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

[skibum69]

Originally Posted by Stagehand

theoretically, NK retired. :( ALthough that doesnt mean he wouldnt try.

I want to talk him into some east coast rallies if nothing else.

Is it June yet

[Stagehand]

Originally Posted by skibum69

Is it June yet

[Jim Rowley]

How about you Jimmy? I think Ned would be a great addition.

[J Lewis]

It is about top riders and winning, not the best washed up guy who might make a good waterboy. And I'm talking about myself there...

[DruncleWill]

It seems to me that any of the top 5 racers in any of the top US off-road series has the talent. The bigger question is who has the commitment ? These guys need to put food on the table, and I don't see the sponsors stepping up to the level needed to put an American on top of the podium at the Dakar. Until rally racing can be grown and sold to the American motorcycling public, the sponsors will continue to market hoodies and flatbill caps.
Maybe if we had a respected American motorcyclist / race promoter start up a feeder series

[Jim Rowley]

You can put a solid team together with the experience you've had. Kurt as #1 and Ned as his water carrier. Follow up with Quinn and Jonah and their respective water carriers. How much more solid can you get?

[Deadly99]

Originally Posted by jim rowley

you can put a solid team together with the experience you've had. Kurt as #1 and ned as his water carrier. Follow up with quinn and jonah and their respective water carriers. How much more solid can you get?

+1

[doyle]

I'd have to say Caselli for sure after this year, but certainly Quinn Cody, Cody Webb, and Colton Udall and I'm sure there are a handful of others, but as we've seen with so many others, it has a lot more to do with the team, the bike, and the support rather than just the skill of the rider. It isn't so much as to which American rider has the skills, it's which American rider can put together a package up to the task.

[silentwolf]

Originally Posted by doyle

I'd have to say Caselli for sure after this year, but certainly Quinn Cody, Cody Webb, and Colton Udall and I'm sure there are a handful of others, but as we've seen with so many others, it has a lot more to do with the team, the bike, and the support rather than just the skill of the rider. It isn't so much as to which American rider has the skills, it's which American rider can put together a package up to the task.

+!

I think that's really the issue here. The right rider is certainly important, but strictly youth/strength and a top rider elsewhere really doesn't guarantee anything in Dakar. Kurt is a good fit in general, but he's admitted that he's always hoped for Dakar in his future. He's just moving on his intended path and he's no spring chicken either. He's turning thirty and Cyril's what, 33? I think half the field (finishers) are 30-40?

I think a well placed consistent rider could push their way into the podium like Coma and Despres if that was their focus. (year round practice, testing, etc) I haven't looked at the records in a while but I don't recall if their ISDE and enduro records were of any note before they became the kings of Dakar... Cyril started out in trials, Coma I'm not so sure.

It really comes down to team and attitude. One might think you can't get it out of a washed up water boy, but aside of KTM how many of those 10-25th place have the real support of the front runners? Would they be more competitive if they knew they could swap an engine at a refuel?

Someone else mentioned it here, Jonah's decision to drop wasn't from a distaste from Dakar, it was lack of funding/support. Charlie and crew have done a great job, but if there was a KTM or HRC sized budget, I'm thinking he might have had another go.

A real 'American' effort needs to have the legs before it can run...

[hubilado]

http://www.ktm.com/news-events/news/...l#.UT9YANF4Zuc

[Motorfiets]

Originally Posted by hubilado

http://www.ktm.com/news-events/news/...l#.UT9YANF4Zuc

glad to see Kurt with a 3 year contract!!!!!!!!!!!!

[K_N_Fodder]

Originally Posted by hubilado

http://www.ktm.com/news-events/news/...l#.UT9YANF4Zuc

That's huge... anybody know where Depres ended up??

[Motorfiets]

Originally Posted by K_N_Fodder

That's huge... anybody know where Depres ended up??

Honda maybe

[Flood]

See discussion in the Bivouac.