Dakar 2005

[Tony Eeds]

Gleened from various websites ... I'll post them as I find them.

eurosport.com

Dakar Robbery

Frenchman Denis Comte was forced to withdraw from the motorcycle section of the Dakar Rally on Saturday after his official documents, money and credit cards were stolen from a service van in Barcelona.

With the KTM rider dropping out, 229 motorbikes completed the untimed liaison stage from Barcelona to Granada, a journey of 920 kilometres.

The rally continues on Sunday with the third stage, a 10-km special in military terrain near Granada, before competitors make their way to Algeciras in southern Spain for their boat crossing to Tangiers, Morocco.

Debutant Robby Gordon, who became the first American driver to win a Dakar Rally stage in a car on Friday's opening day, heads the drivers' standings in his Volkswagen by two seconds from Japanese Mitsubishi driver Hiroshi Masuoka.

The 2005 rally covers 8,956 kms and 16 stages through Spain, Morocco, Mauritania and Mali before finishing in Dakar on January 16.

Flash Gordon rocks Dakar

Robby Gordon, making his Dakar debut, has shocked the Dakar fraternity by becoming the first American to win a stage on Friday. The Volkswagen driver, who has raced in CART, IRL and currently competes in NASCAR, set the fastest time on Friday's 6km stage around the beaches of Barcelona.

DAKAR 2005: Champions ready

Meanwhile, in the moto category it was Frenchman David Fretigne who proved once again that his two-wheel drive 450cc Yamaha is second to none over short distances by winning the 6km stage by eight seconds from favourite Cyril Despres with Dutchman Eric Verhoef third.

Italian Fabrizio Meoni was seventh quickest, 30 seconds shy of the early leader, with Isidre Esteve Pujol eleventh, Marc Coma twelfth and Jean Brucy already 1min 24secs off the pace in 39th.

South African Alfie Cox has had a terrible start to his Dakar, injuring his shoulder in a fall, while Italian Giovanni Sala has virtually lost all hope of victory after losing eight minutes due to a technical problem with his KTM machine.

Gordon springs the Surprise

However, the story of the day is without doubt the debut stage victory for Robby Gordon. The American powered his Volkswagen Touareg to a famous victory, beating the Mitsubishi Pajero of Hiroshi Masuoka into second by two seconds with the Nissan Pickup of Ginial De Villiers a further second adrift in third.

Robby Gordon is a household name in the United States following a hugely successful and diverse career to date. The Californian began his competition in the national SCORE/HDRA off-road series, winning the title twice before switching to circuit racing, winning the GTO class at both the Daytona 24 Hours and the Sebring 12 Hours.

In 1993 he then won the GTS class at Daytona whilst competing in the CART championship and making his debut in the Indy 500. Two seasons in the IRL and CART followed before Gordon switched to NASCAR racing whilst still competing in the Indy 500, mixing both the famous Brickyard race with the key NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 on the same day.

Team-mates Bruno Saby and Jutta Kleinschmidt made it a highly positive start for Volkswagen in fourth and sixth respectively, serperated only by the Mitsubishi Pajero of Luc Alphand. Nissan's Ari Vatanen and Colin McRae were seventh and eighth, just ahead of defending champion Stephane Peterhansel.

There will be be no timed section tomorrow as the competitors quit Barcelona before heading South on a gruelling 920km liaison to Granada, Spain.

Results - Stage 3
Granada - Rabat (Moto) Time Diff
1. D.FRETIGNE — YAMAHA MOTOR FRANCE – GAULOISE – 00:07:57
2. A.COX GAULOISES — KTM – 00:07:59 +00:00:02
3. C.DESPRES — GAULOISES KTM – 00:08:00 +00:00:03
4. J.DURAN — KTM REPSOL - RED BULL – 00:08:06 +00:00:09
5. M.COMA — KTM REPSOL - RED BULL – 00:08:07 +00:00:10
6. A.CALDECOTT — KTM TEAM AUSTRALIA 00:08:08 +00:00:11
7. C.DE GAVARDO — DE GAVARDO – 00:08:11 +00:00:14
8. C.GORRARA — JURA DAKAR TEAM – 00:08:16 +00:00:19
9. K.WALCH — RED BULL USA KTM – 00:08:17 +00:00:20
10. F.MEONI — GAULOISES KTM – 00:08:17 +00:00:20
11. L.CHARBONNEL — CHARBONNEL MOTOS – 00:08:20 +00:00:23
12. D.CASTEU — ANABAS SECURITE OFFROAD – 00:08:21 +00:00:24
13. I.ESTEVE PUJOL — KTM REPSOL - RED BULL – 00:08:22 +00:00:25
14. S.HARDEN — RED BULL USA KTM – 00:08:23 +00:00:26
15. C.BLAIS — RED BULL USA KTM – 00:08:24 +00:00:27
16. J.VINTERS — SAF MOTO-TEAM RIGA – 00:08:25 +00:00:28
17. P.ULLEVALSETER — SCANDINAVIA – 00:08:25 +00:00:28
18. J.BRUCY — GAULOISES KTM – 00:08:26 +00:00:29
19. M.DABROWSKI — ORLEN TEAM – 00:08:26 +00:00:29
20. J.GONZALEZ — XXX – 00:08:33 +00:00:36

