Eager to the new Gordini airborne heading down the dunes! I hope RG takes the whole enchilada in 2014.
I'd really like to see Robby put the whole rally together this year. He's got the raw speed; this new vehicle looks like it was designed to give up less in the tight stuff, while maintaining the old Hummer's advantage in the wide open stuff. I just hope he stays out of trouble and is seriously in the hunt.
From Twitter: PLANETROBBY.COM ‏<s>@</s>PLANETROBBY <small class="time"> 1h </small> <s>@</s>JaritJohnson no penalty, he had a vapor lock prior to the start From dakar.com: The American crossed the finish line a few minutes ago, conceding 2 h 08'06" to today's winner, Portugal's Carlos Sousa (Haval). The man at the wheel of the no. 305 Hummer had string of mishaps after starting the special behind schedule. Most strikingly, his prototype lost its rear hood, which had to be retrieved by one of the organisers' cars.
..what the hell !!?? can someone tell me why all the american (bajaexperienced?) buggys have this fuel problems !??????:huh http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFVaE5cvYak&feature=player_detailpage#t=30
Oh, it's over all right. Now he's just shaking down the car for next year and trying to get stage wins/TV time.
Just remember it's still a VERY long race and odd things always happen on the Dakar. If you doubt this, just follow the motorcycles for a day or two.
4 hours and 34 minutes back in 16th. It's possible, in the same way that it's possible that a meteor falls from the sky and takes out those in front of him while Robbie is late to the start because his truck broke down again.
Well....15 bikes lost hours yesterday when a Nav error routed them down into a box canyon while the route was up on the ridge. It was so steep that they could not get back enroute. This years course seems to be full of surprises. This is not the kind of race where you just say "aw shucks" and throw in the towel.
If anybody has good Robbie Gordon video, I'd love to have more in my Video thread (Sticky thread in Racing Subforum). I've been looking for more on YouTube, but am not coming up with much. http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=941514
You can't win Dakar on the first day but you can lose it. And he lost it on day one. But there's always next year.
4 of the top 5 drivers right now are past winners (Nani won on a bike). Stephane Peterhansel has won *eleven* times, but it's OK, he's only won in a car 5 times. The moto division isn't nearly as stacked as the cars and the riders who got caught in that nav mistake are not alien status. Those 4 past winners in the top 5 are all legit aliens and it's highly unlikely one of them makes a mistake similar to Canyongate, let alone all of them. Also lurking in the weeds outside of the top 5 is Carlos Sainz at 1:59 down, he's a very outside shot for the podium. Realistically there's just no way 13 drivers are going to shit the bed so bad that Robby even gets a glimpse at the podium. If he wants to win this he's going to have to put up something like the time and money that Mini and SMG are pouring into their programs. No more half assed development, no more seat of the pants team management. A full, year round, development effort of car, team, and driver. That is what it takes to win the Dakar. I hope someday Robby does just that, because I love to watch him drive and I love the showmanship; but frankly this year has been a lot of show, and not a lot of go.
Thank you for saying all of this without mentioning the "Flat Billers". Makes it sound more constructive.
