2016 OFFICIAL DAKAR f5irehose - THANK YOU ALL F5 posters and lurkers!

TYRE gate continued...

To fully appreciate the MINI and Toyota teams annoyance at the situation; you have to look back through the history of the matter a bit further, than just the RedBull Peugeot press release of September last. It is in this light that the whole "10 year" thing that Marc Fontin referred to in the TV4France interview makes more sense.

Since many years before - the basic tyre dimensions and specifications for Cross Country Rally (as set out by FIA) and adopted in the DAKAR (ASO reg's), were defined as:

Complete wheels must have a maximum diameter of 940 mm for 2-wheel drive cars and 810 mm for 4-wheel drive cars.

Where previously in the ASO regulations (prior to 2015 - when PEUGEOT came back to DAKAR) there was a clause in the SUPPLEMENTARY REGULATION general eligibility prescriptions under tyres: Art. 10P, that referred to series production conformity for manufacture of tyres used:

"Tyres fitted must be available through normal retail outlets for all-weather use on roads and/or tracks."

Now in the latest revision (ASO 2016 DAKAR), this reference is no longer in place. Art. 10P merely refers down to the technical regulation: See Art.T1P11 in the current Technical Regulations: Wheels and tyres.

This article defines the technical specifications as to diameter/rim size, single authorized tread patterns and auto inflate etc.

Interestingly, this clause still is in place in 2016;

T1P11 WHEELS AND TYRES
2) 2-wheel drive T1 Vehicles must use tyres from a tyre manufacturer’s commercial catalogue.

The reason that both Mini and Toyota are annoyed as I understand it, is that MICHELIN developed this tyre at the request/co-operation with PEUGEOT exclusively. It would apper that Michelin worked with Peugeot during 2015, and put it in their catalogue for 2016 ...

This is the reason the (non Peugeot) factory customers are not too happy about the "french connections" clandestine development program... and while MICHELIN may not have stepped outside the letter of the (conveniently recently ammended) regulations persé, MICHELIN have shown their willingness to work exclusively with one specific team...

So, as I pointed out in my previous post, maybe MICHELIN have a few less "factory" customers next year as a result?

Good morning guys ! Just grubbed through the photo firehose, great stuff !!!

There aren´t many "old" 450 Rally KTMs this year ?!?!

And to came back to my question yesterday ... where do the Malle Moto guys get new tires ?

I'm actually surprised that there isn't more tire diversity in the Dakar. I'd honestly never paid attention until this issue but looking back there are Toyo's for RG, and everyone else at/near the front is on Michelins.

this one ?

The thing with HRC is the way they stress that they are never dependent on riders to win, that doesnt fit them... on the other hand they are in the lead. Still lost a bit of respect for BamBam, that was a bit primadona likish

Is there an indication of tension between KTM and HQV teams at the Dakar?
Just asking....

^^^ great catch waldecker

Yes, this is my photo, right ? :)
I´d like to ask KTM whether they have the decals for the bike ...

Any clues why Helder is starting so late? Engine change ?

i have a couple of more photo's from that bike, taken in Austria at the grossglockner glacier museum

(my highlight of that vacation)

Haha same here My girlfried just stood there and said something like ... "It´s just a bike, lets go now" and I was like

He copped for a 4 min penalty on the last stage (7) which knocked him down to 22nd - if it is off piste today that's potentially done him a great favour - he will get that back and way more besides - by design?

Some say it's a penalty for speeding in 2 controled areas. No further details

Hi Neil - that isn't the 2013 ridge - that of Canyongate fame?

No engine change...

The re-start order is based on the previous stage placing.

Helder finished 22nd in the scratch result (incl. the 4 min penalty) for stage 7 to the Salta rest day.

Jordi Viladoms has been "re-seeded" into start pos. 16 for SS8 today...

So Helder is starting in pos. 23 today for SS8.

Excuse me Miss... Miss... ummmm... he said the "gate" word...

Thanks guys.

Didnt noticed 4 min where so far down the order, the thing was that it seemed so convenient that was wondering if he was "re-seeded"

In a reasonable context Miss