 

[Tony Eeds]

from KTMUSA

DAKAR 2005: 3RD STAGE GRANADA – RABAT

02.01.2005

2:30 p.m.
Drawing a deep breath after the short special

Whoever stood close enough to Alfie Cox in the finish was able to feel how much this was a load off his mind. Everything went well for the South-African today. Not only because he came in second but above all because his injured right shoulder didn’t cause any problems. “I am so happy and relieved that all goes on for me” said Alfie after finishing the special. “Just before the start I was pretty nervous after all. I didn’t know whether I could step on the gas without constantly feeling the pain. But the shoulder didn’t bother me. I am truly more than relieved.” Only Yamaha-pilot David Fretigne was faster than Alfie Cox on his KTM 660 Rally today. Cyril Despres ranked just behind them on 3rd place. Thus, the Frenchman was able to defend his second place in the overall standing.

All in all, did all KTM- factory pilots manage the 10 km of the special pretty well, which were not completely new to the rally pilots. A ranking on the military base nearby Granada had already taken place in 1999. Certainly under quite different conditions. “Then we rode in deep mud”, said Jean Brucy. “Today there was a lot of dust we had to cope with. But I feel more comfortable with that.”

Scott Harden, the “old-timer” within the team KTM Red Bull USA, was satisfied as well. Not only is he going on his second Dakar but he is also team manager for the two youngsters Chris Blais and Kellon Walch. “It was important to me that my boys would not be within the top today. They like to step on the gas but that wouldn’t have been good tactics today. For the first stage in Africa tomorrow, it is better if Chris and Kellon drive in the tracks of the others. They still have to learn a lot.” Kellon, by the way, has his 22nd birthday today. Happy Birthday!

With sunshine and high temperature did Europe say good-bye to the rally followers. From tonight on the hearts of the rally pilots will swell on. Because whoever wants to get involved into the adventure of the Dakar, dreams of stages in Africa, of dunes, ergs, stony tracks and camel grass. With a ferry they get from the Spanish city of Granada to the Moroccan city of Tangier. The divers and their bikes will still have to go on 557 km from there. The bivouac is set up on the outskirts of the Moroccan capitol Rabat, which is stage base of the Dakar for the fourth time.

Encompassing 123 km, the fourth stage tomorrow is not very long but is asking for the driver’s navigation skills. Stage destination is Agadir in the south of Morocco.

12:40 p.m.
With a very short test does the Dakar take its farewell of Europe. The special on a military base nearby Granada had a length of only 10 km but was really demanding and did not only offer a lot of fun to the spectators. The pilots were also able to indulge their vice, meaning to really speed up their bikes. It was an exceptionally fast race which the Frenchman David Fretigne managed to win again. He finished the 10 km on his Yamaha in 7´57 minutes. Only 2 seconds later did Alfie Cox, team KTM Gauloises, cross the finish line. This is a good sign which shows that Alfie’s injured shoulder obviously doesn’t bother him that much. Cyril Despres, team KTM Gauloises, made it on the third place only 3 seconds behind Fretigne.

