2013 Dakar Pre-Event Discussion

Won't take odds but will definitely be paying attention.

:huh If it does... just watch for "deep sea scuba diving" to suddenly become the most popular other interest here on the Adventure Rider website rider profiles, and wanted ads for surplus WWII pressure diving suits and helmets to start cropping up in the fleamarket...

+1

A real fair prospect for the "Dakar rookie" award for 2013 I reckon...

+2

The guy has it all, except Dakar experience. How hard can it be

Gooooooooooo! Ben!.

Tell me the odds, the guy is quick and talented but think the Dakar may not consider him a rookie. But who knows thier criteria ?

It's gonna be a battle this year. Fast boys , guys with routine, long shots, have to say that I reckon the top ten will be the alien class and those who take the risk to travel at hyper speed. I think the number of ultra quick guys is so large that even with the attrition rate of Dakar it will be tough for the safe, race pace diesels to enter the top ten.

I'm not sure a "race pace diesel" rider ever made top ten....top ten means full faith in the roadbook and hard on brakes into every corner and full throttle out. Full throttle on all straights, for 14 straight days

Agreed though, this year seem to have quite a few more capable riders on capable machines. Perhaps aligning for the best Dakar in years

38 more days

:d

its simple and in the regs..........fastest first time entrant

Anyone care to caption this one

"Hola... we bringin' da big guns to Dakar theese year amigo..."



"Five new guns vs. two old cannons... si...?





... I think you guys need some more guns... no?"

If you mean the blue box on the side of the nav tower, that is the Irritrack unit, not the sentinel... the sentinel is now combined with the GPSII unit, which is much smaller than before, and typically mounted above the bar clamps.

But I agree with your initial observation - why the Irritrack still has to be that size goodness only knows, the similar E-track device is about 1/3rd the size and offers the same essential facilities, other than the two way voice comms... I'm sure it will come, but it is a PITA trying to find space on the new breed of bikes for that hunk of metal!

Jx

I just uploaded some pictures of Dakar Scrutiny in France from last week.
Will be posting many more of all the other vehicles we saw too!

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Quin Cody on a Beemqva!!!!!

http://www.dirtrider.com/features/m...o-husqvarna-the-weekly-dirt-november-28-2012/



Too bad he's out for this coming Dakar though!

Thanks for the motivation Bluebull2007 !

Below is a link to a video from Pharaons Rally I did.....
This Dakar will be very very competitive but I believe it will be a good one for me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FjR7flc8D4s&feature=youtu.be

Damn right he does based on that super-model Peruvian honey he made off with at the Red Bull after-party in Lima back in January this year :eek1

Bloody rockstars they get all the fun....................how's it go.............."money for nothing and chicks for free"

Will be great experience riding the series on a team like speed brain. Congrats Quinn

I think what will determine the final outcome for the "Dakar Rookie" will not be outright speed, but the person who brings the complete package to Dakar. Grabbo for sure has outright speed over Fishy, but has minimal experience using the full nav setup, minimal experience in the Dune environment and will lack the advantage of full factory support. Yes, he will be a part of the KTM family at Dakar - but will be a distant cousin. He will be part of a small team working out of the back of a ute.

Dakar is very much about resources that only a major team can provide and this is most evident in the second week.

Fishy has done some of the important work required to finish Dakar. Making the effort to race and experience against the best in 3 key events - Dubai/Qatar and Marocco and finishing in the top 10 in all 3. When the pressure was on in Morocco - he nailed the nav when many others didn't. He will have the support of a "full factory" team - the bike/ the parts/ the team personal/ the chase support/ the team strategic support, the benefit of knowing those in the ASO and FIM organisation - the only thing Fishy has to concentrate on is riding.

He might not get the desired individual outcome if he is called on to do what he is employed for - water boy for Barrada, but that is understood. So subject to this not happening Fishy gets my (unbiased) vote for "Top Rookie"

Fishy will be faster than Pal I believe and here Coma is thinking that as they prepare to start on the same minute in Dubai !!