Mind that (as far as I know) today is not a competitive race, and later in the afternoon there should be a prologue to give the starting order for tomorrow, the first real race stage
Not a competitive day? Never heard of that before...so today is a stage that isnt timed? seems odd....
From the Merzouga web site - "It was a day of administrative and technical checks at the headquarter of Merzouga Rally, where the organizers welcomed the more than 100 riders devided into bike, quad and SSV categories. Tomorrow the day will start with a 120 km warm up to find or regain confidence with the African terrains, regulate the trip and for those who experience the rally for the first time, to understand how the GPS works. It will be a good mix in terms of navigation and terrains of what the competitors will face in the Merzouga Rally 2013. At the end of the warm up, a 4 km Prologue will decide the starting order of Stage 2." There's always a first Deadly - there are several quirks - a marathon stage day 4/5 and a dune motocross on the last day - I think I know where my money may be on that one!! Saturday 26 October 2013-Fifth stageErfoud-Grand Prix des dunes Merzouga-Erfoud: liaison 57km-SS72-liason 57km 08h00 Start of the liaison bike and SSV competitors 10h00 Start "Le Mans" Bike Category for the Grand Prix des Dunes10h15 Start SSV category for the Grand Prix des Dunes
from here: http://www.soloenduro.it/notizia/2013/1/1071/Merzouga-Rally-2013.htm A 120 km warm up to find or regain confidence with the African terrains, regulate the trip and for those who experience the rally for the first time, to understand how the GPS works. At the end of the warm up, a 4km prologue, will start in reverse order compared to the race number will decide the starting order of the second stage.
Seem's like a good idea... similar to "shakedown" on WRC rallies... especially for the "amateur" riders who perhaps don't get a chance as often to do dunes/navigation. A good safety aspect before letting everyone loose on stage one under "competition" conditions. The final MX stage in the Erg Chebbi dunes will be good... Yeah... I'll put a quid on Yosemite for that one as well Too Old.
Hmmmm... wonder where they got that idea from?! (Hint: The Tuareg Rallye has had that format on one of the Dune days for years - called the King Stage - basically a mass run-to-your-bike start, then three laps of the dunes with an increasingly tightening time schedule - then the finish is on top of the cathedral dune...) Good to see the Merzouga Rally organization running with a good idea when they see one! Jx
Rider #66 Phil Page is worth keeping an eye on - he hails from the 'other' Channel Island of Guernsey, where offroading is limited to a few hundred yards of muddy farm tracks and the overall island speed limit is 35mph ! Don't expect him to set winning stage times but he is doing the event it to raise funds for a local hospice in Guernsey More info on his website here http://www.offroadraising.co.uk/news-updates/
Suppose, although for the lads who raced last week i'm sure another rest day would be beneficial over a day of risking body and machine....but indeed a brilliant idea for the amateurs to get accustomed to the terrain and shake the cobwebs out of their bodies and bikes.
And to brush up on navigation, which I undertsand will have been a well received opportunity by many!!
fearless for sure, not very famous but Pegoraro has made almost all the existant rallyes, included the Dakar (in 1991, finished 34th with a Dominator) and the Australian Safari Rally Just hope is a iritrack problem
not me for sure Yes they look the CPs for tomorrow stage check also https://twitter.com/MerzougaRally for photos and updates, here Botturi at the prologue start