Further rakings of KTM – factory pilots:
#4 Jordi Duran (team KTM Repsol-Red Bull) +0´09
#5 Marc Coma (team KTM Repsol-Red Bull) +0´10
#6 Andy Caldecott (team KTM Motorex Australia) +0´11
#7 Carlo de Gavardo (team KTM de Gavardo) +0´14
#9 Fabrizio Meoni (team KTM Gauloises) +0´20
#10 Kellon Walch (team KTM Red Bull USA) +0´20
#13 Isidre Esteve Pujol (team KTM Repsol-Red Bull) +0´25
#14 Scott Harden (team KTM Red Bull USA) +0´26
#15 Chris Blais (team KTM Red Bull USA) +0´27
#18 Jean Brucy (team KTM Gauloises) +0´29
#25 Giovanni Sala (team KTM Repsol-Red Bull) +0´39
#49 David Schwarz (team KTM Motorex Australia) +1´00

A quite exciting moment is ahead of the drivers: They are going to reach Africa.
Exciting, because most of the drivers see the European stages as a kind of a warm-up.
Not before Africa, the Dakar really seems to start. The first section on the black continent is also truly something to get used to. Going out of the harbor of Tangier, a highway runs to Rabat, the Moroccan capitol where the followers of the rally will set up their bivouac.
The drivers still have a total of 557 km ahead of them.

 

[Tony Eeds]

Dakar.com - the official site

the link to official newsletters.

I'm not going to go through and post parts of them as I don't want the French mad at us here in the USA :p

 

[Tony Eeds]

more from eurosport.com

Exit Europe, enter Africa

The 2005 Dakar starts today! After two short Spanish stages the competitors will face their first real difficulties - Monday's 123km stage will offer a variety of technical obstacles over rugged terrain. The motorbike Special has been cancelled due to dense fog, but it's all go for the cars/trucks!

McRae ready for Africa

The tight nature of the tracks will make overtaking arduous, meaning that the leaders could well head into southern Morocco with their leads intact.

The present leader of the Car competition is none other than Colin McRae of Scotland in his new Nissan, who leads the rally for the first time in his career.

A long 421km liaison will take the competitors to Agadir.

Eurosport will become the first broadcaster to offer live coverage during the stage as we send two Nissan Pickups on the entire Dakar. Monday's two LIVE shows are at 11:45 and 17:00 CET - Don't miss it!

Gordon surges, McRae fades

Three days after becoming the first American to win a stage on the Dakar, Robby Gordon won the first African stage between the Moroccan capital Rabat and Agadir. He takes the overall lead with four Volkswagens in the top six as overnight leader Colin Mcrae (Nissan) finished eleventh.

DAKAR 2005: Vatanen seeks more wins

The Scot now lies tenth overall, 3'46" behind Gordon who wins the stage from reigning Dakar champion Stéphane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi) and who now lies second 59 seconds back overall.

BIKES CANCELLED

Earlier, mist forced organisers called off the Special for the motorbikes as overall leader David Frétigné (Yamaha) rode in a convoy with his rivals to the bivouac.

Results - Stage 4
Granada - Rabat (Moto) Time Diff
1. D.FRETIGNE — YAMAHA MOTOR FRANCE - GAULOISE – 00:07:57
2. A.COX — GAULOISES KTM – 00:07:59 +00:00:02
3. C.DESPRES — GAULOISES KTM – 00:08:00 +00:00:03
4. J.DURAN — KTM REPSOL - RED BULL – 00:08:06 +00:00:09
5. M.COMA — KTM REPSOL - RED BULL – 00:08:07 +00:00:10
6. A.CALDECOTT — KTM TEAM AUSTRALIA – 00:08:08 +00:00:11
7. C.DE GAVARDO — DE GAVARDO – 00:08:11 +00:00:14
8. C.GORRARA — JURA DAKAR TEAM – 00:08:16 +00:00:19
9. K.WALCH — RED BULL USA KTM – 00:08:17 +00:00:20
10. F.MEONI — GAULOISES KTM – 00:08:17 +00:00:20
11. L.CHARBONNEL — CHARBONNEL MOTOS – 00:08:20 +00:00:23
12. D.CASTEU — ANABAS SECURITE OFFROAD – 00:08:21 +00:00:24
13. I.ESTEVE PUJOL — KTM REPSOL - RED BULL – 00:08:22 +00:00:25
14. S.HARDEN — RED BULL USA KTM – 00:08:23 +00:00:26
15. C.BLAIS — RED BULL USA KTM – 00:08:24 +00:00:27
16. J.VINTERS — SAF MOTO-TEAM RIGA – 00:08:25 +00:00:28
17. P.ULLEVALSETER — SCANDINAVIA – 00:08:25 +00:00:28
18. J.BRUCY — GAULOISES KTM – 00:08:26 +00:00:29
19. M.DABROWSKI — ORLEN TEAM – 00:08:26 +00:00:29
20. J.GONZALEZ — XXX – 00:08:33 +00:00:36

