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

You can watch it live at filmon.com

http://www.filmon.com/#ITV4

Press Release:

Bolivia Declares Dakar Rally a National Priority

"President Evo Morales announced the approval of a supreme decree giving authority to guarantee the power supply during the arrival and the stay of competitors in the Andean region of Potosi, in a press conference in the Government Palace Wednesday."

Good old Chavo (Juan Carlos) - pretty sure he has been the most singular influence on taking the Dakar to Bolivia - should be a rather large 2 day party for some.

From Dakar's news page:

"For [Bolivia], this is an opportunity to showcase to the entire world the grandness and mysticism of the Salar de Uyuni", explained the head of state, . . . the seventh stage of the rally, right in the heart of the world's largest salt flat.

[Pointed] out by Etienne Lavigne: "The riders in the motorcycle category will come up against a stage that stands out both for its beauty and for its toughness. Even at the end of the day they will be left to their own resources, since it will be a marathon stage where they'll only be allowed to get assistance from other riders."


Salar de Uyuni

'Dakar Rally a National Priority'

'the approval of a supreme decree'

C'mon now...
Shouldn't Dakar be everyone's supreme decree of national priority?

Go Bolivia! Wish I could be there this year, breaking new ground.

Think anyone will go for land speed records on the salt flats..?

Ha ha - maybe, but there are a few real considerations -

Chavo can tell us whether these salt flats will be dry or wet in January - quite different conditions?

If dry and considering some of the bikes can do 175 kmph and others only 160 there could be some big times pulled - but if it is marathon day(s) then who is going to push the bike, that is unless they need the minutes ? - could be a classic couple of days

They must have the lights go out often down there.. "giving authority to guarantee the power supply"

I've been told that the Salar is flooded with water in January, Neil (bluebull) can probably confirm this too. So I dont foresee no land speed records being broke in Dakar ....
The government is very enthusiastic about Dakar (it helps the President is very much into soccer himself and likes motorsports)
They made this good footage showing the region where Dakar will pass by(but of course with no idea on the bikes/riders shown) but it shows they are being proactive about it:
http://youtu.be/Z00yq6a2GSs

I think this might be one of the best marathon camps ever with EXCELLENT treatment to riders, unlike Argentina stage this year where we froze are asses of at night with no blankets/sleeping bags.

Hope to see some of you down there with me!

yup I concur sir !!

He's just looking for a bike, was hoping for Honda but maybe Honda is just not ready for the challenge. A debacle like Rossi to Ducati is not what Honda wants

I must admit I find it surprising that a rider with Despres' pedigree has to deal with this level of uncertainty (unless he has something up his sleeve that he's not talking about). I remember when the original rumour was leaked pre Dakar that he was leaving KTM (by Doyle was it?) At the time I could hardly believe that he'd contemplate leaving such a successful set up voluntarily but then the lure of HRC and a big bucks contract gave it some credibility. If HRC has indeed fallen through then surely Despres has made a massive blunder leaving KTM (or was he squeezed out?) :huh Fascinating stuff anyway.

+ 1 on that, Mr. CDP has 2 more wins in his sights before he goes anywhere is my guess and similar to Aussie 66 I can't imagine HRC is ready for a rider chief to go with all the others.

As Jurassic says I would be pretty surprised if he isn't organised already though and I would expect that the news will be broke with a bit of style

And if all else fails Kawi may make him a deal to ride a klr

Best not start with saltgate just yet , but it seems rather odd to contemplate such a stage if the conditions are like that?

I was just reading the latest Rally Raid Review tweets and was interested to read about the Despres to Yamaha speculation. I totally understand (and agree with) the sentiment that someone of CDPs stature in rallying wouldn't contemplate a regional team like Yamaha (France/Europe) but I can't help wondering with all the delay in him announcing anything whether his proposed "dream move" to HRC is on the rocks? If that were the case it may be a best of the rest situation for Le Patron.........:huh Just my speculation of course.

To be honest that isn't such a silly idea - after all, who better than Yamaha France to support the no.1 French rider?

The WRs (and it's JVO derivatives) have proved themselves already with Podium places in the hands of Fretigne and Rodrigues (and often against the 690s too), and it is arguably still the strongest of all the current 450cc enduro based bikes/engines out there...

And hey, wouldn't it be sweet for Despres to beat the Peterhansel's record riding on a Yamaha too!

Jx

Hmm, maybe he'll be in the market for a nice used WR for a practice bike in the meantime? I wonder where he could source such a beast?

Let's not forget Casteau and Pain performances at the latest Dakar...

Yes, it is not a strange scenario after all...