longest stage, so the field is decimated.
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| 8 January, 2010 - Dakar2010: Annie Seel - Leading Female Motorcycle Rider | A look at the leading female motorcycle rider in the 2010 Dakar rally, Swedish Rally Princess Annie Seel.
She's leading the race in the female category, and is 40th overall in the motorcycle category, despite riding with an injury.
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| 7 January, 2010 - Dakar 2010: Day 7 - KTM Report | Day 7, Stage 6 of the Dakar, here's the KTM Report.
Too bad Manca, after yesterday's great gesture giving his rear tire to Coma, despite being in the running for a podium, crashed and is in hospital.
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| 6 January, 2010 - Dakar 2010: Day 6 - KTM Report | Day 6, Stage 5, and here's KTM's report on their motorcycles in the Dakar.
To bad Casteu is out, and Coma is really suffering in this race. And an Aprilia winning the stage???? Wow!
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| 5 January, 2010 - Dakar 2010: Day 5 - KTM Report | Day Five (Stage 4) of the Dakar, and the KTMs are starting to run the race, again, though the Sherco is holding well.
It has become so tough, they had to shorten today's race.
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| 5 January, 2010 - Dakar 2010: Day 4 - KTM Report | Day 4 of KTM's report.
Cyril Despres wins the stage and leads, while Jordi crashes and is out of the race. Things are heating up..
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| 2 January, 2010 - Dakar 2010: KTM’s Coma & Despres Off To Conquer World’s Most Challenging Rally | KTM's big hitters, Marc Coma and Cyril Despres, despite not in an official team configuration, are riding the KTM flag, and are ready to battle who is going to be the winner this year.
Between the two, they have won the last few years worth of Dakar motorcycle races.
But will the new technical limitation slow them down? Or will ASO's new rule make the motorcycle rally less interesting?
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| 21 December, 2009 - KTM To Use Pirelli’s New Scorpion Tires In The Dakar, Again | Marc Coma and Jordi Viladoms from the KTM motorcycle teams will be racing the 2010 Dakar on the new Pirelli Scorpion Rally tires.
The Pirelli's have made their mark last year by placing first and second in the Dakar, so KTM are giving them another go.
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| 25 November, 2009 - Dakar 2010: The Map | The 2010 edition of the Dakar has been published, and here are some interesting statistics about the race.
A lot of the famous motorcycle riders are present, and even a lot of KTM motorcycles.
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| 30 July, 2009 - Racing The Dakar On A Yamaha Motorcycle With Support | If you want to race in the 2010 Dakar, and are afraid for the logistics that goes with the race (motorcycle preparation, spares, mechanics), French HFP Off-road offer a Yamaha WRF450, specially prepared for the Dakar, and a full support package.
Three different options are available.
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| 29 July, 2009 - Dakar: KTM Service Truck at Dakar Rally | KTM have announced that despite the fact that they are not fully in the 2010 Dakar race, they are going to supply their famous orange Service Truck for all their customers.
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| 4 June, 2009 - Dakar 2010: New Rules For Motorcycles! 450cc Is The Maximum | The Dakar organizers have announced that for the 2010 race, all pro and semi-pro riders will be racing on 450cc motorcycles, while private entries can have bigger motorcycles as long as they are limited to the performance of a 450.
The 2011 edition will be limited to 450cc for all motorcycles.
IMHO it's a big mistake. 450cc motorcycles are not safer than 650 or bigger, so it doesn't bring anything to the table.
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| 4 June, 2009 - Dakar 2010: Route Released | The Dakar 2010 race route has been published!
It looks like a particularly tough race next year, specially for motorcycles. The race goes anti-clock wise this time, going all the way up into the Northern part of Chile.
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| 2 June, 2009 - Dakar 2010 Open For Registration | Registration for cars, motorcycles and trucks is now open for the 2010 Dakar race.
You have 2 months to register, but better hurry, since they always sell out rapidly.