 

[Tony Eeds]

more from ktmusa.com

DAKAR 2005: 4TH STAGE RABAT – AGADIR
03.01.2005

2:10 p.m.
Where in the world are they driving? This was the question of today because nothing was to be seen of the pilots on their two wheels. Africa in fog! Although, the drivers were heading towards Agadir, the special was cancelled by the organizers. The reasons: The helicopters of the stewards were incapable of taking off. The safety of the drivers was therefore not guaranteed anymore. Additionally, the A.S.O. claimed that the stage would not be proceeded under legitimate conditions. That is why the drivers were asked to not speed along the course. After the first checkpoint, the drivers left the race track and are currently riding the 500 km to Agadir on asphalt.

So, there is not going to be a fight for the lead within KTM- factory pilots today. But the KTM assistance team will have to fight a hard battle. Many private KTM pilots have had problems with the batteries of their bikes since the beginning of the rally. The defects are all of different natures but are mostly concerning the 450 bikes. The technicians haven’t found the cause for the damage of battery after battery. However, KTM is working feverish in order to provide the service the private drivers are used to. “It means a lot to us to solve this problem as quickly as possible.”, promises KTM team manager Hans Trunkenpolz. “Yesterday, the attempt to send one of our electronics engineers from Mattighofen to Rabat failed. He was delayed at the airport in Munich because his tools and some spare parts didn’t make it through the security check. Meanwhile, the man is on his way to Agadir. Additionally, there is a plane with new batteries and regulators on its way there. The factory teams also provide the amateurs with their equipment until the problem is solved.” Thus, there will be a lot of work in the bivouac in Agadir tonight.

Last but not least, some good news: The American Dakar newcomer Chris Blais, team KTM Red Bull USA, celebrates his 24th birthday today. Happy Birthday!

Hopefully, the motorcyclists will have a clear view again tomorrow. The first long special is up next. 381 km will be judged on the way from Agadir to Smara. The course is initially hard and fast but will then be very stony and in the second section be quite winding. The second part is completely new and ends in a tried out river valley. Thus, the old hands will have little chance to bring to bear their experience. An exciting day if the weather gods are in favour of the rally.

 

[Tony Eeds]

Team Desert Rose

from EnduroUK.com

Hi Team Desert Rose Supporters,

2/1/05
The day started well with a sort 10km special around the outskirts of an airfield. But problems with Patsy?s bike battery plagued the day. Losing all power several times during the day and needing a jump start. Patsy was n?t the
only one. Many of the KTM bikes were having the same problem which seemed to point to the new safety device introduced for the bikes this year. The Sentinel system allows cars and trucks coming up behind a bike to set
off a signal on the bike to tell the rider they are there and are about to pass. But it seems to interfering with the voltage regulation and causing a lot of worry among the riders affected.

Patsy?s bike ran OK once jump started but she had to ride with no lights after debarking from the ferry in the port of Tangers after crossing from Spain to Morocco. Eventually ending up at the over night camp at the airport in Rabat at 11pm.

1543km down 7496 to go.

Best regards Andrew Bartlett
[email protected]
http://endurouk.com
http://www.teamdesertrose.com

 

[Tony Eeds]

from eurosport.com

Dakar gets serious

The Dakar caravan heads deeper into Morocco today (Tuesday) for what is the longest stage of the event so far at 381km. The competitors will be faced with a series of tracks meandering their way through the mid-Moroccan mountains, making it possible to make up time.

