2009 DAKAR RALLY ARGENTINA/CHILE
7 January 2009 - 9:07pm
This year's 2009 Dakar Rally is super.
Supersport 2 at 22H00 nightly with repeats next day at 06H00, 14H0 & 18H00.
The Argentine spectators are such awesome and sporty spectators and supporters of motorsport, coming out in their thousands and pitching in to help vehicles that get into trouble or bog down, comforting competitors who fall out.
www.dakar.com is a good site with all the info you need, regular updates during the day, bios on competitiors and result tables daily.
Yesterday it was hearbreaking to see 37yr old Michel Marchini the 7 sede rider and top priveteer drop out the rally. His hopes of coming 5th overall and top priveteer dashed.
Watch the Domet family- Father & 2 sons battle this out, they get no mention by comentators at all. but daily they stick together, climbing the leaderboard as others drop out- Starting 162,2 & 3 they are now up around 123,5 & 6 on their Yamaha's
The 165cc Honda is still in the running.
Day 1 - 235 started out - 23 dropped out
Day 2 - 212 starters - 20 dropped out
Day 3 - 192 starters - 12 dropped out
Day 4 - 180 starters - 14 dropped out
Day 5 - 166 starters- only 18 in by 21h00 this evenig so watch....
Youtube™ has daily video imaging updates as well.
Enjoy
7 January 2009 - 9:32pm
#1
My whole family is glued to the television every night at 10, we're addicted to the Dakar :)
8 January 2009 - 12:05am
#2
Watch the Uk rider No:235 Craig Bounds, He started No: 235th on day onoe and is now 68th!!
He is having an awesome ride.
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
8 January 2009 - 10:14am
#3
Totally hooked on the Dakar. I've been watching this for many years = the bikes are just awesome. Real warrior riders. If you have not seen Charley Boorman's DVD (Race to Dakar) please get a copy and watch (especially the "behind the scene" shots). These riders are super-human...
This year BMW have only got 6 bikes in the race = 2 x 650's and 4 of the new 450's. The 650's are being ridden by the old fox Pierre Karsmakers of the Netherlands (long time competitor) and Simon Pavey (the equally famous guy who did the training for Charley & Evan for their Long Way trips, and also competed with Charley in the 2005 Dakar). Will be interested to see how the smaller 450's do in the rally. KTM is dominant however ...
KIND van die WIND
8 January 2009 - 10:29am
#4
I was watching a fellow called Kastan with some interest, riding a 125 Honda pit bike looking machine, but unfortunately he has now withdrawn.
Also saddened to hear about the death of motorcyclist Pascal Terry in seemingly mysterious circumstances. Found dead next to his bike in a remote area with food and water laid out next to him.
RIP
8 January 2009 - 10:29am
#5
Update on BMW
Just had a look at the website again. As Andy reported, 235 bikes started the Dakar; after stage 5 only 129 bikes left ... BMW is still doing well with 4 bikes running (3 x 450's and 1 x 650). Positions (overall after stage 5):
Bianchi Prata - 39
Pavay - 45
Payen - 56
Memi - 99
Good luck guys ... we envy and honour you.
KIND van die WIND
8 January 2009 - 11:11am
#6
Hows about the skills on display - watching these guys ride sand at the speeds they do is unreal -interesting to see how all of the guys seem to alternte with standing and sitting - also heartening to see that even the best riders in the world meet the sand occasionally as well.
8 January 2009 - 11:17am
#7
Ja, I love the way they skim over the sand with the front wheel in the air a lot of the time.
Scary when trucks overtake, though.
At the speeds they do, sitting is fine (especially given the distances traveled), but they do stand up for the tricky bits.
Did anyone see the woman on the KTM. She overbalanced on a technical section, then battled to kickstart the bike in the blazing heat. You could feel her frustration and exhaustion. Then a gallant fellow came and started her bike - (could have been me in my dreams).
8 January 2009 - 2:37pm
#8
If only............I was ten years younger and filthy, YES FILTHY.......rich.
Then that would be ME making legends in the sand.
If horses were wishes, beggers would ride.......but for crying in a huge bucket, I really want to do this..........sittting standing,,, pushing kicking......I don't care.....
HI GUYS AND GIRLS, RUSTY'S BACK........ALL THE BEST FOR THE NEW YEAR..........
