2013 Dakar Pre-Event Discussion

Honest journos? Now there's a novel concept!
I stopped buying MCN years ago as the only part worth reading was the racing coverage at the back, the rest was speculative, sensationalist crap for the most part. That said it is the racing part we're concerned with here I suppose.

Team Husky dinner. Notice the absence of beer in front of Fish & Paulo. Sacrifice they said, but no beverages?...

"Marquito, if you sit behind the dune, no, with the tires? Be a good boy and take a fan belt or 2 for me.

"And none for Nasser"

I always thought ethanol propulsion was rather innovative...

Ok so from the above at this link (top right) starting from 1200GMT (LIVE stream, 0700 local) tomorrow the party kicks off..

It streams OK so far in Greece, we will see what happens tomorrow when the f5ers flock to leech the juice...

TN.com.ar seems a bit indifferent since the party is starting in another country this year... Here is their stream, no mention on whether they will cover the start off..

That's not the Ozzy way.

thanks tserts!

Just look at the poor guy, straining to get the waiter's attention and thinking "Yeah fine, factory shmactory ride, I wants me Foster's"

So glad Van Ginkle is back in the running. That was quite a scary crash at Safari.





Kev!

Invited by KTM, Lopez was the only private pilot in San Bartolo dunes with Cyril Despres.

Francisco Lopez served a sacred ritual before every Dakar: testing the engine and suspension before the technical verification, which, by regulation, should perform today at 15:00 in the Dakar Village of Santa Magdalena, in the northern Lima.

The test was much better than expected: first, because it was the only private pilot invited by KTM Factory shooting in the dunes of San Bartolo near the champion Cyril Despres, Ruben Faria, Joan Pedrero, Kurt Caselli and Jakub Przygonski, what allowed to be assisted by factory mechanics and engineers. And second, the bike perfect response to environmental conditions in Peru.

"The material came to Lima for days, it was a long road trip and moved on trucks XC Tamarugal assistance, had to see how everything was, turn to feel the bike ... The test is done because the engines do not work alike everywhere, the air, the temperature and quality of gasoline make a difference, but everything went great and that makes me very quiet, "said the Chilean.

Lopez was the sixth driver in the caravan led by Frenchman Despres, going for an hour in dunes of medium height, zooming around in straight about 2 miles and requiring the maximum elasticity of the suspensions.


"I have a good bike, that's for sure. Motor fills up fast, the bike is quick, agile and has more power than any other.


here

Its a long way to Peru by train!:huh

Pre-race special from TVE, well worth a look, they made a small parc-ferme outside the studio, many Spanish competitors talk about their preparations and hopes, guests inside the studio: Perdero, Barreda and Sanz, talk about high caliber...

Steaming a bit slow, at least from here, but you can pause and let it buffer some more for better viewing.

Enjoy!

MC: "Realmente odio a perder esta carrera ... no es excusa ..."

CS: "Realmente odio no tener excusa ... perder esta carrera ..." :huh

I've got nothing but respect for folks who deal with the public while learning a new language. This is hard.



Still, I hope Nasser wins!

:huh Now that's what I call a TV show. Hey Estadounidenses, can you watch this from across the pond or are you IP blocked?

Bianchi Prata:

"Tomorrow we travel towards LIMA (Peru)
Although we do not have the full budget € 3,700 missing, but the worst is over :)
Thanks to everyone who helped us during these final 30 days of hard work!! Thanks to all who continue to believe in the project Team Bianchi Prata!!"



He had to sell his practice Huskvarna to get the money to go to S.A:

Raffles DAKAR 2013 - SILVER BIANCHI (4 photos)
Husqvarna TE 449 Motorcycle Rally - 150 €
Until the 26th ace 23h59m


Dakar:

2007 103º
2009 30º
2010 30º
2011 30º
2012 42º

Any news on Manuel, last we heard was he was having issues with the bike ?