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

[Myway]

Why do I have the feeling this was not such a big moment as in Lima 2012, I see no crowd.

[Enduro10]

Originally Posted by thomasvolomitz

thanks for the eurosport vids. .

+2

[ICERIDER]

Liai stops on the way back to Parc Ferme



Liai you coming back with us or not?

Que??? You said you'd call in to RallyRadio?

Si Si


But didn't I tell you, Nate is up North!

(Liai needs comforting....)



Liai how long is this going to take please?

Liai???

Too late....

Liai needs more comforting.



XX

[K_N_Fodder]

Originally Posted by svizzerams

I have to wait until the Desert 100 - April !!!! Although I'm going to Rally Mexico 2013 (WRC) in March 2013. Alas, not bikes.

It is weird how bereft I feel when this is over each year. Last year I was driving solo through Namibia - in those rare occasions when I could get to the internets I came here first.

Well it's not Mexico and it's not Namibia and there may not be much F5 hammering, but I'll see you in Odessa if you're there. Maybe we should have a F5 Rally Tragic's Anonymous meeting one night... hopefully not a 35 degree mud bath this year.

[K_N_Fodder]

Originally Posted by cvlighthouse

Thanks! This is worth a re-post!

Awesome!

[svizzerams]

Originally Posted by K_N_Fodder

Well it's not Mexico and it's not Namibia and there may not be much F5 hammering, but I'll see you in Odessa if you're there. Maybe we should have a F5 Rally Tragic's Anonymous meeting one night... hopefully not a 35 degree mud bath this year.

Sounds like a plan !!!!!

[K_N_Fodder]

Originally Posted by svizzerams

Sounds like a plan !!!!!

Cool!

I had to honor the Dakar yesterday as well, hooked up with two ADVers I hadn't met (well, turns out I'd met one and just didn't know it) and we headed east hoping to stay out of the snow.

So far so good...


And then this . Lots of it.


One guy rode this on a DR with stock Trailwings!

Ended up a little more 'epic' than planned but we had a ball anyway.

[Jim Rowley]

Originally Posted by K_N_Fodder

And then this . Lots of it.

Is that frozen fesh fesh?

[K_N_Fodder]

Originally Posted by Jim Rowley

Is that frozen fesh fesh?

The brown stuff underneath it most certainly is . Central Oregon is one of the few places I've ridden where you'll come out of the snow and immediately be making dust...

[K2vodka]

Another small country being represented!

Hats off to Ivan who did an incredible job for his Slovak brothers.

Originally Posted by aspirinikus

[Frougby]

Well kids and junkies I think it is time to review the key lessons that were learned from this year's Dakar.

* Those that are headbandophobic are latent headbandual.

* When Luis B. walks it sounds like someone is clacking two billiard balls in a Crown Royal bag.

* The US still has the great missing the frontal lobe function hope in Casselli.

* If Despres is there, Coma needs to be there so the alien battle can be appreciated.

* The French are your natural superiors for another year for winning and creating this race. If you don't have french heritage sale your bike cheap to someone who can really do something with it.

Anyway, all of you need to find your way to the Dakardone clinic to help alleviate your event addiction.

Great job again f5ers and all of the other cliff notes threads.

PM great job again on the interviews and I'll be happy to see you all next year.

[Dread Pendragon]

Originally Posted by Frougby

Well kids and junkies I think it is time to review the key lessons that were learned from this year's Dakar.

* Those that are headbandophobic are latent headbandual.

* When Luis B. walks it sounds like someone is clacking two billiard balls in a Crown Royal bag.

* The US still has the great missing the frontal lobe function hope in Casselli.

* If Despres is there, Coma needs to be there so the alien battle can be appreciated.

* The French are your natural superiors for another year for winning and creating this race. If you don't have french heritage sale your bike cheap to someone who can really do something with it.

Anyway, all of you need to find your way to the Dakardone clinic to help alleviate your event addiction.

How awesome is this shot?!

Pizzolito & Vagnoni pushing Verhoven

Gets me all misty-eyed.

[frostyuk]

till next year guys

[JMo (& piglet)]

Originally Posted by frostyuk

Excellent photos of Craig and Tamsin there Frosty - bringing another one home to the valleys!

Jx

[JMo (& piglet)]

Originally Posted by Tomas Kocanda

Ehm, what BMW enduro bike should be the kit based on please? G450X is finished and as far, as I know, there is no other bike on the way. Not to mention, that investment in speedbrain kit development for Husqvarna is quite OK...

Hi Tomas - I think you misread my original post - that was my point - BMW realised that the G450X was perhaps not the 'golden ticket' they had hoped for, so dropped the competition line to concentrate on their large capacity Adventure range... letting Husqvarna take over any subsequent development of the 450X engine/platform for the 449.

As I'm sure you are aware, the Speedbrain kit was originally developed for the G450X, and modified/developed over the past couple of years to work with the modified chassis that Husqvarna employed for the 449.

My point is simply that by separating the racing programme/s (Mini & Husqvarna) from the parent company (BMW) the risk now is minimal for BMW - if it works, then it's great for the sub-brands; and it if doesn't, BMW don't suffer from adverse publicity/criticism, and their core business and brand image remains unaffected...

Jx