Dakar 2013 - Official Event Coverage - thank you ALL TeamF5, lurkers and posters!

nah he was about 10 mintues down

no, he was + 13'16

I know that the HRC fuel issue is going for long, apologies if this has need thought before... Just to add in the speculation pool ...
I think the quote above is 100% correct... The bike had already issues with fuel before... You do not just risk for a 5 kilos. Drop the Nav tower and you gain ten ... Throw the lights and you gain another two. Make the tanks out of plastic and you will probably gain another 5 ...
The rear tanks should change the geometry of the bike as the sit higher than the other bikes, but then again they create more leverage to lift the front wheel and take weight out of the front, which would be a bonus during sand riding. May be the riders don't like the feeling so the rears do not fill up to the top. If I remember correctly the 660 had a high rear tank and it was withdrawn due to similar reports from the riders. Then KTM put the two side low ones on the 660 and then they changed them to what is similar to the ones we see today. Honda's seem that they sit too far at the rear and at the top, but then again I am pretty sure someone has done the proper statics and dynamics to solve any problems... I am convinced that either the pumps overheat where they are (close to the engine and protected by the bash guard) or there is another design flow in their hydraulic system that causes the pumps to fail from overheating. May be they are pumping air for long periods ? Just a thought. ...

shoulder must be okay then i guess

Nope, was 13'+sth after yesterdays stage ...

edit:

Yup, absolutely positively 100% sure that it's a Sena. I happen to have a couple of those myself and one can even see the rubber flap covering the charging port on that picture. =)

Dakar

Ruben Faria is now in front, leading Francisco Lopez by 9", Frans Verhoeven by 23" and Juan Pedrero Garcia by 5'13". Alain Duclos is in fifth, 2'33" behind the stage leader and 17" ahead of Ivan Jakes. Following his navigation problems, Joan Barreda is in eighth place.

I know. I"m trying to hold back my stress since how many times this year has he not show up thru wps, and comes in at the end?!?!

If the latest timing sheet is to be believed, Luis only left the start about 20 minutes ago! :eek1

(DSS) 150 BELAUSTEGUI LUIS (ARG) 12:58:45 -

Faria is on fire,

Pedrero is leading the front group on piste,

You can feel the tension.....even his family is completely silent this morning. I haven't contacted his wife yet today.

11
FARIA RUBEN (PRT)
13:09:08 02:51:08 -
18
PRZYGONSKI JAKUB (POL)
13:15:35 02:52:35 00:01:27
7
LOPEZ FRANCISCO (CHL)
13:00:40 02:52:40 00:01:32
14
DUCLOS ALAIN (FRA)
13:09:09 02:53:09 00:02:01
12
PEDRERO JUAN (ESP)
13:00:34 02:54:34 00:03:26


where did Kuba and Duclos come from???

Ok 2/3 Special Report, as of WP6 (to be updated I hope)

Cyril losing time today from 2nd Faria, who at +7.27 poses no threat whatsoever to his boss. Chaleco however is moving up big time, currently at +13.51 off the lead, while escaping from the claws of Jakes so far, putting 8 minutes between them in the overall. Likewise Jakes is slipping away from Botturi who started the day -and remains- 5th overall. However, 6th overall Pedrero (hey, remember him?) has been steadily advancing and now sits less than nine minutes behind the Italian giant.

Can Botturi retain 5th? will Chaleco remain on the podium? This Dakar still has a few surprises I think

Pyndon @ WP3 +01:01:39

You like having your posts in cliff notes, don't your?

Manuel does not show.....

Despres only 7m27s on Faria Overall at this point. Not going well for him.

Yeah, the money is good

now Helder pops up, 5th +2'25"