Dakar 2013 - Official Event Coverage - thank you ALL TeamF5, lurkers and posters!

[dresda]

Originally Posted by yardracer

I get anything bright and pink I can find....I REFUSE to get black or gray whenever possible!!!!

Hi-Vis for me. Or Red.

Whatever I find that fits though....

But never PINK.

[Tomaz]

Dakar 2013 is over.
During the last 15 days, I came here as often as I could to follow Dakar.
Thank you for all shared information, pictures, videos, emotions and thoughts that allow me to taste the thrill of this fantastic and epic event!

[Dekatria]

As it turns out Robert van Pelt, the Dutch 19-year-old first timer, has been DQ-ed as his bike had been seen at his father's truck bivvy too many times. As a result not he, but a frenchman (with liaisons to the responsible ASO official as well) wins the malle moto class.

Typical.

[cyborg]

Originally Posted by Dekatria

As it turns out Robert van Pelt, the Dutch 19-year-old first timer, has been DQ-ed as his bike had been seen at his father's truck bivvy too many times. As a result not he, but a frenchman (with liaisons to the responsible ASO official as well) wins the malle moto class.

Typical.

That's a bummer, I thought the young guy did great. I did wonder about the fact his Dad in a big truck was also in the race. Sad, but he did ride and finish.

[Dekatria]

Originally Posted by cyborg

That's a bummer, I thought the young guy did great. I did wonder about the fact his Dad in a big truck was also in the race. Sad, but he did ride and finish.

This then would also mean he'd have to surrender his finisher's medal, I assume - even though pretty much everyone (including the Frenchman) gets side assistance in one way or another.

Thre's being a sore loser, and then there's being a French sore loser.

[cyborg]

I missed the streaming video party this morning but thanks Myway and all the F5'ers for posting some pictures.

Pyndon's crew will no doubt have better photos later. What an accomplishment !

That's about it for this years F5marathon for me, back to the real world. Like many of the rest of you I will compulsively check this thread until it is closed.

DAKAR!!!!!!!!

[mhouck]

Look forward to it every year. We'll blink and it will be upon us again!
Thank You for the insights, valuable info, photos, vids, links, etc!
Cheers

[Stagehand]

C'est Grossier.

what the hell does being at his father's truck, if its in the race, have to do wiht anything? they assume got more service than malle moto would suggest?

[Dekatria]

Originally Posted by Stagehand

C'est Grossier.

what the hell does being at his father's truck, if its in the race, have to do wiht anything? they assume got more service than malle moto would suggest?

Yes, pretty much. Even though the vast majority of malle moto riders gets assistance, as did Payen himself. But because Payen is awfully friendly with the responsible ASO official, he can get Van Pelt kicked out.

Some nerve to cheat a 19 year old prodigy out of a victory.

[Flood]

Originally Posted by Dekatria

As it turns out Robert van Pelt, the Dutch 19-year-old first timer, has been DQ-ed as his bike had been seen at his father's truck bivvy too many times. As a result not he, but a frenchman (with liaisons to the responsible ASO official as well) wins the malle moto class.

Typical.

I didn't want to say anything during the race, but I had the feeling that with his father in the race in a truck, possibly full of spares and definitely full of tools and know-how, was not exactly in the spirit of Malle Moto.

Has he been actually DQd from the race or just removed from MM and listed under SP or M?

[Olmer]

I assume that if you are a rider of the malles motos, struggling every night for the maintenance of your bike, and you see an other competitor in the malle moto having his bike rebuild every night by a truck crew, you would be very pissed...

[Dekatria]

Originally Posted by Flood

I didn't want to say anything during the race, but I had the feeling that with his father in the race in a truck, possibly full of spares and definitely full of tools and know-how, was not exactly in the spirit of Malle Moto.

Has he been actually DQd from the race or just removed from MM and listed under SP or M?

My guess (and hope) is the latter. Otherwise he's lost his medal as well.

[Dekatria]

Originally Posted by Olmer

I assume that if you are a rider of the malles motos, struggling every night for the maintenance of your bike, and you see an other competitor in the malle moto having his bike rebuild every night by a truck crew, you would be very pissed...

There's assistance and assistance. In the MM class pretty much everyone gets assistance of some degree, and RVP states himself that he certainly didn't get any more than Payen has.

Either way, it's all a bit too coincidental to me. RVP wins, Frenchy silver-medalist (who, seemingly so, has committed the same offense he's objecting against) throws a fit, and whaddya know.

[knybanjo]

Originally Posted by Dekatria

There's assistance and assistance. In the MM class pretty much everyone gets assistance of some degree, and RVP states himself that he certainly didn't get any more than Payen has.

You would think some photographic proof of the bike being worked on while parked there would be necessary too though. That snippet doesn't give many details....

[charlie264]

Originally Posted by fetid_swamp thanks for that, yes ive been following nicolas's jouney starting at 127, through the 100's to finish malles moto in 87...epic finish In praise of simplicity There is a moral of austerity in the adventure lived by Nicolas Boyer during these two weeks of racing. While certain pilots see deep pockets as the path to glory, the rider from Annonay made his comeback to the rally with a 1999 motorcycle, following his debut in 2001. "My Honda 400 XR is probably the least expensive motorcycle in the rally, it only cost 3,500 euros. I trusted it from the beginning, and rightly so. I had a few scares, but luck was on my side. My front wheel is bent and has a broken spoke, but it still does its job and I don't have a spare part. My ring snapped off from behind. I only had two screws on me and I got two more from spectators nearby. A small miracle", explains Nicolas, who was also helped by a guardian angel in Chile: "The zip on my jacket was torn off, so I rode two stages with my jacket open. Back home, my wife posted an appeal for help on Facebook. A woman came to see me at the bivouac, I gave her my jacket and she brought it back the next morning so that I could continue." Nicolas also broke two ribs on the road, but he clenched his teeth while savouring his success: "It boggles the mind that my motorcycle survived, seeing everything it was put through. I'd probably have had some more fun with a more powerful motorcycle, but I'm not sure I'd still be here."

Originally Posted by svizzerams

I love these stories - Well done Mr. Boyer!

+1, well done, 87th place...

http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2013/us/rider/127.html