Addc 2013 - Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

Ok - first one for the first rallly of the new season - Abu Dhabi desert challenge - and that is not a large plate of pavlova

Not going to say too much just yet, but I know where my money is this year and about time

http://abudhabidesertchallenge.com/...al Version Updated on 270313 - with logos.pdf

entry list available.. for bikes too

http://abudhabidesertchallenge.com/2013_Entry_Lists.aspx

no Despres around (but Blasuziak tries again!) and moreover... no Italians at all

Crisis... What Crisis? (Supertramp...)

GO #31 Mike Johnson USA !!

Quite a few Hondas in various forms also - Helder and Sam should have the Dakar 2013 HRC, the HT Rally boys will have their variant - Dakar X, there are the other Honda's also and Chavo, if he is coming, not sure why his number is in yellow highlight or is down for a CRE 500? - can you update us Chavo?:eek1

It will be interesting to see which model comes out on top from the Hondas?

Not the biggest of fields, but going to be pretty tight race amongst the top 10 or so

From the race itinerary no specials with more than 160k without a refuel, so hopefully Helder will be able to go at it flat out

The yellow highlighted riders are on bikes larger than 450cc and therefore not eligible for world championship points. That is also why they are together separated at the end of the field.
ADDC stages tend to be reasonably short between refuels, but the sand can be pretty thirsty for power and fuel. One little mistake can use a few litres of fuel very quickly.

Best of luck everyone but especially Richard Brewer, the lone Kiwi!

I thought that was the case, but couldn't understand why Chavo was on a 500?

I think he's testing the new HRC Dakar bike, the CRE450FR, but in 500 form to fly under the radar. "Factory Rally" based on the old two stroke CRE500, but will be sleeved down for the Dakar. They couldn't get a genuine HRC team rider to do it because that would be too obvious. It'll look like a home made, old clunker with a big tank and a few stickers but will be full on factory under the disguise. I'm not sure whether it'll get the oval piston technology that was shelved a couple of decades or so ago - that's likely to wait for the 450 version.

JCS' Honda is not related to the HRC bikes . HM Honda is the Italian importer of Hondas in Europe. They make them street legal for the EU and also have increased capacity bikes for sale: http://www.hmmoto.it/it/prodotti/CRE-F500X-13

I'll be heading over there next week, same assignments as last year Can't await to escape the bloody cold here, April and still snowing occasionaly, WTF

Edited the thread title to make it easier to find.

Yes but no, Chavo was with HR Ralley Raid - an affiliation with Honda Europe, but is nothing (or little, apart from the team management) to do with HRC and esprcially now he (Chavo) has broken away to Jolly racing!

he is certainly not testing the 2014 HRC Dakar bike, but I do understand that thet there is new one - yawn ZZZZZZzzzzz, here we go again

Only a week to go, cant wait!
My bike for this years world championship rallies is basically the same bike I raced at Pharaons Rally with 3 major improvements prepared by Jolly Racing.
This bike has a 500cc kit which should be plenty fast now! It also now has a steering stabilizer (to handle the speed), and showa factory suspension 49mm.
I havent tested it yet with all these improvements, but I think I will be very very happy!
The reason for the +450 class is just like Doyle said, to be close or on par with the factory bikes ......
Also to win the +450 trophy
See you next week Tony!

+1 and Sam and Helder of course

HRC playing it low key?

No mention of the team on the start list, no tweets, no Facebook and nothing on the website - maybe given up on the 2013 bike ahead of the 2014 one

Well from Sam's position, he is on his shiney new Dakar 2013 bike, ran it in today, is fit and raring to go

Smiles like this next Thursday will be good