The F5 Bivouac (rallye raid news) and W2RC - World cross country rally championship

I was thinking the same thing about the spitting. Didn't know who's face it was though.

ROFL!!! Chagin does look like Putin!!

Vladimir Chagin, arguably the best truck driver on the Dakar. Has been running Kamaz trucks for quite a while...

I need a moment.... Having a crisis over here...

As I watched the Red Bull video I turned the volume up in anticipation as they all got on/in their vehicles... only to hear nothing but annoying music. I suppose the marketing is obviously not aimed at people who actually ride but it still disappoints me every time I watch a video and the engine noise is replaced by music.

Anyone notice the KTM bikes change to the new 450's halfway thru?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

Just realised that I will be in that exact location in three weeks time for a good two weeks riding
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas_Hollywood
I mean the location with the Western Town, not the second half when the bikes changed and the sand became orange (Morocco) ;-)

Stefan

(noticed that last night too... the township scenes were with the 2013 spec bikes... they aired out the new 2014 toy in the sand dunes).

The property master and continuity editors on the production crew got the axe at the post production meeting for that one...

I believe that the first part was shot second in the south of Spain the Monday after Merzouga and the second part shot first a few days before the Morocco Rally

Those responsible for sacking the editors, have been sacked.

this come absolutely new for me, I'll investigate, I know Alessandro will have a meeting for all his fans on the 28th, won't be able to get there but some friend for sure will !

PS: all the SB bikes leaving for Dakar

Monogrammed saddles... that's soooo 2013...

KTM didnt wait long.

http://translate.google.com/transla...stituir-kurt-caselli-en-el-dakar-2014&act=url

http://www.enduropro.com/actualidad/david-casteu-sustituir-kurt-caselli-en-el-dakar-2014

Surely the deal between Casteu and KTM was in place before Kurts accident at Baja on the weekend...?

In the youtube interview David made at the EICMA expo almost two weeks ago (Nov 6) he alludes to his discontinued co-operation with yamaha, his plans for a new ride/new team at Dakar 2014 etc.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3kRnrFL34Qk&feature=youtu.be

The press (never ones to let a good humanitarian story go to waste) perhaps sieze on the opportunity to highlight Davids return/defection to the KTM ranks.

Perhaps he was already working on a satellite deal similar to that which Chaleco brokered last year? With circumstances as they are, I can well imagine KTM might perhaps step up the level of support that casteu is provided at the rally (now with Kurts untimely departure, his bike an material will no doubt be put to good use by the experienced and likeable frenchman).

But I find it hard to fathom that all this has been put together in the last three days?

Whatever the case, I hope the black armband and Kurts spirit ride with David at this years Dakar.

Well said Troy, it is hard to beleive that the KTM would close such a deal in the last three days.

Agree.

My guess is that Casteu was lining up a semi-factory ride with KTM. Having him step up into a full factory ride to support Coma makes sense.

Or perhaps I'm reading in to this too much, and the factory ride is still available.

now that I think about it he raced a KTM 450rr at the last rally in SA, but the euro web story makes it seem like it was brokered in the last few days.

Yeah, I was sure I'd seen something about switching to KTM a little while back.

The sad sad loss of Kurt might secure Ruben Faria (who I heard was under pressure inside KTM after Cyril left) a bit of a future at KTM for 2014-2015... Still the underdog..