any clues as the issue in the first place ? now that your done would you recommend the bike / team / service / assistance provided ?
why assume its a works bike ? dosent seem like a HRC supported gig for this rally to me, so more like a here you go free bike and bits and you do the rest scenario this rally didn't register on the list of Dakar lead-up rallys mentioned on the HRC press release from Mugello to quote "For Helder Rodrigues and Javier Pizzolito the countdown for the next Dakar begins in June with the Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina"
Not assuming just saying it is sad if it is, but it is quite obvious that it isn't. Even more sad is that they couldn't hook their rider up with a bike for a rally like this. Don't they know we are watching? Amazing how Yamaha France can do it, but HRC can't or chooses not to. Or if they did they let him make a piece meal out of it.... Lets just say that HRC efforts so far have been disappointing to say the least.
Why are we assuming this is not an HRC provided bike? We know from Abu Dhabi that attention has turned to the new development and that Helder was given a rally bike for his own crew to fiddle with, but would that not still be considered a works bike at that point? I really like Helder, but I am leaning more towards the weak link being his decision making and strategy rather than purely mechanical.
The question is, if Goncalves and Rodriguez had nearly the same bike. sure, not looking the same from outside with the different tanks but may be both full factory HRC material ? Who know's ?
That answer would be no because Goncalves' bike, while a CRF450R was prepared by Speedbrain, not HRC.
All done and dusted. Fantastic race. Love the under tone of Italian dodgeness! It's good to be in a country were the police wave at you when your speeding! It was hard both navigational as well as technically. At the finishing party downing some beers and a big mouthful of Padero's champagne! Balisimo! I would come back and happily use the Beta Team again. Maybe just order a brand new bike though with them!
Left is a current r frame right is an x Speedbrain bike looks like an 09 on crf450r frame. Source ebay drooling
Great work Ben ! I was half an hour behind you at this years condo, my first rally. I suggested to my wife who is from Milan that maybe I should have a crack at this rally in 2015, based solely on how you've gone Surprise surprise she's into it ! Thanks mate !
Highly recommend you do. The organisers are great people and looked after me very well. All there accommodation they organised was perfect. No stuff ups which is always nice. The roadbook was perfect which is a big plus also. I will be back for sure. Maybe do 2015 also? Steve Collie used Jolly Honda and he seemed happy with them so that is an option also. Cheers.
Good on ya Ben. I'm sure you learnt a few valuable lessons this year that will put you in good stead for a future go again. I know what you mean about the organisers at these overseas Rallys - they just love that we make the effort to go on their Rallys from way over here.
overal Sardegna Rally Race 2013 1. Marc Coma (E) KTM 15:54'20 2. Paulo Goncalves (P) Honda +7'05 3. Joan Pedrero (E) Beta +7'16 4. Cyril Despres (F) Yamaha +7'27 5. Alessandro Botturi (I) Yamaha +7'40 6. Andrea Mancini (I) Beta +9'58 7. Paolo Ceci (I) Yamaha +16'36 8. Ruben Faria (P) KTM +23'55 9. Kuba Przygoński (PL) KTM +44'04 10. Helder Rodriguez (P) Honda +58'45