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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! |
| 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. |
| 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 ? |
| 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 ? |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| 30 December, 2004 - Dakar 2005 - 30th December | | Live (well almost) from Barcelona, reporting on the Dakar 2005 race (loads of photos). |
| 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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