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| 3 March, 2009 - Dakar Motorcycle Racers Must Pass Test To Compete | The Dakar organizers (ASO) have announced that all motorcycle riders in the next race (2010) must pass a strict exam to be able to participate in the event.
If you've raced in a FIM sanctioned race, or in one of the new Dakar series, you'll fine. If not, exam time!
In other words, how to get rid of the amateurs in a race that started for amateurs.
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| 19 January, 2009 - Dakar 2009: Final Post and Round-Up | A final look at the Dakar race, the special motorcycle riders, the statistics and where is the 2010 edition going to be held?
What a race...!
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| 15 January, 2009 - Respect: Isidre Esteve Pujol | Anyone racing in the Dakar merits respect. But some merit more than others.
Esteve Pulol, a Spanish KTM motorcycle rider, was one of world's top racers, when a crash in 2007 resulted in him losing the use of his legs.
But that has not stopped him from racing in the Dakar, but now he's using 4 wheels instead of 2. Respect!
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| 10 January, 2009 - Dakar 2009: 2 More Dead! Tragic! | Tragedy struck again on the Dakar race trail. On Friday, a support truck carrying tires for the 9th stage crashed into a private car, killing the two occupants.
The truck driver is currently in prison pending investigation.
Tragic! |
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| 9 January, 2009 - Critics And The Dakar Race | Despite being a very popular race for motorcycles and cars, almost in any country of the world, there are always groups of people who want the race stopped.
In most cases, these people are ill-informed about the race and its economical and ecological impact in the region.
Time to take stock!
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| 8 January, 2009 - Dakar 2009: Cause Of Death Of Rider Known | The official cause of death of the Dakar motorcycle rider, Pascal Terry, have been published.
His life could have been saved if the organizers had attempted to rescue him when things started going south, but due to communication errors, it took several days.
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| 7 January, 2009 - Dakar 2009: First Motorcycle Death | The 2009 Dakar is in mourning again. 49 year old Frenchman, Terry Pascal, died on his Yamaha motorcycle on the night of Sunday.
He did not die of a crash, since he was sitting in the shade, with his helmet off, and food and water.
The local Police is investigating.
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| 7 January, 2009 - Dakar 2009: Slight Change In Reporting Format | | After a comment and several emails regarding the Dakar reporting on this site, we've decided to slightly change the format.
We need to do this because of the people who follow this site using a RSS Reader and live in a country where the Dakar TV reporting is usually the following day.
We'll no longer put spoiler information in the headline, nor in the RSS summary. That way the RSS readers will be able to continue scanning the motorcycle news, but not know what went on. |
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| 6 January, 2009 - Dakar 2009: Day 4-Marc Coma Nice And Easy... | Marc Coma seems unstoppable. The KTM Motorcycle rider hasn't had any problems, while everyone behind him has.
Here's what the 4 KTM factory riders have to say.
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| 4 January, 2009 - Dakar 2009: Day 1-Commanding Lead For Coma On 1st Stage Of Dakar | First in a series of press releases from KTM during the Dakar 2009 motorcycle race.
High quality photos and results. Day 1 did not go the way the KTM factory riders wanted it to go, apart from Marc Coma, who now has a big lead after the 1st day.
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| 2 January, 2009 - Dakar 2009: Day -2 | If you want to see photos of the preparations of the Dakar races, cars, motorcycles and trucks, here's a website that is showing it all "live" from Buenos Aires.
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| 24 December, 2008 - Video: Dakar 1978 | Here's a very interesting video clip of the very first Dakar race held back in 1978.
Starting from Paris, you can see how ill-equipped most of the motorcycles and riders were for such an adventure, but they still went.
So space-age suits, carbon helmets, carbon boots, just plain old walking boots, old helmets and big leather suits.
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| 5 December, 2008 - Video: David Fretigne Training For The Dakar 2009 | David Fretigne is one of the top French motorcycle enduro champs, and he's been training very hard to win the Dakar 2009.
Here's an impressive video clip of David on his Yamaha motorcycle. Wooow!