Call me to ride...........I NEED to ride.... I assure this is NOT a WANT.......
Rusty in the eye of adventure.
8 January 2009 - 3:33pm
#9
Benna,
you see Simon Pavey is registered as a n Autralian entrant this year!
He's got awesome gut and the ability to dig really Deep.
How's 36 yr old Christian Califano - (He retired from the French national rugby team [68 caps or more] last year)
Yesterday he towed bike No:16 200 kilometres to the stage finish - Olivier Pain ran our of fuel- Califano he says - "Zees guy I av to help heem, he's seded 16nz end he needs to keep in zi raze and finsh eye up the bord".
He also helped a downed rider push his bike out the fesh-fesh, a samaritan stunt that cost him 12 mintues.
Now that I understand the race- having read RACE TO DAKAR and watched the dvd, I can really mephasise with the competitors who break down emotionally when their mount goes U/S.
It must be soul destroying.
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
9 January 2009 - 7:47am
#10
Terry died of pulmonary oedema before lunch on Sunday.
Only found before lunch on Wednesday
French motorcyclist Pascal Terry died of a lung eodema which caused a respiratory and cardiac arrest, according to an autopsy.
Terry was found dead early Wednesday morning after going missing during the second stage of the Dakar Rally on Sunday.
The 49-year-old had informed race control his Yamaha had run out of petrol at the 197-kilometre mark between Santa Rosa and Puerto Madrid but later could not be contacted by organisers.
Very sad, his first entry on a bike- he was supposed to be riding wingman to teammate Pascal Gilbert- who has competed twice.
He was found 15m from his bike, having made shelter with food and water at hand.
Plumonary oedema is a bugger and it is often a result of over stressing the heart and causing an MI- heart attack.
Strange thing is, it comes on gradually so he should have had plenty time to activate his Iritrack red button and summon help.
He had enough conscious popresence to grab food, water and find/make shelter so was not so far in trauma not to have recognised he needed EMS immediately.
The lesson, there's lots.
Now I'm not saying the same thing happened to Luc Alphand's co-driver Picard- he was airlifted out of stage 6 after experiencing respiratory complications- while frantically over-exerting himslef to extricate their Mitsubishi from the mud. be intersting to find out if he had oedema- fluid on the lungs.
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
9 January 2009 - 7:55am
#11
Pascal Terry
Sad that Pascal Terry was not keeping pace with a 'buddy'. Oedema is something you need to treat by knowing the root cause. There's different treatments, but Oxygen therapy is the main factor to keep you going while the diagnosis is being confirmed.
So the main lesson- ALWAYS RIDE WITH A BUDDY!
At 49 he was already in the 'risk' category if he had to face physical stress.
And early into day 2- he was just an accident looking for a place to happen.
So that makes me angry. 'cos his death was avoidable!!!
In fact he outpaced his teammate on stage one leaving him ten minutes behind him- in Dakar terms on the piste, that is a long way.
On day two he was 40km from the fuel stop on a very fast section of gravel and thick sand out on the pampas.
Gilbert carried on on the stage to finsh further back from his stage 1 standing.
And another conundrum is that if your vehicle is stopped for lionger than 15 minutes, the Iritrack sends a signal to HQ in Paris. While HQ is reputedly notorious for letting competitors wait for help, they always give imediate assistance to French competitors- as is found in a lot of Dakar literature.
They can pick up the GPS posi from the Iritrack.
So did his battery die? Why did it take 3 days to find him.
And why is the media not making any mention of it?
ALWAYS RIDE WITH A BUDDY
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
9 January 2009 - 8:22am
#12
He probably got competitive, being ahead of his buddy, and when he took strain figured he would rest a bit until he felt better.
Maybe he even fell asleep for a while and then it was too late.
I've been in races where my rationale for not giving up was "I'm still alive, so I cannot throw in the towel yet". Stupid perhaps, young, hell yes!
Perhaps at age 49 one should know better though.
9 January 2009 - 8:58am
#13
Hi Andy, Charles and others on this thread....
This continenet and terrain on this Dakar Argentine and Chile route look much more difficult than the Paris to Dakar route?????
Yes? / No?
Your comments please???
By the way I don't have any work to do so I might as well keep you out of yours!!!!!!
Rusty in the eye of adventure.
9 January 2009 - 9:36am
#14
Damn, if I had the money and the ability! But at least I can watch it! Rusty, I agree, thee terrain seems much more technical than the previous but how awesome to watch these guys!
