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

[kaia]

Dakar.com has a bunch of photos for each stage that they're not showing in the main "photos" area... slightly hidden. but i found them, and cross-posted over in the Dakar 2013 Media thread.

















tldr; cross-posted over in the Dakar 2013 Media thread.

[AZ-Twin]

Originally Posted by silentwolf

It'll be expired when he gets back. Hope he doesn't get a ticket.

G'night all.

Man, that is last year's model. The new 2013 Hummer has the plate on the other side, here, from the sales brochure you can see. Also, note the 13 AZ tag.

[Carlos M]

Originally Posted by Brodovitch

Well I caught up, only a few pages, the race is taking it's toll on here as well

...

Fiambala to Copiapo!! Kurt opens on mainly On Piste stuff... bring on today

Nice wrap up of the stage

It would be very nice if Kurt C managed to navigate well this next stsge! He seems to learn as he rides... Fast!

[El Cucuy]

Originally Posted by Bluebull2007

Van Niekerk is the top rookie now actually.

Go South Africans! The race within the race!

whoa--nice!!

[amazing ricardo]

Originally Posted by wrk2surf

How did you know Amazing Ricky

................. i'm smart like dat, 'n shit....





EDIT... BTW Robbie your tags are expired... ........


REEDIT: I shouldn't really skip ahead... Robbie you're kewl on your AZ registration... ............

[Brodovitch]

Johnny on yesterday:

Dakar race report-stage 11:
La Rioja to Fiambala
278km liaison
220km special

First bike out of the bivouac was at 5:15am for the liaison.
It rained on the liaison and the special was wet also. Rivers were flowing and important things like wet sand dunes!
This stage can be miserable, hot and endless sand. Today it was actually in great condition and weather was cool and overcast. There was a lot of cross country sand (off piste) I struggled badly with my injuries and keeping the bike upright. I felt like a beginner out there! My hands and back were really fatigued from holding on tight and my ribs were splitting with every impact. I rode to a dismal 30th place. Another stage that would have been fun to rail rather than survive. 3 stages left. Tomorrow we cross the Andes for the second time and return to Chile for the final three stages. Heard it was snowing up there. Thank you all for the prayers. Keep them coming.

Adios
Johnny

[zenjen]

Originally Posted by kaia

.

#150


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[Bluebull2007]

Originally Posted by Brodovitch

Johnny on yesterday:

Dakar race report-stage 11:
La Rioja to Fiambala
278km liaison
220km special

First bike out of the bivouac was at 5:15am for the liaison.
It rained on the liaison and the special was wet also. Rivers were flowing and important things like wet sand dunes!
This stage can be miserable, hot and endless sand. Today it was actually in great condition and weather was cool and overcast. There was a lot of cross country sand (off piste) I struggled badly with my injuries and keeping the bike upright. I felt like a beginner out there! My hands and back were really fatigued from holding on tight and my ribs were splitting with every impact. I rode to a dismal 30th place. Another stage that would have been fun to rail rather than survive. 3 stages left. Tomorrow we cross the Andes for the second time and return to Chile for the final three stages. Heard it was snowing up there. Thank you all for the prayers. Keep them coming.

Adios
Johnny

I really like this guy, he seems very genuine and honest with himself.

Go Johnny!!!!

[Bluebull2007]

This whole rooklie race is quite interesting, a question that came out of the wilddog forum closely following this thread among others with a focus on African riders.

Originally Posted by alanB

But isnt Caselli also a rookie and he's definitely doing better than Riaan?

There is no rookie list, you have to know who are the rookies...

You are right Kurt is doing really great but not on the overalls. He is still 33rd 3 56' behind the leader overall thanks to his penalties. Van Niekerk is 14th (or 13 that if Liebherheffer really was DQ'D yesterday ) at 1 36' behind, so if Kurt can gain 2.5 hours on van Niekerk in the the 3 days he will have snatched victory. Its quite possible too looking at the way Casseli seems to be riding. Still Riaan has been a helluva lot more consistent than Kurt so far (at least he has not missed nearly as many WP's)

Check out the overalls here:
http://trackingdakar.nl/index.php?page=overall&stand=V

[too old]

Originally Posted by Brodovitch

Well I caught up, only a few pages, the race is taking it's toll on here as well

Gotta comment on Kurt's post-Special interview, I am impressed, he looks really calm, understated, and most important, loved leading the race and is willing to navigate. Smart guy, he has a true "hard coded" racer's brain.





So Kurt opens up today, I will be rooting for him again. KTM need a different passport on their "A" teams, and Kurt has found himself at the right place at the right time. I just hope they can support him an a couple of more FIM rounds before the next Dakar. I would love to see him in Sardignia, the pace of navigation there is just crazy. Gonk, Despres, Pedrero and Chaleco follow. Chaleco is interesting for me, so much potential some times and yet loses out majorly on others. Contesting 3rd place on the podium with Jakes is going to be a cliff hanger this year hopefully. Botturi in 5th overall is not that far behind, and he is old-school enduro-tough. Banged up little finger is annoying him, he may just ask a doctor to amputate it .



Sorry to hear of Barreda's shoulder, he looked in quite a lot of pain at the finish yesterday,unless he was just sand bagging and disappointed he lost so much time after opening the course. Remember that 1.15 difference on stage 10, when Cyril opened and Barreda played catch up? Well, yesterday while the tables were reversed, Joan lost 4.30 to Cyril

On HRC, there is so much controversy and spin that I can't really pass judgement on their tactics.
Fiambala to Copiapo!! Kurt opens on mainly On Piste stuff... bring on today

Got to agree on Caselli, but I don't believe his riding ability has ever been at question - would be great to see him do some FIM, but whether his US KTM schedule would allow it, not so sure. A Casseli Cody team would be be great - maybe Robbie G's sponsors & money may wish to spread their base

Be careful of Sardegna though, the Italians can be very French at times
Last year the Honda Europe Raly Raid team were shafted with starting numbers in the 70's - try to get decent times in Sardinia on those tight tracks with the dust and from back there! No reseeding either, even after an objection!!

Made my comment on the HRC effort - post #14235 page 949 - let us see what the next months bring in many ways

[amazing ricardo]

Originally Posted by kaia

...does that license plate really say 'COW".... ........

[Brodovitch]

More amazing images by Marian Chytka added over here

[amazing ricardo]

Originally Posted by Brodovitch

More amazing images by Marian Chytka added over here

NOICE...

[klatelm]

sorry if this is a repost , Are Leatt Brand neck braces mandatory or are there other brands acceptable ?

[Brodovitch]

Originally Posted by klatelm

sorry if this is a repost , Are Leatt Brand neck braces mandatory or are there other brands acceptable ?

There are other brands (Alpinestars, Scott), and I think they are not mandatory... IIRC Jonah used to race without one