Overall Standings - Moto Time Diff
1. D. FRETIGNE — YAMAHA MOTOR FRANCE - GAULOISE – 00:12:08
2. C. DESPRES — GAULOISES KTM – 00:12:19 + 00:00:11
3. K. WALCH — RED BULL USA KTM – 00:12:55 + 00:00:47
4. F. MEONI — GAULOISES KTM – 00:12:58 + 00:00:50
5. E. VERHOEF — CLUB DAKAR.COM – 00:12:59 + 00:00:51
6. M. COMA — KTM REPSOL - RED BULL – 00:13:01 + 00:00:53
7. J. DURAN — KTM REPSOL - RED BULL – 00:13:02 + 00:00:54
8. J. VINTERS — SAF MOTO-TEAM RIGA – 00:13:04 + 00:00:56
9. P. ULLEVALSETER — SCANDINAVIA – 00:13:14 + 00:01:06
10. I. ESTEVE — PUJOL KTM REPSOL - RED BULL – 00:13:16 + 00:01:08
11. L. CHARBONNEL — CHARBONNEL MOTOS – 00:13:19 + 00:01:11
12. M. DABROWSKI — ORLEN TEAM – 00:13:28 + 00:01:20
13. E. CROQUELOIS — EUROMASTER – 00:13:30 + 00:01:22
14. A. BROUWER — DUTCH ORANGE TEAM – 00:13:32 + 00:01:24
15. F. VERHOEVEN — MD-TRUCKS – 00:13:35 + 00:01:27
16. P. COTTET — YAMAHA SEPPEY – 00:13:37 + 00:01:29
17. M. GRAZIANI — IL TEAM ASS SPORTIVA – 00:13:38 + 00:01:30
18. R. VAN PELT — XXX – 00:13:39 + 00:01:31
19. J. GONZALEZ — XXX – 00:13:45 + 00:01:37
20. A. CALDECOTT — KTM TEAM AUSTRALIA – 00:13:47 + 00:01:39

 

[Tony Eeds]

Check out Team Desert Rose. Patsy is the only female Brit running the Dakar this year.

 

[Tony Eeds]

from EnduroUK

January 03, 2005
Rally Dakar 2005: Si Pavey and Nick Plumb http://www.worldofbmw.com latest 03.Jan.05
Safety first on day four of the Dakar
Today's first African stage of the 2005 Telefonica Dakar Rally ended up as a disappointing procession for Team Dome BMW and all of the other motorcycle competitors as the 123 km special that Simon Pavey and Nick Plumb had been looking forward to was cancelled due to safety reasons when heavy fog descended on the Rabat area in Morocco.

Although competitors had been blessed with beautiful sunny conditions for the first few days of the rally on Spanish soil, the freezing African fog made it impossible for the medical helicopters to take off in the early hours and, consequently, for the bikers to compete in safety.

With visibility reduced to a minimum, all the motorcycle competitors were asked to proceed with caution to CP 1 (some 63 kilometres away) before taking the tarmac road all the way to their destination in Agadir. This allowed Team Dome BMW’s two F650 GS riders to get to the rally bivouac in safety and prepare mentally and physically for tomorrow’s gruelling 381 km special stage.

“Initially I was disappointed that today’s special was cancelled due to the poor conditions,” said Team Dome BMW’s Simon Pavey. “However, as it turned out, it was good to actually get this stage out of the way without any aggravation. Despite still having to spend 10 hours in the saddle, we’re here safely, have already finished working on the bikes, and have even had a hot meal and a shower. That can’t be bad, especially with a 5.30am start tomorrow morning!”

This was a view that was shared by his teammate, Nick Plumb, who will start tomorrow’s stage from Agadir to Smara a quarter of an hour after Pavey. “I’m looking forward to attacking tomorrow’s special stage, as it will be the first decent special we have encountered. It’s a typical early Moroccan stage and we’ll have to be on guard, as it will be bumpy and full of hidden traps for the unwary. It’s the kind of stage where it would be easy to go out of the rally with an injury or machine damage, so we’re just looking to stay out of trouble and enjoy the challenge of riding in Africa again.”

Posted by andrew at January 3, 2005 11:16 PM

 

[BunduBasher]

Tragic Day at Dakar

http://www.dakar.com/2005/us/index.html

http://www.motoring.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=2369877

The 2005 Dakar was the scene of another very sad day with the death of Fabrizio Meoni, a day after Spanish biker Jose-Manuel Perez passed away in an Alicante hospital after crashing during stage 7.

:ugg: RIP Fabrizio - he was one of the greatest !

 

[JPIVEY]

Due to this tragic incident the KTM management explicitly urges all KTM teams and factory riders to break off the Dakar Rally. KTM is however leaving it up to the individual drivers, teams and their sponsors to decide whether or not to continue the Rally.

Since KTM lost two of its best rally pilots, Fabrizio Meoni and Richard Saincts, in fatal accidents within a period of only a few months, the manufacturer will be contemplating its future support for the rally sport.