2013 Dakar Pre-Event Discussion

http://www.moto.it/news/alessandro-botturi-husqvarna-insieme-alla-dakar.html

2012... 9 of the MOTO top 30 starters = DNF
2011... 7 of the MOTO top 30 starters = DNF
2010... 8 of the MOTO top 30 starters = DNF
2009... 7 of the MOTO top 30 starters = DNF

= 26 % DNF rate amongst top 30

if you just count top 20 the percentage is 20% DNF rate

A bit dissapointed that noone mentions Thomas Berglund...:ddog
Ok, maybe not podium, but got the skills and endurance for top 10.

And Ullevålsetter...13?? C´mon, he´s better than that!

I had Pal down as a wildcard for third

Kinda super steady guy, others mess up and he begins moving up the leaderboard kind of a rider (or so my limited viewpoint on it is ).

43 days ;pynd

Yes he is the true Marathon guy, but he will be relying on too many DNF's to happen, which amongst the top teams will be getting less and less I suspect.

Take the top 10 and 5 from the last few years, add in the one or two others and the placings will be quite similar!

These guys are about proven on their levels and speed and IF they finish then we know pretty much what to expect,but of course also to expect the unexpected

Should Sam and J Barreda finish you will see them knocking on the top 5 and maybe podium. Of the others why would you look away from last years top 3 - that is unless Coma is let down with his shoulder,
or the pins being stuck in the effigy of Mr. cool Cyril do their job

Another "parochial" type pokes his head in...

True Thomas is a good rider, but there are a LOT of good riders in DAKAR this year;

Thomas has and can run in the top 20 and finish in the top 15... (maybe) if he has a good trouble free run...

Berglund - el Dakaro stats:
2012 - 37th
2011 - DNF
2010 - 12th
2009 - DNF


And Pål Anders...? yeah... I'd agree with that (statistically) he is better that a 13th spot... but as too old mentions, this year both the number of riders and the pace at the top end of the field will be accelerated... Pål Anders traditional stable/reliable pace may be good for running in the pack somewhere around pos. 10 to 15 in the first week... if the attrition starts to show on the field... that could see him amongst to top ten to five spots towards the finish.

Ullevvålsätter - el Dakaro stats:
2012 - 6th
2011 - 6th
2010 - 2nd
2009 - 6th

looks like Nasser likes the American power... Saintz seems to be unsure


<iframe width="853" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/b7Ld-UW2a2I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

all the info on the Red Bull guys will be here http://www.redbull.com/en/motorsports/offroad/events/1331578797006/stage-1-dakar-2013

This looks like recent video as the trucks were getting ready to get shipped off.

<iframe width="480" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/kXi1GwCtf5I" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>



And here's an overview of the stages
<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ylNmPOzpM28" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

2013 Scrutineering:

<iframe width="640" height="360" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3DKXq-5T9cg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

Thanks tons for posting that vid! Excellent insight into the massive undertaking of just "part" of the process. You have a good eye for content. I look forward to seeing more if possible.

Knowing that there is a ship with all those vehicles on board makes me want to become a pirate.
Enough toys for two lifetimes.


Damn those sentinel boxes are huge.

you stole my thoughts.

well, things are warming up for Jan'13.

What is the name of the ship?

In total, almost 700 vehicles (including race, assistance, organisation and press vehicles) are expected to be loaded onto the Río Imperial. The cargo ship will cast off for a 21-day journey, with a crossing of the Atlantic and the Panama Canal on the agenda.

http://www.vesselfinder.com/?mmsi=235011890

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/shipdetails.aspx?mmsi=235011890

http://www.marinetraffic.com/ais/

Excellent video Dread !

2012 Back from Lima was also through the panama, i believe.

Ok I'm gunna take a patriotic punt here and put Grabbo down to take out the top Rookie award at Dakar 2013.


The man has won everything desert and enduro here in Australia multiple times as well as ISDE E1, and quickly got to grips with the GPS and dunes at Merzouga while just in cruise mode........................so anyone willing to step up and take on some odds ?