2013 Dakar - go the Aussies !!

[billy300]

I would suggest that the biggest influence would be the diffence in weight. In the old days a cagiva or teneree or BMW would have been about 300 kg once loaded with 40 litre of fuel. The new 450 's would be about 170 kg loaded . Sand riding with the big old girls would have been something that very few riders could do well. The 450's with less weight would mean that the average rider has a chance of making it through the more technical sections.

[SafariBerg]

15th Outright, 2nd Rookie, 3rd Amature, 3rd Amature Super-production class..............amazing result for Ben who hit a roo at 150kph at the Condo 750 rally back in April and had a broken spine and extensive surgery !!

[JayBo1]

Originally Posted by SafariBerg

15th Outright, 2nd Rookie, 3rd Amature, 3rd Amature Super-production class..............amazing result for Ben who hit a roo at 150kph at the Condo 750 rally back in April and had a broken spine and extensive surgery !!

Yep, an absolutely brilliant result. A small team with a big result! Take a bow

Look forward to catching up with you Garry. Any word on next year location yet?
Cheers
JayBo

[SafariBerg]

Originally Posted by JayBo1

Any word on next year location yet?
Cheers
JayBo

Peru, Bolivia & Chile

[WILL_S]

Well done
Thanks to all who made it happen

[tileman]

Originally Posted by SafariBerg

Peru, Bolivia & Chile

I'd heard while in Argentina a start in Rosario, north of BA.

[podge NT]

Originally Posted by SafariBerg

15th Outright, 2nd Rookie, 3rd Amature, 3rd Amature Super-production class..............amazing result for Ben who hit a roo at 150kph at the Condo 750 rally back in April and had a broken spine and extensive surgery !!

Thanks to Colin Ross from HSE (good old NT company) for the support

[Tony T]

This might be a very big call, but I'd like to think that Aussies can be a real force (in numbers and talent) at Dakar in the years to come.
It's all way more accessible than it ever was, and there's definitely some talent coming through.

With blokes like Colin Ross (who's not a bad rider himself ) to back it up, I can see some real success in the future.

Well done, folks!

[JayBo1]

Originally Posted by SafariBerg

Peru, Bolivia & Chile

Bolivian government have some "administrative steps" to complete before they can be assured of involvement in the Dakar for 2014. Here's hoping they get their act together then. The ASO will announce the Dakar 2014 participating countries on March 21st in Paris.

Considering a bunch of Aussie spectators, and hopeful Dakar followers, this year got shafted by Bolivian law changes meaning the rental bikes they had organised ended up not being able to be exported out of Bolivia for the rental period. They better sort their laws out if they hope for competitors to play in their back yard. I won't be happy if they let me bring my 450RR in but not take it out.

I'll be a little surprised if they bypass Argentina completely, but maybe they don't want to pay up any more. A SA Dakar without Fiambala? Is the ASO sick of dealing with the unpredictable weather and potential snow in the passes?

It's going to be a long year that will flash past in no time.
Ciao
JayBo

[SafariBerg]

looks like there will be a smaller Aussie contingent heading to Dakar 2014

most likely

• Troy Oconnor
• Matt Fish with Speedbrain again

confirming plans

• Ben Grabham

possible

• Mark Davidson

Jaybo which group do you fall in ??

anyone know any others seriously considering it ?


in autos - likley

• Geoff Olholm & ??
• Adrain Di Lallo & ??
• Garry Connell & Garry Whittle T3 Light

[mulgathumper]

So Rod is not going to have another go? I thought Yamaha were talking it up!

[Trang]

Originally Posted by SafariBerg

looks like there will be a smaller Aussie contingent heading to Dakar 2014

most likely

• Troy Oconnor
• Matt Fish with Speedbrain again

confirming plans

• Ben Grabham

possible

• Mark Davidson

Jaybo which group do you fall in ??

anyone know any others seriously considering it ?


in autos - likley

• Geoff Olholm & ??
• Adrain Di Lallo & ??
• Garry Connell & Garry Whittle T3 Light

GHR Honda seems to be obvious in their absence from this list?
Is there something you know here Garry?

[JayBo1]

Originally Posted by SafariBerg

looks like there will be a smaller Aussie contingent heading to Dakar 2014

Jaybo which group do you fall in ??

Hiya Garry,
My plans are coming together so I should be in the "most likely" group. I postponed my dream for work this year but that won't happen again!

It would only be the ASO refusing my entry to stop me really ... oh and a bit of money to pay for it all might not go astray. There's only been 2 Kiwi's enter Dakar previously, and both were accepted and both finished on their rookie attempt, so hopefully that record will serve me well. My 12'th outright in Safari 2012, 4 finishes in Safari - 3 in a row 100% finisher, plus a finish at the Desert Challenge a couple of years ago will hopefully make my resume passable.

Ben, my Kiwi service crew man from Safari, is keen and fired up, and has been donated air-points to get him to/from SA. I'm in discussions with someone else to assist the team, as well as a possible link up with another Kiwi to make it a real "Kiwi Safari Team" effort.

Ciao
JayBo

[topo]

Originally Posted by JayBo1

Ben, my Kiwi service crew man from Safari, is keen and fired up, and has been donated air-points to get him to/from SA. I'm in discussions with someone else to assist the team, as well as a possible link up with another Kiwi to make it a real "Kiwi Safari Team" effort.

DAKAR BABY YEAH!!

[outback jack]

Originally Posted by mulgathumper

So Rod is not going to have another go? I thought Yamaha were talking it up!

Mate the dust hasn't settled yet, to early to know what he's up too. But if i were a betting man he will get factory support of some kind he he goes. A year is a long time for any of the boys to make a call yet! But wouldn't it be nice to see a 3 pronged all Aussie team attack on Dakar, just saying