9 January 2009 - 9:46am
#15
One of the things I've noticed is in Africa they only really came across fesh fesh (really soft powdery sand) during dune stages. Here it seems to be everywhere. Did anyone see Geniel last night take that climb? It looked like it was too steep for a mountain goat yet he just lined it up and went for it, very impressive.
9 January 2009 - 9:57am
#16
Charles, if you ride with me you are always safe.
Lucky us, with the BMW Club bunch one has always good buddies and a safe coming home !!!!
So guys don't become to competitive to avoid bad outcomes in the future, as we moving often under quite extreme conditions ( heat and long days, e.g. 660 kms on a Sunday ).
AND take always enough WATER !!
To the Dakar : I find the scenery much more interesting and the going is obviously much tougher. ARGENTINA is absolutely fantastic !!!
9 January 2009 - 10:36am
#17
Rusty, it is more difficult.
And they have mud and damp dunes- something not seen much on a Dakar.
The bikes are down to almost half the competitors and that's before the halfway mark.
I find this Dakar so much more fun to watch- pity to comentry is so short.
But the daily 'videos of the day' on the webb are great.
So are all the You tube videos.
Today they have high elevation and cold to contend with- problems with engine aspiration and mountian passes.
It really is a test of machine and how deep you can dig to find the mind-power to continue.
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
9 January 2009 - 11:20am
#18
Ok you all need to keep this a secret: I havent slept ova at the gf's house lately, explaining that I have a very early start the next day. Meanwhile I dash home at 9:55 in time to catch the Dakar. Its like the TDF (Tour de France) very addictive. So if you meet her (Debbie) on Sunday's brekkie run...hush. Eish...DSTV
Peter da Mann
9 January 2009 - 11:21am
#19
lol Pete, mum's the word
10 January 2009 - 6:51am
#20
I simply cannot understand the minds of the X-raid team.
race leader Nassa Al Atiyah? out because he took short cuts.
Geez (sori Wiliam) Dakar is the F1 of rallying. At this level of works competitors, you have to be the best of the best. You simply don't take stupid options.
What were they?
1 limp across the dunes nursing the motor until it cooked and then being towed in by the service truck, getting a huge penalty, but STAYING IN THE RACE.
2 - do the moffie thing and simply give up - at top level, I don't think so.
3 - take a short cut to miss the dunes, save the engine and come home 1st knowing you have blown the race forever.
If I was a sponsor of a team that did such a stupid thing, I'd want my money back.
And if I'd paid to go and watch it I'd have some words to say to XRaid team management.
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
10 January 2009 - 6:52am
#21
Dakar over for Al Attiyah
Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah and his co-driver Tina Thörner leave the race at the end of the sixth stage leading to Mendoza. The Qatari driver won stage 6 but lost any possibility to go on in the race as he skipped the way points at the beginning of the special stage. "We had a problem with the radiator at the end of the stage in San Rafael. In spite of all the work done by our mechanics, our engine still overheated at the beginning of the sand dunes today. Nasser could choose between crossing the sand dune and going around them. He chose the second solution, so he missed several way points and, according to the race regulations, this implies an automatic exclusion from the race" explained Sven Quandt, manager of the X-Raid Team in the end of the afternoon in Mendoza anticipating the decision of the race marshalls. Nasser Al Attiyah won the 1st and 3rd stages of the 2009 Dakar and was leading the overall standing after stage 1 and stage 5.
10 January 2009 - 6:55am
#22
French team-mate Stéphane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi), who received a 15 minute penalty after having arrived at the bivouac in San Rafael towed by one of his team-mates.
At least he nis in the race still and did not do a stupid cop-out like Nassa did.
Bruchni na borksi
(Swedish for vive le sporte)
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
10 January 2009 - 7:00am
#23
Well done to Lopex!!!
Stage winner!
The Chileans partied all night last night and still going strong.
National pride is bursting at the seams- Oh Sh&* (sori william) we can expect a massive baby boom in September/October.
I know the Chileans- when they go big, they go BIG!!
