Dakar 2007: Honda Press Release 11Jan |
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File under Dakar Race Honda
Author: Honda Press Release
Location: Paris, France
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Dakar Rally 2007 Stage 6: January 11th, Tan Tan - Zouerat
Liaison : 414 km - Special : 394 km - Liaison : 9 km
Total : 817 km.
This morning, the motorcycle riders left the Tan Tan bivouac at 04.30hrs in a sand storm to start a punishing 414km liaison section. On the road to Smara they encountered rain that transformed the track that arrived at the ‘wall’ between Morocco and Mauritania into a muddy field.
The start of the special stage started 80km after the wall. The first section was very fast, a little too fast for the smaller cylinder bikes. Then, there were several small dunes to negotiate on the stage.
Thierry Bethys rode a superb special stage and finished third of the 450cc riders. Chaleco Lopez followed in fourth and Paulo Concalvez was eighth.
FRANCISCO ‘CHALECO’ LOPEZ (CHILE) N°34 : « I rode the entire special stage without GPS and so it was very difficult to navigate. I did not want to take any risks and I rode cautiously. This morning’s liaison section was long and dangerous because there were some violent winds and some rain. I passed the dunes without problems, but over the high-speed sections it was necessary to pay attention and not ride to hard to preserve the engine. »
 PAULO CONCALVEZ
More photos after the jump
PAULO CONCALVEZ (PORTUGAL) N°33 : « It was a good route for a Dakar Rally. I did not attack in order to save the engine and the mechanical parts of the bike because it was so fast. For the rest of the stage, the bike was very good. I am very happy. »
HENK KNUIMAN (BELGIUM) N°11 : « We woke up very early and it was really a long journey. The special started on a very fast track and, with our small bikes, it was not terrible. But, next there were some dunes to cross and I adore that. I hope, tomorrow, that we have some more. »
THIERRY BETHYS (FRANCE) N°85 : « Beautiful stage for me, all is working well. In the first 20km, I rode carefully and then I attacked for all the special. There was a mixture of sandy tracks and I am very pleased. Tomorrow, we go to Atar and then we have the rest day, where I will change the engine. »
 GREGOIRE BLONDEL
GREGOIRE BLONDEL (FRANCE) N°83 : « I am the water carrier for Thierry (Betys), but I am running far behind him ! Yesterday, I crashed in the rocks and now I have a bad ankle. Today, I had a moment in a sand dune. It was a long stage, but I don’t have any other problems. »
450CC CLASSIFICATION ON THE STAGE (PROVISIONAL)
1. Rodrigues (Yamaha) 3h52’54
2. Frétigné (Yamaha) 3h54’28
3. BETHYS (FRA) HONDA 3h57’27
4. LOPEZ (CHILE) HONDA 4h00’01
6. KNUIMAN (HOL) HONDA 4h01’26
8. CONCALVEZ (POR) HONDA 4h05’32
46. BLONDEL (FR) HONDA 5h31’07
53. DE BOIS (NL) HONDA 5h42’30
54. KROON (NL) HONDA 5h43’04
57. VISSER (NL) HONDA 5h44’07
13. EXTANCE (UK) HONDA
450CC OVERALL CLASSIFICATION (PROVISIONAL)
1. Frétigné (Yamaha) 19h13’45
2. Rodrigues (Por) Yamaha 19h19h58
3. LOPEZ (CHILE) HONDA 19h22’42
5. KNUIMAN (HOL) HONDA 20h04’17
6. CONCALVEZ (POR) HONDA 20h06’49
7. BETHYS (FRA) HONDA 20h28’07
41. BLONDEL (FR) HONDA 26h38’38
47. VISSER (NL) HONDA 28h08’42
51. KROON (NL) HONDA 28h19’51
52. DE BOIS (NL) HONDA 28h23’54
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