2013 Dakar Pre-Event Discussion

I find it hard to believe people knocking the heros of the Dakar. The mini isn't a "mini" its just a body on a custom race car...everyone needs a sponsor. It is a 14+ day race and reliability is as big a factor as performance. The guy who wins did it right, the guy who shows up with a badass car that can't finish did it wrong...plain and simple. Speed, power and performance are only one factor in the Dakar. This separates the Dakar from races like the baja races and other shorter rallies (amongst other things like chasing silly waypoints, etc ).

I enjoy Robby as much as the next guy, he is entertaining and good in that he brings more interest in the race for North Americans. I've never quite understodd the US mentality of us versus them... These people aren't racing to represent their country (although having a country sponsor some competitors is a very cool idea, better than handing out money to people who are too lazy to work )..

Just my two cents...23 days until go time

And we know Gordon wouldn't do this because he's hit a rider and failed to take action?

Oh wait... Close doesn't count. miss by an inch miss by a mile doesn't matter.

I guess we will find out very soon.

But I'm guessing he will blame to organization for placing the bike/spectators in his way to slow him down...

But in all honesty I couldn't give a toss what happens to RG, as long as he doesn't hurt anyone else, because in January my attention will be on the bikes and the cars will be a minor distraction.

After all, the cars are only there to give the bike riders something to do when they get to old to race a bike competitively.

The "US vs Them" is our culture. Look at the NFL Football. We are as hard on ourselves as anyone. It makes for sales and sales make for money to pay people to race. I know some do it for free, hell a lot of participants pay for the chance to participate. I have contributed to several racers to give them the money to play.

It is a show and shows cost money, some people make money on this show, at least the winners probably do. All the more fun to follow and generate interest and interest generates money.

The ASO has figured this out, the beverage companies have figured it out, and if Peterhansel thinks he is above that, I do believe he is delusional.

I don't know if this actually a reflection of something meaningful (don't know how meaningful/accurate Google analytics are), but it's kind of interesting to look at who is watching that Robby Gordon video. Viewers in Mexico have more views than those in the U.S.

Maybe that's your culture, not mine. At least not in racing. I root for and support the guys I like, regardless of their country of origin.


The rest of 'em are just a bunch of tossers.

If you're only watching the bikes, you're missing half the race.

Make that 2/3s if you include the trucks.

I do.

wonder if this had Quinn Cody graphics on a month ago

I watch them just because they are on, but they don't interest me at all.

I find cars an incredibly boring form of transport and not much more than that.

I do enjoy watching the trucks but I don't care about the result.

I have a passion for motorcycles, not cars.

I gather you've never been to Europe when the world cup is on?

Europe is FAR more nationalistic that the US will ever be. Europe meaning all those people up and over there to the left of us.

+1
only in europe it's not so much "US vs them" it's more "UK vs them" ;p

Whilst I'm here, can anyone recommend a Dakar vid? I quite enjoyed the "Race to Dakar" stuff, was wonderng what else is out there?

+1, I agree with you.

I simply mean't we are very competitive. I should have used us vs them, to differentiate USA vs Them.

Them trucks are just crazy!

catch up.

something something shadows?

Who is that moto rider giving Robby G a tow?