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

Yes its just a liaison.


Buenos Aires-Victoria the old way
Road section, 377 km


The Dakar will be respecting the tradition of the first editions, which systematically started on 1st January at place de la Concorde in Paris. This time, the competitors will indeed be passing an obelisk, yet it is the one on the Avenue of 9th July in Buenos Aires, before heading for Victoria, along a road section. The stop-watches will not be ticking for this day of meeting the Argentinean crowds. However, after this first section of the route, the competitors will be setting up for the night in the bivouac.

I wonder if its a smear campaign or for real....The impeccable timing of the allegation against Kris seems suspicious to me.





23:04 : Personal Dakar Argentina Chile 2011 Start Podium
On 1st January 2011, on the Avenue of 9th July, the starting ceremony for the riders and drivers in the Personal Dakar Argentina Chile 2011 will witness a grand show for all the fans of the rally.From 11.30 AM until 1.30 PM in the podium zone, the partners’ parade will be offering gifts to the spectators (caps, balloons, frisbees, tap-taps, etc.). Total, Banco Macro, Red Bull, Volkswagen with its Amaroks, X-Plod, Agua Palau, and Andesmar will make up this parade of 15 vehicles and fifty stewards and stewardesses.Between 1.15 PM and 2.15 PM, Chris Pfeiffer, a motorbike showman and spectacular performer, will be showing off his tricks at the foot of the podium for the pleasure of the on-looking crowds.Giant screens will be installed by Personal at 3 spots in the general public zone and will broadcast the presentation live.

20:15 : Cyril Despres: “The goal is the same”
The three times winner and title holder is lining up for an edition of the Dakar unlike the rest, in which all his rivals will be equipped with machines of the same power, following the compulsory switch over to 450cc bikes. This levelling of the mechanical playing field does not mean he is any less of a favourite for victory though. Aware of his status, the KTM rider is approaching the race as an exercise in controlling the elements, in which his experience could prove to be decisive: “The appealing thing about this event is that in fact you can’t control absolutely everything. The one who does this best is the one who handles the problems best, not the one who doesn’t have any, because that’s impossible. When I look at how far I’ve come, I realise that I’ve managed to win in very different contexts each time: either by dominating throughout the rally, or by resisting until the end and winning in the last two days. It’s something I’m fairly proud of”.

19:37 : Robby Gordon: “Here to win”
A Hummer is a vehicle which is difficult not to notice, especially if it is fluorescent orange. Robby Gordon made a big impression on his entrance to the grand hall of the La Rural exhibition centre to undergo scrutineering. True to himself, the American driver proved to be boldly confident. “I’ll say it and I’ll say it again, we’re here to win the race. We’ve worked a lot and put in plenty of effort for this rally. Now the challenge is to win the Dakar. We’ll need a bit of luck. This car is probably the best prepared that I’ve ever had. We’ve worked a lot on the car’s height as well the inflation and deflation system. The engine is better. In two days’ time, we’ll see if we’re at the same level as the others”.

Dakar live footage here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/c5n

This is it; This is what 183 riders will be facing over the next two weeks. It brings tears to my eyes.


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BTW The dreamracer video should be out in August 2011.

Nate, Remi, Anyone, Have you looked at the tracking yet?

I don't yet see how to get to individual riders.