2013 Dakar Pre-Event Discussion

[Jurassic]

Originally Posted by Dekatria

Secretly I'm hoping for a Yamaha-Honda corporated effort against the Orange armada

It would be interesting to see something like that happen but I can't help feeling that despite the loss of Coma KTM still have a very strong hand in 2013. I think a lot of the pressure will be on Honda to perform straight away and stay with KTM rather than them applying pressure the other way but as everyone keeps saying it's Dakar so who knows.

[ric678]

Originally Posted by Mad Cow

You're welcome, although I've been a Dakar addict for years, I was an F5 rookie last year and know what it's like!

So it's always worth asking the questions, nobody will mind and there's no such thing as a stupid question.....

Possibly plenty of stupid answers though

Well I have been practicing my f5 skills, I did have to go back to work today after 10 days for the holidays so my f5ing will be compromised

[Stagehand]

JC and Helder R:

[slime]

Since this is the "Pre Race" thread, what happens to it after the event starts?
Does this become the race thread? Just wondering..

[Dread Pendragon]

Originally Posted by barrier

Current POST counter for the Pre Event thread!
Too Old has just sneaked in there ahead the recently MODified Troy.
Doyle is doing a sterling job keeping us up to date on all Media platforms and Deadly has enough info for at least another few volumes of TFTB. Keep it up guys and let's see if Too Old keeps the top step or lives up to his name.

My prediction is 1 TSC, 2 Doyle, 3 MyWay

Too old is old, but he knows how to pace himself and will not unwisely push his luck, so look for him to finish high. Top ten for sure.

Bluebull finds himself in a good position for some stage wins . . . if he's off the morphine, which is difficult to predict right now.

I think flood will be up there all the way until the a few days before, at which point his wife will give him the "I think there's something wrong with you, screaming and whooping at a computer screen for nearly two weeks" talk. He'll finish, but it will be difficult not to fall behind at that point.

Safariberg has a new computer, but it's not factory. He put it together himself, so we'll see how his machine holds out.

[KASUYAHO]

Originally Posted by ric678

Whit my little knowledge I think sending out a fast rider to try and get riders to make mistakes would only work if the other Teams thought he could sustain that pace, I'm sure the big teams have a list of who to watch out for and who to chase if they start getting away

There is alot of depth in riders this year as there has been before,
the only difference this year is HRC is back as well as other brands have more support.

The senario of sending out someone to make others chase
is used in alot of other marathon style events.

[Cuttle]

Originally Posted by slime

Since this is the "Pre Race" thread, what happens to it after the event starts?
Does this become the race thread? Just wondering..

this thread will be open once the race is under way

[Flood]

SS2 spectator zones (+some parts of the special for you Google Earth gods) have been released:

http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2013/docs...dores_Day2.pdf

[D.T.]

Sure would be fun to be on a bike and follow the race on your own. Kinda run the course and just spectate. Camp out overnight etc.. What kinda bad ass animals would try and eat you?

[ric678]

Originally Posted by D.T.

Sure would be fun to be on a bike and follow the race on your own. Kinda run the course and just spectate. Camp out overnight etc.. What kinda bad ass animals would try and eat you?

Is there a system in place to prevent someone from just following the last bike, car, truck??

[Flood]

Originally Posted by ric678

Is there a system in place to prevent someone from just following the last bike, car, truck??

The "8,000 km system". If you can follow the whole rally with your tent and food supplies for two weeks across half a continent, nobody can stop you.

[Dekatria]

Originally Posted by ric678

Is there a system in place to prevent someone from just following the last bike, car, truck??

ASO has already put a laser-death-ray in orbit, locking onto your GPS.

Last year they tried a system that diverted people into mud-streams, but that backfired a bit.

[doyle]

Originally Posted by ric678

Is there a system in place to prevent someone from just following the last bike, car, truck??

Do you mean on the actual racing stage? If you follow after the last truck and then that truck gets mired in the dunes for a a few hours, will you wait behind them to see if they get going again? If not and you continue on, what happens when that behemoth gets going again and catches up behind you without a sentinel. They won't know you aren't a competitor at speed.

Secondly, we saw last year what happens when tourists stray onto the stage when a lady bailed on a high speed section before any of the competitors came through and then wanted the other spectators to divert the racers while they all collected up her and her belongings.

I say by all means, follow along, but doing so on the actual racing route may not be the best idea.

[Jurassic]

Originally Posted by Dekatria

Last year they tried a system that diverted people into mud-streams, but that backfired a bit.

[ric678]

I do like the laser death ray system , but You got it when I meant just following the last whatever starts and staying behind them