Summary of stage 7
Pending validation of the results by the race stewards, Chilean Francisco Lopez (KTM) has won the 7th stage, picking up his 1st success on the Dakar, 3.57 ahead of the leader of the general standings, Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) and 5.21 in front of France’s Cyril Despres (KTM). As a result, in the general standings Spaniard Marc Coma (KTM) carries on opening up a gap at the top of the rankings, with a 51.22 lead over American Jonah Street (KTM), still leader in the marathon category, and a 52.31 lead over Frenchman David Frétigné (Yamaha), leader of the 450cc category.
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
10 January 2009 - 7:07am
#24
Stories like this that make this such a wonderful event.
In the tiny village of La Junta, Willy Jobard had to push his bike over the finishing line of the special stage: “I divided the petrol between the front and rear tanks, and I didn’t make the switch at the right moment, so 100 m from the finishing line, there was nothing left. My calculations were ok, to within 100 meters…” This mishap was without serious consequences this time, but several days earlier, the biker lost several hours racing time. It was only thanks to the help of an Argentine spectator that Willy was able to avoid abandoning prematurely: “My rear tire was shredded and suddenly a spectator came up to me and said he had a bike at home. I asked ‘What type of bike?’, and he replied, ‘A Honda 600 XR’, so I told him, ‘Well you might just be able to help me’”. One and a half hours later, the Good Samaritan returned with the famous bike in question, which hadn’t seen the road for a long time. In spite of this, they manage to repair Willy’s bike and he was able to set off again on the long journey to the finishing line: “During the link stage, the tire was so old that the cleats were coming off one after another. Finally, I manage to make it, and during the evening I met my savior again. I wanted to pay him for it or offer him a pair of wheels, but he didn’t want a thing, he was just happy to have helped me”.
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
10 January 2009 - 9:12am
#25
There are very few events that require such physical and mental strengths as the Dakar and THE tour de France. Wether the entrant arrives first or last I am totally amazed at their dedication, especially the privateers. I salute you. As for Terry he died doing something he wanted to do What a pleasure. Friends and family knew the risks, celebrate his life.
BTW with the number of KTM's in the raid do you suppose that KTM had a special sale on?
Ignore opinions, heed facts.
Feet on the pegs, always.
10 January 2009 - 9:24am
#26
Is the Dakar KTM's equivalent of the GS Challenge,except they allow other bikes??:-)
10 January 2009 - 11:53am
#27
Good words Cheesy,
The teams say the Dakar is the ordinary persons race where professionals are tolerated.
All the literature one reads of the race agrees its more a race of mental stamina than anything alse. You can push the body most places and indeed they do.
But its the mind that gives in before the body does in most cases.
What was Nassa Al Atiyah thinking?? A multi million $ invetment and he lets if fall apart because the mind gave in.
Also if Picard, Luc Alphond's co-driver had had some oxygen, rest and some sustenance the team could have gone on to finish- but that soft mud and a bit of chest congestion was enough for them to call it a day.
But then for us armchair competitors everything looks possible after the fact.
I really salute any competitor who gets this far and beyond.
Where's Patsy Quick this year? She was train ing for this event but is not on it
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
10 January 2009 - 9:34pm
#28
I have just returned from a holiday in Buenos Aires and was able to get to the start of the rally. They had a symbolic start on the Friday in the centre of town, insane crowds and great vibe. I spend a happy hour or two at the "Rural" where the cars and bikes where stationed and all the sponsors tents etc. Couldn't get near to the cars and bikes though though - understandable. Saw the little Honda pit Bike, he was never going to make it.
Buenos Aires -great place. :)
11 January 2009 - 6:59am
#29
Welcome back, That pit bike fellow has/d enormous courage, he got good coverage well done.
Ignore opinions, heed facts.
Feet on the pegs, always.
11 January 2009 - 6:28pm
#30
... and Dieter waitied for a tow back in stage 6 'stead of copping out. Well done Dieter, you are right in there!!
10:51 - Car
307 - Depping provisionally leads after 49 km
Now that the first 6 cars have completed 49 km of the day’s special stage, German Dieter Depping (VW) is in the lead, 13 seconds ahead of general standings leader, Spaniard Carlos Sainz (VW), and 40 seconds in front of Frenchman Guerlain Chicherit (BMW).
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
16 January 2009 - 12:35pm
#31
Todays STAGE 13: La Rioja to Cordoba is
830 km including 545km against the clock.
For the penultimate stage, the participants are back in the Pampa on a route that will appeal to their pure driving skills and also has a lot of vegetation, prickly bushes and cacti.
