73 replies to this topic

[GBarclay]

Dakar 2014. No thread yet? with a week to go before the start

 

http://www.dakar.com/index_DAKus.html

 

From a US perspective, BJ Baldwin, the current Baja champ is entered in a Damen Jeffries buggy. 

 

Robby Gordon returns

 

http://www.robbygord...eak-peek-5.html

 

And we will all miss Kurt Caselli on his bike. RIP. 

 

Will also be watching Carlos Sainz, in his 3rd new buggy in as many years. Giniel DeVilliers returns in a Toyota Hilux built in South Africa. 

 

And of course the trucks, my favorite. 

 

Still looking for confirmation of the US tv broadcast schedule, but assume it will be on one of the Fox Sports Channels

 

good luck to all

[MadYarpen]

Yeah, I can't wait. Hopefully Hołowczyc has more luck so that he will be able to show some speed.  He is on the up, winning cross country cup, so fingers crossed for him. Wonder if we will have a total MINI domination or not.

[dweller23]

Looking forward to seeing battle between Coma and Despres after Marc's absence last year.

 

Quads - probably Patronelli domination again.

 

Cars - wow, Nasser in a Mini! This could mean that Peterhansel will have to have organisers help him to win this one (it's ok, he's above the law).

 

Trucks - rooting for Loprais' Tatra as always, but it probably will be De Rooy vs Kamaz teams.

 

Also: how about we take some bets on how will Robby Gordon screw up/get screwed by organisers this year?

Edited by dweller23, 27 December 2013 - 20:24.

[MadYarpen]

Cars - wow, Nasser in a Mini! This could mean that Peterhansel will have to have organisers help him to win this one (it's ok, he's above the law).

Hopefully he won't drive over anybody this year...

[OvDrone]

**** yes, Dakar!

 

I hope Despres and Peterhansel are going down after last year's unsporting shenanigans.

Al Attiyah and Coma bringing the hammer of justice down on their asses.

 

So my go to guys are:

 

Bikes: Coma, Lopez, Pain.

 

Quads: Don't know, I'll have to pay more attention to 'em, I guess.

 

Cars: Al Attiyah, Sainz, Holowczyk, Chicherit, Malysz.

 

Trucks: Kolomy's Tatra but I wouldn't mind the Ivecos winning it.

 

And to be honest, I'm liking the rally way more since their switch to South America. The route seems much more diverse and I f***ing love the Andes.

Edited by OvDrone, 27 December 2013 - 21:05.

[dweller23]

By the way, I believe year ago there wasn't much controversy (apart from "Peterhansel has stopped, so we cancel the stage"), Peterhansel drove into back of the motorcycle rider in 2012 and Despres was given 45 minutes for crashing into mud also in 2012.

[OvDrone]

That was in '12, I thought it was this year. Eh well that's why I didn't quite give a damn this year after Nasser's and Carlos's buggies went bust.

[jonpollak]

Oh god...
Get the Dramamine ready. ...
It's the Carlton Kirby inane commentary marathon.
Jp

[MadYarpen]

That was in '12, I thought it was this year. Eh well that's why I didn't quite give a damn this year after Nasser's and Carlos's buggies went bust.

 

I was sure the story with peterhansel hitting a rider was from 2013 edition... Let's hope there will be no such stories this year.

[loki]

US TV is NBCSN starting Mon Jan 6th, 5:00 pm eastern with the usual ASO half hour worldfeed recap.  Fox Latino is said to have quite a bit of spanish language coverage if you get that channel on your system.

[pingu666]

am looking forward to it

i suspect robbys new ride is a hummer chassis in new body work, but not sure...

 

but yeah the mini team had a shitfit in 2012? cos the hummers where faster, got aco/fia to "find something"  and that something was air inflation system which had been the same for 4-5 years, and passed tech each year. and was never followed up...

 

and peterhansel did rung over a biker too :\

[pingu666]

hmm comments that the hst has active rear wing , mclrean road car style, comes up like a airbrake

[Otaku]

http://www.youtube.c...h?v=x_0qC9mIys4

 

 

[loki]

am looking forward to it

i suspect robbys new ride is a hummer chassis in new body work, but not sure...

 

 

It's a ground up design though many fans call it the Hummer the car is called an HST.  Gordon is reporting there will also be a street legal version for sale to the public.  They worked on it down to the wire, it just left a couple of days ago.  New car, single car team and the unpredictable Ricky Bobby Gordon attitude  will mean he has his work cut out for him.  One thing he did that is cool is he brought a modified travel trailer for a team bunkhouse.

