Great interview, PM. I didn't get my peanut gallery question in on time, but here it is: Is Ned getting passed by any of the cars? If so, I wonder how that interaction has been -- as scary as in Baha?
Just listened to the interview. Outstanding! Sounds like he is gearing the bike down a bit. I don't get how he can only go 125 km/h and the big teams can go 160 km/hr?
I think the factory guys are running a racing cam, pipe, porting, ignition mapping, etc. Can make a big difference.
Great interview! ....also...Ned may have built his engine to last the entire rally, the top guys are used to changing theirs out a time or two. Although the organizers did come up with some heavy penalties for changing engines mid-race this year...that does a lot to level the field between the big teams and the privateers, I think.
wow, what a rollercoaster day-great day for Ned , crushing blow for Jonah , now where is Bill? I sure hope he's alright! Did I miss it?
Great report from Ned! Can't believe how much time he gave us. I think the comment from the Turkish rider about the difficulty of the section so early in the race is revealing. Ned's got his pace perfectly dialed in. Go man!
What a great day, Ned! Thanks for the call-in, and keep doing what you've been doing. Wishing you the best!
Ned plans to change engines on the rest day, and has one more "just in case". His is a stock enduro (450 XCW) engine, and the factory boys are on 450 Rally bikes; completely different bikes, engine and all, and built specifically for this. I'm sure they have MUCH more horsepower.
That was on my list, but we didn't get to it. Felt like I needed to break the call off once we got to the 20min point. I'll definitely ask him next time we do a live call. Looking at the timing, Ned finished at 15:18, exactly 10 minutes before Holowczyc who was the first car physically through the finish (15:28). So I'd think it hasn't happened yet, but it almost undoubtedly will at some point.
He had a crash that cracked his case and gas tank. He's still out on piste. Going to be a long night. Get the ADV slow clap going... Wings!
Hi Nate Thanks!! I just finally got caught up the details in the other thread...I sure hope he's alright and can manage to get back to the Bivouac and get his bike back up to par-or is he now officially out?? It's past 11:30 over there already. Crikey!
He has until the start of the special tomorrow morning to make it in, though without major wrenching he'd still be in the same boat. Timing may not update between now and then, so keep an ear peeled for the first hand reports from D99.