This special stage is made for conventional rally drivers.
A pitty for two-time WR champ Carlos Sainz, who was forced to withdraw yesterday.
Faced with a decimated group, the remaining contenders of the Dakar in all categories, called to order by the misfortune of the Spaniard, will certainly make sure not to loose everthing just a couple of days shy of the podium in Buenos Aires. All the more so because the big time gaps in the standings now prevent the hierarchy from changing if nothing goes wrong.
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
17 January 2009 - 6:37am
#32
The thing I miss most about this Dakar is the original African theme tune, man that had oomph and excitement you knew it was Dakar time.
Ignore opinions, heed facts.
Feet on the pegs, always.
17 January 2009 - 2:24pm
#33
You know Cheesy we all been saying that all along.
Absoluddle true man.
But Annie'll tell you I do the fill in for them every time the logo comes up.
It's not the DAJKAR without that theme tune.
"Salaam Ooualheiiiii....."
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
17 January 2009 - 2:24pm
#34
Neville
Great idea.
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
17 January 2009 - 2:54pm
#35
Craig Bounds is still in and up to 53rd,
while the Domet's- Father and 2 sons are now up in 89. 90 & 92.
I hope they make it today to the finish.
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
17 January 2009 - 4:23pm
#36
.
.
.
.
.
RIDE,RACE,PLAY!
I RIDE THEREFORE I AM!
17 January 2009 - 9:32pm
#37
The standings at the end of today's stage which should act as the final classifications for the rally as tomorrow's stage is an untimed liaison ride to Buenos Aires, can be found here :
cars : http://www.dakar.com/2009/DAK/LIVE/us/1400/classement/CGA.html
bikes : http://www.dakar.com/2009/DAK/LIVE/us/1400/classement/CGM.html
18 January 2009 - 6:54pm
#38
2 South Aafricans in the car category.
All finished
Giniel de Villers from stellies 1st
Pritchard 2nd
Alfie Cox 73rd
The bikes are dominated by KTM. TOTALLY.
66 KTM's finished
23 Yamahas
16 Hondas
3 BMW's
2 Sherco and Beta
1 only for Husqui, Kawa, Gas gas & Suzi
What shame for the two bikes that crashed 67 kilos from the finish at Rosario!
They collided coming into a corner- both injuured and taken out by ambulance. To come so far and then contest a corner.... 14 days,
The 1st bike took 52 hours.
Knecht on the last bike home took 4 times that- 206 hours- guys thats an ave of 15,5 hours per day in the saddle!!!!!
That takes guts, guts, guts and then some!
And that is not inclusive of the 18 hours of penalty time he picked up from missing waypoints.
Maybe if he learned to navigate, count and irde at the same time he would do better.
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
18 January 2009 - 7:00pm
#39
Neville'l know better, but the bikers have to Ride, read the road-book, navigate, and keep synching their kilos and their time, oh yes and concentrate on the road ahead, behind and way ahead----- all at the same time.
Soon as the sentinal light flashes and the pizo warbles, you gotta take cover or get taken out by a car or truck.
The cars just push you off the piste and leave you blinded by a cloud of dust and showered by stones.
No wonder Simon Pavey, Nick Plumb and over riders in the mid-field say you gotta be prepared to die to do the rally raid.
Well Super 14 is next
Then the F1
then MotGP
What a year!
Buckle up it gets going in high gear now.
Andyman
Yup that's me. Standing up in the traffic on the 1150GSA.
18 January 2009 - 9:29pm
#40
I guess you can also add WRC and IRL. New season for each discipline to start on the following dates :
F1 : Australia : 29 March 2009,
MotoGP : Qatar : 12 April 2009,
WRC : Ireland : 1 February 2009,
IRL : St Petersburg : 5 April 2009.
“There are only three sports: motor racing, bullfighting and mountaineering...all the rest are merely games.” - Ernest Hemingway
19 January 2009 - 4:10pm
#41
Andy What about SBK? That is important man!! We need to see Haga on the Duke thrash the rest of the field.
O k let's have predictions for
S B K, is going to be difficult but with Nitro's solid mindedness I back him. #2 his partner in crime.
G P, The Doctor, Casey and Lorenzo.
F 1, Massa if they give him a decent car, Hamilton and Kimi.
Ignore opinions, heed facts.
Feet on the pegs, always.
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