 

 

Edit:  pics not posting, see car and other pics at Planet Robby.

Edited by loki, 29 December 2013 - 19:29.

[GBarclay]

US TV is NBCSN starting Mon Jan 6th, 5:00 pm eastern with the usual ASO half hour worldfeed recap.  Fox Latino is said to have quite a bit of spanish language coverage if you get that channel on your system.

Thanks for the info Loki. 

 

I do get some of the Fox Latino stuff through DirecTV, will keep an eye open. 

 

And worldfeed on NBCSN is better than no coverage. 

[SonnyViceR]

No Carlton Kirby is also a plus.

[jonpollak]

No Carlton Kirby is also a plus.

and that's the truth...

Jp

Edited by jonpollak, 01 January 2014 - 13:29.

[Otaku]

Bump!! Yesterday we had the symbolic start, today the real thing starts.

 

10:30 GMT -3 they will be going flat out.

[noikeee]

Sousa is leading! Meaningless at this stage, but still. I didn't even know he still competed in this...

[dweller23]

Here we go, first stage, Robby Gordon already out of the contention. Just as I predicted.

[Myrvold]

Well, 2m10sec behind after 1 stage in Dakar, is far from over

[Snuggie]

Well, 2m10sec behind after 1 stage in Dakar, is far from over

He was 2m10s behind at the first intermediate.
 

 

 

Gordon trails leader Carlos Sousa of Portugal by 2 hours and 34 minutes overall

[MadYarpen]

and what happened? Engine issues?

[Gilles4Ever]

he was late to start the special, had lots of problems, major ones were overheating and losing his engine cover.

[Myrvold]

He was 2m10s behind at the first intermediate.
 

I thought I clicked on the finish O.o meeh. Blame it on the website!

[ChiliFan]

It's the Carlton Kirby inane commentary marathon.

 

Favourite quote so far: "They call him the matador - he's nobody's doormat: Carlos Sainz."

[Deluxx]

I love how USA coverage sucks.

 

30 minute show with 12 minutes of commercials.

 

Meh, at least NBC is showing it I guess.

[dgsg]

"at least NBC is showing it"

You expect more when there is no ball involved?

At least there is a decent announcer this year.

 

 

 

[whitewaterMkII]

The only way Rg will ever finish the Dakar is if the US Army sponsors and supports him in a M1A1 tank.

[Shiroo]

I love how USA coverage sucks.

 

30 minute show with 12 minutes of commercials.

 

Meh, at least NBC is showing it I guess.

 

You at least got the coverage at all   in Poland, you get like 5minute coverage after evening news.

[Rinehart]

OK I am no Dakar expert but Peterhansels tactic does appear to drive steadily and hope to have less issues than anyone else, rather than winning it through sheer pace. I understand his teammate Nasser was quicker but suffered from punctures and accidents.

 

Conclusion: He should try F1! 

[montoyasminion]

No Carlton Kirby is also a plus.

Holy crap I'd rather have Kirby than Sam Freakin Posey.  

 

The guys a legend and all, but he made Dakar seem like the most boring 30 minutes of tv I have ever watched.  It was nearly coma inducing to listen to him.  I had high hopes considering it was on NBCSN, unfortunately I'm going to have to do what I do every year... just download the eurosport coverage.

[dweller23]

Shocker, shocker, shocker! Splitting cars and bikes was a great idea - everyone has really tough time! I don't remember such a weird stage in South Africa - so many drivers got caught out and the biggest shocker - Patronelli's out!

 

I hope Faria is OK.

 

Edit: Holy crap, seems that Kirby didn't tell whole story about Patronelli. It appears that his quad fell down from a mountain (went over 0.5km down) and he barely jumped off before that happened! Not sure how much true is to that information, but shocking!

 

Edit 2: yahoo reports it: http://sports.yahoo....9f353705ab8-l:1

Edited by dweller23, 08 January 2014 - 00:31.

[GBarclay]

I love Sam Posey and his "editorial commentary" prior to the F1 events, but who thought he would make a good commentator for Dakar? I'd rather listen to Carlton Kirby. 

 

Minor improvement on Day 2 with Leigh Diffey shouting the commentary. Honestly, I think I would rather have same day coverage with CK than delayed coverage with "americanized" commentary. 

 

But still, some coverage is better than none. As an expat Saffer, glad to see the Imperial Toyota's running among the Mini's. 

