Wow - what a stage result, Coma 18 mins down and Helder 11 looks like something went wrong at the sharp end? perhaps today Speedy, Chalico, Helder and Pizzolito should finish on the course together, putting them them in a 4 way race at the top, but Coma has a massive amount to do! Let's see what the racing brings
I'm interested to see if anyone has a photo of the #8 bike of Gouet on the Tamagrugal XC Honda. He doesn't look to be in the standings, but I would like to see some photos of the engine.
Coma wins stage 4 but Helder moves into the overall. Stage 4 finishers: Coma Caselli Casteu Rodriguez C Rodrigues H Rodriguez P Lopez Phohens F Pizzolito Salvatierra Overall classification: Rodrigues H Pizzolito Caselli Lopez Coma Casteu Goncalves Prohens F Rodriguez C Salvatierra
Sadly, rider #35, Nicolas Rojas was killed today on stage 4. The impact "caused multiple injuries multiple, injuries that caused the death of the pilot immediately," Photo from last year's rally
The interesting thing here is that Caselli is still well in the mix, HRC are looking good (on the old bike) Coma is Human, as is Cyril and just over 6 months to go
This is why, in spite of all my rally friends' pleas, at 45yrs old (3 years ago), I decided to hang my leathers. As Kini once told me, "LUDO, there is no more dangerous motorsport than off-road rally on motorcycles...once you realize this, you just need to know what to do and how". RIP Nico!
R.I.P. Nico. Tomorrow will be very interesting indeed. Helder would seem to be in the cat bird's seat starting 5th. The HRC bikes seem to have improved a bit, and this is before the new bike. With Caselli gaining experience in every stage on his navigation, I expect him to start picking up the rest of the game very soon. -1 min. 39 sec. down after a navigation error and stopping to help Coma yesterday? Yeah, that dude is everything some of us said he is
Yes, an interesting day ahead. Caselli will catch Coma on the course, but then it's open to Helder, speedy, Chaleco and Pizzolito to take more time off them; we will see also if Pizzolito is the real deal after his ( by the looks of things) full recovery from his bad smash 2 years ago? Without a doubt though Casseli will be challenging for various honours come January - with him, Barreda and Sam, it's difficult to see stage wins going anywhere else, just a matter of the aggregate, because as we know staring from pole loses you time, it's more a matter of how much you can make on your best day, just like Pizzolito now
Oh, and by the way too old... I got to meet Sam and spend a few hours visiting with him this past weekend. He is every bit the delightful young man you have described to us here on ADV. He told me quite a number of things about rally racing that I was not aware of or had never given much thought to. Hopefully he learned a few things about spectating from me Either way he made some true fans out of my boy and I.
Now what is Pablo doing, 0009 RODRIGUEZ, Pablo Team: Honda Racing Argentina http://vulcain.iritrack.net/tdcom/eviewer/RUTA40/
Still finding reasons but the first part of the special was cancelled. It is supposed to start up again at 13:00 local time. Not sure if it's weather related.
More riders popping up in the tracking as they get towards the end of the neutral zone. Word is the stage will start at 13:00 local time.
I can't understand why the organization offers almost no information. Pizzolito posted this on twitter (5.38 am local time) In english would be : Stage 5 has started. Opening the track made me loose a lot of time and to focus in the navigation. My hand hurts. Let's continue!
