Dakar2013: The Lonely Bultaco Is Back |
|
|
File under Dakar Race
Author: Mike Werner
Location: Normandy, France
|
|
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 (link  ) 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 (link ) 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.
As a side note, his bike is the only 2 stroke motorcycle in the race... gutsy, since he can't really bum some gasoline from other contestants if he runs out.
You can follow is adventure on Facebook (in Spanish).
I sincerely hope he makes it to the finish; he deserves it.
| UPDATE: Bad luck is following Ignacio, as his bike died in the start of the 3rd stage, and he was not able to get the spare parts to make the motorcycle run, so he's out of the race. |
|
|
|
Click here to Show/Hide 
