Dakar 2011 - Official Event Coverage - THANK YOU all Posters and Lurkers!

Well, here we are again, another year, another two week flurry of posts and disappointed employers, spouses, and children.

I know we have a few threads going already, but with the official thread at 40+ pages, three weeks before the start, maybe we can concentrate that one on all the pre-rally preparation and this one on the day to day rally results and news. Far be it from me to make the rules, but just a suggestion.

I was asked to get this party started, so buckle your seatbelts.

Daily Information:

Official ASO Dakar Website
Here
Rally Pan Am
Rally Pan Am on Facebook
Rally Pan Am on Twitter
Marathonrally
Marie Hessel runs a great blog here
RallyRaidReview <-Shameless plug for my own blog

Where to listen:

http://www.rallyraidio.net/ Competitors and rally followers, check with Packmule for call in numbers.
Radio Maray (Spanish)

Where to watch:

Versus - Versus looks to only show schedules out a week on their site and I have been checking it for any news. Nothing yet, but I haven't heard that they are not covering it. Most likely, expect the same as previous years, a half hour coverage of the ASO feed with some "American" flair, and a day delayed behind the actual stage.

OLN - I don't yet see a schedule out past next week, but OLN usually follows a similar schedule to Versus.

Also of course, Eurosport.com
7:20 p.m. GMT 10 minutes live from the bivouac.
10:00 p.m. GMT 45 minutes daily coverage.

Eurosport always puts on some great pre-race content to whet your appetite. Check out the Destination Dakar videos on the Eurosport site.

SBS - Looks like coverage starts on the 2nd with daily updates at 13:30 local time. (I am not sure of the time zones. )

Who to watch:

ADVrider inmates and friends: (Doesn't look like Dakar.com has the individual pages up yet. I'll update the name links once their page is updated.

SHERCO:
David Casteu #5
Laurent Lazard #31 (Listed on a KTM, but will be on a Sherco with Casteu and Tine Meier)
Tine Meier #100

Team Yamaha GYTR/Team Rally Pan Am (someone correct me on the official team name)
Jonah Street #7 on his stunning new WR450 Yamaha

ADVriders (Website\Inmate\Name\Race Number)
Berglund - Thomas Berglund #22 Go Thomas!
Spanish Beamer - Jose Garcia #158 Go Jose!
JMo (& piglet) - Jenifer Morgan #173 Go Jenny! (and Piglet)
vbenedic - Vicente DeBenedictis Neto #87

Team Honda Europe
Cody Quinn #15
Mirjam Pol #58

Honorable ADVrider's
For the third year in a row, Kemal Merkit pulls in race #55
Annie Seel #56
Simon Pavey #51
Craig Bounds #86
John McKendrick #79

Australia's GHR Rally Team
Jacob Smith #113
Mark Davidson #117
Warren Strange #121
Simon Harslett #181

follow their progress on the GHR blog here.

Other riders to watch will be American Michael Stanfield (#166), Silvia Giannetti (#71), Laia Sanz (#44), and the usual suspects, Chaleco (#3), Helder (#4), Ullevalsetter (#6), Duclos (#14), Verhoeven (#16), and a plethora of others. Former Rally PanAm rider Pedro de Uriarte will be in a buggy this year.

For the wierd and wonderful, we have a 125cc KTM 2 smoker riden by US resident and Argentine expat Luis Belaustegui (#150) and a 1978 Bultaco 370cc riden by the brave Ignacio Chivite (#169).

Of course on a quad is Camelia Liparoti #259

The full list of entrants can be found here.

Bike Count:
KTM 62
Yamaha 43
Honda 33
Aprilia 13
BMW 9
Beta 8
Jincheng 3
Sherco 3 (I think this may be 4 though)
Husaberg 3
Kawasaki 3
Husqvarna 1
Bultaco 1
Rieju 1

Again, a special mention to all who follow and support the riders. Those who go without sleep, clean clothes, or showers and endure the bumpy roads and non-roads helping to keep the riders riding for our enjoyment. Thanks to you!

I'll also give special mentions for Carlton Kirby and Toby Moody. Carlton for, in my opinion, excellent Eurosport commentating and lack of fear to dive into the less know and sometimes obscure competitors and story lines and Toby for, well, being the voice of Dakar many have known for years. Both top notch in my book.

The Route:


Did I miss anyone?

Dakar Training: A lot of good videos on YouTube. Also check out Facebook and Twitter for a lot of the riders' names, seems like many updates and behind the scenes stuff is showing up there first.

Bianchi Prata
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Cyril Despres
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Thanks Remi. A new job may see me a little scarce in the day so feel free to update as you wish. If I've missed anyone/anything that should be in the opener, just let me know and I;ll get it updated as fast as I can.

Thanks. I realized this morning that I forgot Radio Maray. If anyone that understands Spanish wants some of the liveliest and passionate play by play, you won't beat Radio Maray.

I updated the opening post with some more riders to watch and the link for Radio Maray.

Another good person to follow via Facebook is Pedro Bianchi Prata. A lot of information, links, videos, etc...flows via his FB and email.

Nope, as far as I can tell, he's not in this year. Perhaps someone has more information. Don, you out there?

Thanks for the links......Ah its getting close now...I can almost smell the dust...