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| 27 November, 2008 - Video: Dakar 2009 Scrutineering | Here's a 4 minutes video clip I made of the Dakar 2009 Scrutineering at Le Havre, France.
The camera had a bit of a problem, since the sound dies halfway every segment. So don't adjust your computer, it's my camera.
The clip shows motorcycles, cars and trucks.
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| 26 November, 2008 - Dakar 2009: Photos From The Scrutineering | As chance will have it, the Dakar 2009 scrutineering is held some 35 kilometers from my house in Le Havre.
Here are 44 photos I made this morning of the event.
It's interesting to see how a well oiled machine like the Dakar organization has got it together.
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| 15 May, 2008 - Dakar 2009 Open For Registration | The Dakar 2009 contestant registration is open! If you're planning to take part in this (probably) once off South American race, better hurry. Places are limited, and contestants of the ill-fated 2008 edition have priority.
The race is over 6000 kilometers, flat lands, very high mountains and long deserts... fun, fun, fun.
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| 21 March, 2008 - Video: BMW F650GS Dakar Motorcycle vs BMW X5 Car | Here's an interesting race on video. It's from the British TV program Fifth Gear, and it's a race between a BMW F650GS motorcycle and a BMW X5 car.
The motorcycle (Charley Boorman's Dakar bike) is ridden by Simon Pavey, a 6x Dakar veteran and Chief Instructor at the BMW Off Road Skills School.
Interesting...
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| 10 March, 2008 - Want To Buy A Dakar Winning KTM Motorcycle? | This is your chance to get Cyril Despres's Dakar winning KTM motorcycle. Or even David Coulthard's F1 car.
Starting 13 March until the 30th, there's an auction for the "Wings for Life" organization.
All items will start off at €1.
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| 6 February, 2008 - KTM Welcomes New Central European Rally of "Dakar Series" | KTM is happy with ASO's Dakar Series Central Europe Rally. It gives them a chance to test out their new recruits, and private entries that had registered for the ill-fated 2008 Dakar can participate for free.
Route brings the rally through Romania and Hungary.
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| 1 February, 2008 - Cyril Despres In Dakar Anyway | Again, Cyril Despres shows that he's human, not a money & glory hound. He had an appointment at the Lac Rose (final stage for the Dakar rally) to fulfill his obligations to the Fabrizio Meoni Foundation and to inaugurate a 2nd school.
And that's exactly what he did. not on his KTM motorcycle, but he went there nevertheless.
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| 8 January, 2008 - Despite Dakar Cancellation Heroes Legend Still On | The low cost adventure rally Heroes Legend, tracing the same route of the famous Paris-Dakar is still on despite the terrorist threats.
Organized by mufti winner of the Dakar itself, Hubert Auriol, the rally starts on the 8th of march.
Any takers??
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| 4 January, 2008 - Is The Dakar Rally Doomed? | The cancellation of the 2008 Dakar race on it's own is bad enough, not just for us viewers, but specially for the participants, sponsors, media and organizers.
But has this set a dangerous precedent? Can these ass-wipe terrorists now start treating all large sport events?
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| 4 January, 2008 - Dakar 2008 Cancelled | It looks like the 2008 edition of the Dakar race is cancelled due to terrorist threats.
Already 4 French tourist were killed in Mauritania, so the organizers are caving in.
sad...
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| 31 December, 2007 - Pizza Delivery At The Dakar 2008 | Frenchman, and twice 450 category winner of the Dakar rally, David Fretigne will not exactly be bringing pizzas to the contestants, but he'll be making sure that everyone knows the name of his sponsor.
His sponsor is the French, but international, gourmet pizza joint; La Boite A Pizza. For €120,000, David will become a pizza delivery boy...
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| 4 December, 2007 - KTM Ready For Dakar 2008 | KTM have been preparing very hard for the 2008 Dakar. Competition is getting very hungry to get the title, and this year will be difficult for the Austrian manufacturer.
