For 2013 Dakar there will be the strongest field of Aussies EVER with at least 5 guys who are regular winners or podium placers at the Safari and other desert races in Aust. Ben Grabham - HSE KTM Australia Matt Fish - Husky Speedbrain official waterboy for semi-factory team Rod Faggotter - with the EU Yamaha team Todd Smith - GHR Honda Warren Strange - GHR Honda Its gunna be a corker of a Dakar for Aussie rally fans Any punts out there for where our guys will place ?? Top 10 finish ? Top privateer finish ? maybe another factory or semi-factory ride for 2014 ? Cant wait
Grabbo's Dakar 2013 Kato There will be regular updates between now and the start on 5th January 2013 in Lima Peru, and during the rally on Grabbo's Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/#!/ben.grabham.5?fref=ts After his first race back since Condo in April, Grabbo pulled 10th Outright and 4th E2 class at the A4DE last week while just cruising and riding safe, Grabbo is feeling strong and almost 100% race fit...........look for a form guide at the Merzouga Rally in Morocco next week http://www.merzougarally.com/?lang=en Ben is using it as a Dakar style dune and GPS navigation shakedown run.
Go Ben! Grabbo should go great, there's no roo's in South America either. Isn't Paul Smith going on his quad also?
Yes Paul will be the first ever Aussie Dakar quad competitor With 2 Safari wins to his credit he's among the best in Oz I may be wrong but I think he may :eek1 at the pace the Patronelli boys run at
I believe that another Aussie from Newcastle will be having a crack as well. Keep an eye out for Troy Oconner. KTM mounted.
Andrew Scott from QLD is in as well, riding a KTM450RR rental bike from team San Lorenzo based in Chile http://www.cabalservice.cl/ This will Andrew's 2nd Dakar, with his first being 2010.
Ben Grabham - HSE KTM Australia Matt Fish - Husky Speedbrain official waterboy for semi-factory team Rod Faggotter - with the EU Yamaha team Todd Smith - GHR Honda Warren Strange - GHR Honda Paul Smith - GHR Honda quad Troy OConnor - KTM Andrew Scott - Team San Lorenzo KTM450RR any others ?
Don`t forget the ex-pats. Simon Pavey is having another tilt, this time on a Husky. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=833133
As far as I know so far only 2 bergs Thomas Berglund Sweden again and a Dutch guy, both on 70 degree FE450's
Go Grabbo! Any prediction on his starting position? I'd love to see that thing training in the pines!
51 days to go. <iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/baBpNT0g9fc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>