Honda preparing Dakar assault

[biggles0449]

By my reckoning, thats 27 riders that have crossed the line, registered as British/Irish [including Mr Pavey, who gets a little confused where he's from!]

I was pretty impressed to see how successful the entrants from the USA have been, considering their low volume of starts. Far more successful then us Brits in terms of standings, if only you guys could get some serious interest in the media, who knows what would happen!

[too old]

Originally Posted by biggles0449

The last time we had any true British contenders, and by that im going to stretch the basket slightly, would have been John Deacon [best finish 6th], who rode BMW and KTM, before he passed away. Following his lead would have been Patsy Quick [amateur, but KTM did eventually supply 2 bikes for her and Zippy, her co rider], Mick Extance [26th on a Honda 450 in 09] Nick Plumb or Stan Watt [Irish!], all have been essentially privateer efforts, with varying levels of support from the industry.

Aside from these names, there have been a multitude of riders having a go, but I would say all are far from being contenders.

It seems to me, that Sam is the first Brit to be on a full factory deal for the Dakar, which is no mean feat, when you consider how anti motorsport the UK can be. Theres no denying that living in the world's biggest sandpit has to have helped his cause and I wish him every success!

Thanks Biggles - no pressure on him then - Lol

Whatever happens there won't be a fitter and more prepared rider out there - as you say the sandy bits won't present too many problems - well, consider that it is the Dakar !

[barrier]

Originally Posted by too old

Thanks Troy - a question for you then, when was it the last time a Brit was a focus of a major Dakar challenge, with Honda selecting young Sam, for the reasons that have?

With Brit, Focus and Major Dakar Challenge in your question, Mark Thatcher springs to mind!

[troy safari carpente]

Originally Posted by barrier

With Brit, Focus and Major Dakar Challenge in your question, Mark Thatcher springs to mind!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/d...00/2523841.stm

http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/d...00/2530725.stm

[too old]

Originally Posted by barrier

With Brit, Focus and Major Dakar Challenge in your question, Mark Thatcher springs to mind!

For the Brits he was to the Dakar what Eddie the Eagle was to ski jumping

[schattat]

How'd this Honda Dakar factory effort get to become a Brit thread?

[Carlos M]

Originally Posted by schattat

How'd this Honda Dakar factory effort get to become a Brit thread?

I'm about to start an historical epic post from the Portuguese Discoveries to the Dakar times! After all the flagship will be piloted by Portugese Helder Rodrigues

[too old]

Originally Posted by schattat

How'd this Honda Dakar factory effort get to become a Brit thread?

It hasn't just a question with regard to Sam - still a team HRC one - also it couldn't - it would run out too quick - lol

[Hausi1]

Originally Posted by biggles0449

So, it was a bit boring at work tonight, i thought id do a bit of research to put together a list of all Brit finishers in the history of Dakar Moto.. funnily enough the hardest year to find results has proven to be 2011!

Ive always wondered who and how many had done it, having been told somewhere in the region of 20 finishers so far..

Very nice list!

Where did you find that info? I'd be interested how many austrian riders have finished the dakar.

[Carlos M]

Originally Posted by Hausi1

I'd be interested how many austrian riders have finished the dakar.

Can't help with the statistics but one thing is certain: the most famous non-finisher of the Dakar would be Austrian: Heinz Kinigadner

[troy safari carpente]

Originally Posted by Carlos M

Can't help with the statistics but one thing is certain: the most famous non-finisher of the Dakar would be Austrian: Heinz Kinigadner

OUCH! ( but funny ) and true!

Come to think of it... an interesting statistic would be to find out who does have the most DAKAR dnf's...?

Kini wouldn't be a bad bet (he certainly among the most publicized)... but there could be someone else...?

[doyle]

Originally Posted by troy safari carpente

OUCH! ( but funny ) and true!

Come to think of it... an interesting statistic would be to find out who does have the most DAKAR dnf's...?

Kini wouldn't be a bad bet (he certainly among the most publicized)... but there could be someone else...?

From the current crop...

Pablo Cid de la Paz, 3 starts, 3 DNF's
Ivan Jakes, 5 starts, 4 DNF's
Chaleco, 5 starts, 3 DNF's
Jonah, 6 starts, 3 DNF's
Eric Palante, 9 starts, 5 DNF's

From an overall perspective, I am not sure who has the ultimate most.

What's more impressive are the guys who have been in it for years with no or only single withdrawals, Helder, Cyril, Pal Anders...

[xr400r]

Originally Posted by doyle

From the current crop...

Pablo Cid de la Paz, 3 starts, 3 DNF's
Ivan Jakes, 5 starts, 4 DNF's
Chaleco, 5 starts, 3 DNF's
Jonah, 6 starts, 3 DNF's
Eric Palante, 9 starts, 5 DNF's

From an overall perspective, I am not sure who has the ultimate most.

What's more impressive are the guys who have been in it for years with no or only single withdrawals, Helder, Cyril, Pal Anders...

looks as though JONAH has the best record....... Just sayin'

[Hausi1]

Kini got (correct me if I'm wrong) 7 starts and 7 dnf's...

[biggles0449]

Originally Posted by Hausi1

Very nice list!

Where did you find that info? I'd be interested how many austrian riders have finished the dakar.

Haha ok, bit of a hijacking, ill get back in my box now! As for the stats, I found the Dakar retrospective book on the website, lists everything from the very first Dakar up until 2009, after that, it was a case of checking online..

You can download the pdf here: http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2013/us/history.html