Who will win; Coma or Despres, or a non-orange motorcycle?
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| 3 December, 2007 - Dakar 2008: A Quick Quiz | The Dakar 2008 is almost there, so let's have a little quiz about it.
Two simple questions to test you knowledge...
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| 4 September, 2007 - Yamaha France and Dakar 2008 Spare Parts Support | Yamaha France and HFP Off-road are offering a spare parts service for all Yamaha WR450F motorcycles riders that are participating in the Dakar 2008 race, including the new 07 model.
The maintenance support service is full (as is the race, so if you haven't entered, you'll need to wait until 2009).
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| 18 January, 2007 - Dakar Stars and Their Websites | Even the Dakar motorcycle stars have their own websites.
Some very good, some with a blog, or some with a forum in which they themselves participate.
Have a look at the sites.
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| 10 January, 2007 - Vatican: Paris-Dakar-Bloody Race of Irresponsibility | | The Vatican today slammed the Dakar race as a "Bloody Race of Irresponsibility", condemning the Dakar as a "irresponsible, violent and cynical attempt to impose questionable Western tastes on the developing world". In which ass have they got their heads ? |
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| 9 January, 2007 - Dakar Contestant Extraodinaire: Annie Seel | A closer look at one of the more extraordinary contestants of the Dakar 2007, Swedish Goddess, Annie Seel, aka RallyPrincess.
She's done it all on two wheels, including climbing the Mt. Everest on her motorcycle.
This is her 2nd Dakar attempt (she finished very good in her first, with a broken hand).
Read all about her.
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| 8 January, 2007 - Ecological Dakar 2007 Contestant | One of the Dakar motorcycle contestants is not only pro green, but he does what he preaches.
He's riding a Yamaha motorcycle converted to use bio-fuels (that he grows himself).
Christian Dequidt is a farmer from the North of France, and not only is his fuel made out of beetroot, but his engine oil is made out of coleslaw, and parts of his motorcycle are made out of compressed corn.
Way of the future ? |
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| 4 January, 2007 - Dakar 2007 - Almost There | It's almost that time of the year again, the Dakar race will start in 2 days time.
In the mean time, the competitors are having their motorcycles checked by the scrutineering folks.
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| 20 July, 2006 - Wheels 2 Africa | US based Dakar race team, Team Rally Pan-America, have announced that *they* are sponsoring a charity (Wheels 2 Africa) that provides motorcycles for medical purposes in Africa.
So, after the race is over, the support trucks of Team Rally Pan-America will go back into Africa to help in the efforts of Wheels 2 Africa. Nice !
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| 12 May, 2006 - Dakar 2007 and Challenge Yamaha Dakar | Yamaha are really throwing a package towards next year's Dakar race. Private entries can get a full support package, including the WR450F Yamaha motorcycle, racing suits, maintenance, media assistance, etc etc for less than what it will cost you to enter the race yourself.
If you've always wanted to ride the Dakar, but can't get the money you'd need, this looks like a sweet deal.
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| 14 January, 2006 - Ludivine Puy, Dakar Angel | A look at the pretty, and very cable Ludivine Puy, female motorcyclist in the Dakar race.
Too bad she crashed while avoiding a little boy standing on the road during the special in Day 13, and she's now in the hospital.
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| 8 January, 2006 - KTM: Dakar 2006: Bivouac Photos Week 1 | Since today is a rest day for the Dakar race, here are some photos taken over last week at the different bivouacs.
For those of you who can't get enough. |
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| 30 December, 2005 - KTM: Dakar 2006: Scrutineering | | I'll be publishing, "as-is", the KTM press releases that come in directly from the Dakar race. This is the first one, the scrutineering. |
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| 30 December, 2004 - Dakar 2005 - 30th December | | Live (well almost) from Barcelona, reporting on the Dakar 2005 race (loads of photos). |
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| 29 November, 2004 - The Paris-Dakar 2005 | The Paris-Dakar route has been published, and this year, I'm going to be there !
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