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

During the neutralized section, can they take fuel from other than ASO sources? Like from an HRC support truck just before the next section?

I disagree; 6 minutes is nothing. It's only day 4. Despres has shown he can reel that much time in seemingly at will. I think he playing a smart game right now.

a little perspective here:

dakar 2009
Aliens, 3rd Fretigne 1h39

dakar 2010
Alien, 2nd Pal 1h03

dakar 2011
Aliens, 3rd Helder 1h40

dakar 2012
Aliens, 3rd Helder 1h11

dakar 2013
5h stage
there are 24 riders within the hour at the moment

The Hummer is listed as finishing in 3rd place for today (so far...) GORDON (USA), WALCH (USA) HUMMER 001:51:21 total 00:01:41 back

I don't think so, but I'd have to check the rule book to be sure. I think if the service and competitor routes overlap on a liaison, you can service, but I don't remember a neutralized section of special falling under that provision.

That was after 4 stages or 14?

14

I'm am going to assume they still consider the neutralized section part of the SS, So it's no, only from other competitors still in the race

By the Driver of a car, a bike or a truck officially entered in and still in the race.
By an assistance category vehicle, after the closure of the control at the end of the Selective Section and after having informed the Organiser

can't find anything talking about neutralized

Without the dunes it should be ok, the altitude section is what, 209 km so that's about 30 km in reserve from zip, altitude for dunes? Should be about ok?:eek1

Nice drive.

Ref SS6, does anyone else think that two CPs so close together (16km) may indicate that that section may be particularly challenging?

YAAY, Luis!!!

My rule book is getting tattered....Should have had it laminated!!

So RG will have a jerry can for JC for HR

And about 100k is paved road in neutralized section...I think it's good to go!!

Long day tomorrow, very early start, and someone just tweeted that everyone in the circus is gonna lose 2 hours of sleep as well due to the time difference

can't wait

or a siphon hose

Here, borrow mine

http://www.dakar.com/dakar/2013/docs/reglement-moto-quad-dakar-2013-VUS.pdf

dakar com

With David Casteu winning the day's stage and Olivier Pain still on top of the general standings, the excellent health of the Yamaha YZF was confirmed today. However, Joan Barreda lost out big time, halted by fuel problems.

The first impressions have proved to be correct. For the last few weeks, the riders of the various versions of the Yamaha YZF have not stopped praising the progress made during the year that has passed. In the battle with KTM, Husqvarna and Honda, the blue bikes have quickly made their mark. To illustrate, Olivier Pain took control of the general standings yesterday, in front of his team-mate David Casteu. Might the two Frenchmen have taken advantage of the racing context to stage a hold-up on the race order? No way! This morning, the duo dealt with the situation with aplomb, opening the road almost right throughout a special stage that was quicker than the previous ones. The power of the Yamaha spoke volumes, to the benefit of David Casteu, who added a third stage victory on the Dakar to the ones he won in Nouakchott in 2006 and Cordoba in 2010.

Olivier Pain and David Casteu managed to hold off Cyril Despres, who could have taken advantage of his starting position to try and regain control of the rally today, but who did not achieve such a feat. What's more, the struggle for the title will probably no longer involve Joan Barreda, halted by fuel pump problems for a significant part of the day at the 98-km point. For the moment, a 100% French trio are dominating the rally, with 6 minutes separating the three riders. The match between the teams is up and running too, because behind the two Yamahas, the KTMs ridden by Despres and his water carrier Ruben Faria are awaiting an opportunity to spring an ambush, followed by the two Husqvaranas ridden by Jordi Viladoms and Alessandro Botturi, who will be taking up the baton from their unfortunate team leader, Barreda Bort.

In the quad race, Yamaha has dominated for the last several years. It was therefore natural that this machine was chosen by Marcos Patronelli, who has put in a flawless performance since the beginning of the second stage. The Argentinean, who won the rally in 2010, won a 4th consecutive special stage and opened up an even bigger gap on his rivals. Sebastian Husseini, who had managed to stay in contact until today, ground to a halt with mechanical problems and will lose several hours on Patronelli by the time he arrives in Arica. Now the closest pursuer to the race leader is Chilean Ignacio Casale, who is nevertheless 1 hour and 18 minutes behind.