beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
https://www.dakar.com/us/DAKAR/2010/live.html For all real men like dcarver & RenoJohn: Dakar's now crossing South America
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charismaticmegafauna
Well-known member
In one report, Casteu (Frenchman who won the 1st stage) said he was cruising at 93 mph on his 450cc Sherco and getting good gas mileage (paraphrasing).
South American 'Dakar' is different -- but, still good...
South American 'Dakar' is different -- but, still good...
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
https://www.dakar.com/us/DAKAR/2010/live.html I think Casteu is "nom de guerre" alias Don Carver is using in this S.A. Rally!!
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beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
KTM is already starting to dominate in Dakar 2010. Despres is in the lead and other podium spots are now Austrian Katooms!
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
Lightweight Aprilia 450's are starting to overtake KTM 690's now that course is tighter: "Tough times for the heavyweights!
Francisco Lopez wins a second special stage in his Dakar career in Chile once again and strategically places himself as the true challenger of Cyril Despres following him at 37’37’’ in the standings after a gloom and doom stage for Casteu – who had to withdraw – and for Coma. In the car category, Stéphane Peterhansel drops down the standings. His misfortune is a blessing for Volkswagen with Mark Miller winning his first special stage on a Dakar and Sainz taking the lead in the standings. In the truck category, Firdaus Kabirov breaks the winning streak of Chagin and gets his 30th stage victory in a Dakar.
In sport it is often said that success is something you can force. In the Antofagasta stage, it is a long and steady preparation, a whole biker’s life that has paid off for Francisco Lopez. Last year, he won the first stage in Chile that had taken the raid to Valparaiso. He was riding a 690cc KTM back then. This year “Chaleco” was hired by Aprilia to try the 450cc adventure. Riding his new machine, the Chilean had no problem finding the familiar feel of the bike. It was already on a small Honda bike that he had made his debut in the rally raid winning e.g. the world champion title in 2006. Even if he only discovered his new ride at the Pharaohs Rally, Lopez is now quite comfortable riding it all the more so that the tracks on today’s menu are the ones he trained on. With the experience acquired, he will now have to also confirm that he can get to the top of the standings… provided he finishes it for the first time in his life.
At any rate, podium prospects are getting closer for Lopez and for others because the road to Antofagasta was a real nightmare for the leaders. First, Marc Coma damaged his rear wheel then he lost half an hour before getting the wheel of Italian rider Luca Manca. This courteous – but hard to understand – gesture allowed the title holder to limit the damage but he is now 1h16’55’’ behind Despres, who spent his day with “Chaleco”. Their pace was also the pace of David Casteu, then second in the overall standings but then came km 395 where the Sherco rider fell pretty badly. The stage ended abruptly for him with a bad open wound in the thigh and a helicopter transfer back to the bivouac: it is the first time Casteu has to withdraw in seven Dakar participations."
Francisco Lopez wins a second special stage in his Dakar career in Chile once again and strategically places himself as the true challenger of Cyril Despres following him at 37’37’’ in the standings after a gloom and doom stage for Casteu – who had to withdraw – and for Coma. In the car category, Stéphane Peterhansel drops down the standings. His misfortune is a blessing for Volkswagen with Mark Miller winning his first special stage on a Dakar and Sainz taking the lead in the standings. In the truck category, Firdaus Kabirov breaks the winning streak of Chagin and gets his 30th stage victory in a Dakar.
In sport it is often said that success is something you can force. In the Antofagasta stage, it is a long and steady preparation, a whole biker’s life that has paid off for Francisco Lopez. Last year, he won the first stage in Chile that had taken the raid to Valparaiso. He was riding a 690cc KTM back then. This year “Chaleco” was hired by Aprilia to try the 450cc adventure. Riding his new machine, the Chilean had no problem finding the familiar feel of the bike. It was already on a small Honda bike that he had made his debut in the rally raid winning e.g. the world champion title in 2006. Even if he only discovered his new ride at the Pharaohs Rally, Lopez is now quite comfortable riding it all the more so that the tracks on today’s menu are the ones he trained on. With the experience acquired, he will now have to also confirm that he can get to the top of the standings… provided he finishes it for the first time in his life.
At any rate, podium prospects are getting closer for Lopez and for others because the road to Antofagasta was a real nightmare for the leaders. First, Marc Coma damaged his rear wheel then he lost half an hour before getting the wheel of Italian rider Luca Manca. This courteous – but hard to understand – gesture allowed the title holder to limit the damage but he is now 1h16’55’’ behind Despres, who spent his day with “Chaleco”. Their pace was also the pace of David Casteu, then second in the overall standings but then came km 395 where the Sherco rider fell pretty badly. The stage ended abruptly for him with a bad open wound in the thigh and a helicopter transfer back to the bivouac: it is the first time Casteu has to withdraw in seven Dakar participations."
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
https://www.dakar.com/us/DAKAR/2010/stage-7...ikes/stage.html KTM now holds four out of the 1st five place finish spots!
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Big-D
Well-known member
Goes to show you can't keep a good man down, or in this case, a determined group of racing enthusiast. I'm glad to see the Dakar (as it was called) has been relocated to South America.
And KTM, I wish I could afford another bike in my garage, the KTM would be my pick!
Perhaps when DonS does his historic birthday ride way south, it'll be referred to as "the Long Way Down II"
And KTM, I wish I could afford another bike in my garage, the KTM would be my pick!
Perhaps when DonS does his historic birthday ride way south, it'll be referred to as "the Long Way Down II"
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beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
https://www.dakar.com/us/DAKAR/2010/stage-1...ikes/stage.html 2 KTM's, 2 Yamaha's and an Aprilia in the top 5 at Dakar SA!
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charismaticmegafauna
Well-known member
Three 450cc bikes in the top 5 -- too...!
USA rider, Jonah Street -- Team Rally PanAm (KTM 690), is in the top-ten.
Any PNW folks, here, know him...?
rickcorwn
Well-known member
beemerdons
Certifiable Old Fart
rickcorwn: Aren't those pictures absolutely amazing? Picture #12, where they have dropped off the top of a 500' sand dune and are heading straight down to the bottom just blows my mind. Shame about those spectators getting killed/injured by the careening truck. I've attended the Baja 1000 and I'm baffled why the fans stand so close to the offroaders established track!
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Tenchi
Well-known member
One of the guys at work pointed out that #12 is rotated to make it look more crazy than it really is. But still, awesome photos.
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