[SonnyViceR]

Dunno about the NBCSN feed but whoever's doing the comms for SBS One (or if it's the world feed voice)... thank you!!! I mean he's nothing really special, just okay, but makes following Dakar so much more enjoyable than with Carlton god damn Kirby and his useless nonsensical interruptions. Which is strange considering Carlton only has a paper to read...

 

But now you can actually understand what's going on. Also the lack of those French interviews by Adelaide de Gouvion Saint Cyr is a plus

[Smile17]

Marc Coma is just brilliant! What a gap

[dweller23]

What a luck too! If it hasn't been for the shortened stage, Coma would be in huge trouble. I like him, but must admit that he's very lucky this year.

 

Roma is class of the field in cars right now, but every day in this years edition of Dakar had some major surprises, so I wouldn't say that he's got it in the bag. Sainz may still yet be a factor in this rally, before the start he said he was looking forward to second week rather than first and he's done pretty well (apart from today, obviously) so far.

 

What is shocking for me is that after only 5 stages attricion is already over 50%.

[Smile17]

What a luck too! If it hasn't been for the shortened stage, Coma would be in huge trouble. I like him, but must admit that he's very lucky this year.

 

Roma is class of the field in cars right now, but every day in this years edition of Dakar had some major surprises, so I wouldn't say that he's got it in the bag. Sainz may still yet be a factor in this rally, before the start he said he was looking forward to second week rather than first and he's done pretty well (apart from today, obviously) so far.

 

What is shocking for me is that after only 5 stages attricion is already over 50%.

 

Doubt it. Coma solved the problem with Viladom's help way before the end of the first section. More like the organisation feared the gap would become too great.

 

Agree with everything else you said. It has been a dramatic Dakar so far and everything can still happen. Hope to see Al-Attiyah close the gap. Really enyoing this year's coverage. 

 

Very sad to see Chile's favourite Lopez retire today. (bike too damaged.)

[August]

From Twitter:

 

BREAKING NEWS: Belgian rider Eric Palante has died at the Dakar Rally.

 

https://twitter.com/...687990037905408

 

RIP

[GBarclay]

From Twitter:

 

BREAKING NEWS: Belgian rider Eric Palante has died at the Dakar Rally.

 

https://twitter.com/...687990037905408

 

RIP

ughh. Hate reading these stories, though definitely one of the risks in this event. May I be fortunate enough one day to depart this planet doing something I love and so noteworthy. 

 

Thoughts and prayers to his family.

 

RIP Eric.

[Doughnut King]

Sad news. RIP Palente.

 

I seem to have written RIP too many times in the past year.

[g1n]

Is there anywhere online where one can follow Dakar video reports in English?

[Dolph]

Its sad to hear, but who wasn't expecting to hear about a death at the Dakar!?

[Risil]

Bad stage for Nani Roma, and Peterhansel's back in it.

 

 

Roma meanwhile finished more than eight minutes down the road after suffering two punctures on the stage.
[...]

Giniel de Villiers, third overall, was one of the few frontrunners to lose time to Roma, coming in two seconds behind the X-Raid driver.

 

Ouch for Roma!

[Youichi]

Lots of good photo's here :-

 

http://www.theatlant...r-rally/100662/

[MadYarpen]

Lots of good photo's here :-

 

http://www.theatlant...r-rally/100662/

 

Thanks ! I was waiting for this to appear.

 

 

Looks like there is everything possible both in cars and trucks (regarding the winner). Though I think Peterhansel will take it again.

[Risil]

Though I think Peterhansel will take it again.

 

Even if Peterhansel continues to close at this rate, Roma and Al-Attiyah may be close enough to push him hard till the final stages. Quite a few marathon events are foregone conclusions by around two-thirds distance (like the bikes here), but this one should keep me checking the live updates till the end.

[Amaroo Park]

Strange things can happen too lets not forget Ari Vataneens car being stolen from Parc Ferme in 88 or 89

[Risil]

Roma gets two minutes back from Peterhansel midway through Stage 11. We have a race!

Edited by Risil, 16 January 2014 - 14:17.

[GBarclay]

Sorry to see Carlos out. And I have to feel for Al-Alittiyah, who would be leading if not for that pesky 1hr penalty from last week. 

 

We certainly have a race going on in trucks and cars. Exciting stuff. De Villiers is out of contention unless those ahead of him experience a lot of trouble, not really likely. But we do have the dunes to contend with, so anything can happen in the last few days. 

 

The scenery the last few days has been spectacular