Dakar 2008

[Jenna]

for anyone interested we are now starting to get the Dakar press launches, first off the line was todays MMSP team.

although no great surprise the driver line up was given to the press:
Hiroshi Masuoka (Japan) / Pascal Maimon (France)
Stéphane Peterhansel (France) / Jean-Paul Cottret (France)
Luc Alphand (France) / Gilles Picard (France)
Joan 'Nani' Roma (Spain) / Lucas Cruz Senra (Spain)

The latest incarnation of the Pajero/Montero Evolution (MPR13) has stuck structurally close to the 2007 build but with refinements to the exhaust system, vehicle weight distribution and the addition of the latest ASO/FIA race requirements.

[Wee Jack]

I've just had a look at the pre scrutineered line up of bikes (245) and quads (20) , and it is interesting to note that of that total - 156 are KTMs, 54 Yamahas, 19 Hondas, 3 BMWs, 2 Aprilias, 1 Husky , 1 Suzuki and 1 Gas-Gas and the usual handfull of Bombardier, Polaris and Can-Am in the quad section.

I also noted some names there that are new on me ??

Any clues on "New Power" - 2 Chinese riders, is this a new make or is new power a team name ??

Also TOT Curses ? - 5 of them, - Team name ?

[Jenna]

short reply after the pile of crap PC crashed when i hit return in the long reply!!

.. no ideal about 'new power' as yet..
.. ToT is team based in north eastern Spain that has for many years been developing and prototyping 4x4s for Mitsubishi motorsport, back in 2006 along with crd and yammy developed a proto thumper that was ridden in the 2007 rally by Casanova

... great UK entry this year, i will post up later all the runners and riders from the UK along with their websites in the next day or two ( been up from 3.30am so not today!), please visit the guys sites as most rely on sponsorship and your support helps.

... lastly BIG cheer for the guys up at Derby in the Bowler off-road factory as this year they have managed to get a total vehicle entry of Bowlers up to 32.

[John]

... great UK entry this year, i will post up later all the runners and riders from the UK along with their websites in the next day or two ( been up from 3.30am so not today!), please visit the guys sites as most rely on sponsorship and your support helps.

Here you go:

The Scots:

www.scotlandtodakar.com
#169 MC KENZIE Calum KTM GBR
#196 WHITEFORD John KTM SCO
#167 SHANKIE Iain KTM SCO
#223 BUCHAN Neil KTM GBR
#222 BUCHAN Ewan KTM GBR

The other Brits:

www.mickextance.com
#41 EXTANCE Michael HONDA GBR

www.frontrowgb.com
#185 WATT Stanley KTM GBR
#186 STAMPER Jonathan KTM GBR

#173 COLLIS Simon KTM GBR
#201 TWEEDY Duncan KTM GBR
#202 WALTER Jonathan KTM GBR

www.kayesport.com
#234 KAYE Richard KTM GBR

The Irish:

www.teamdakarireland.com
#230 NOONE Phili KTM IRL
#231 ENNIS Gary KTM IRL

Think that's everyone!

[John]

Any clues on "New Power" - 2 Chinese riders, is this a new make or is new power a team name ??

Also TOT Curses ? - 5 of them, - Team name ?

I haven't heard any details about the Chinese team - would be interesting if they are running Chinese bikes though . . .

From last year's entry list it looks like the Tot Curses team runs Spanish-made Rieju bikes.

[Jenna]

yep thanks you got all the bikes, there more teams in the cars and trucks but probably not of interest in a bike forum.....

Few other points,
Robbie Allen although not competing is behind the 'Scotland to Dakar' team, likewise Dakar vet Patsy is is behind 'Front Row'....

Also it's worth mentioning allthough not listed as 'competitors' there are hundreds of Brits running in service trucks and chase this year, i will post up a few interviews with some later in the rally.

Mickextance.com is mainly last years site (Dakar 2007) for Mick but more up to date info can be found on his sponsor (and friends) site:Optima loans

I have asked Sharon (Extance)for any other sites Mick will be posting too but as yet non have been put forward, if that changes i will post it up.

Thankfully Eurosport (in conjunction with Yahoo UK) has again deiced to run its annual Dakar forum, for anyone that wishes to keep in touch with the latest info from the teams families and friends then this will be the place to go.


OK.. yesterday i got the Pressmail from KTM and the latest pressmail from ASO (The Dakar people)...

First up KTM, the team was leaked earlier in the year so no great surprise's there!.. as for other info well KTM’s rally boss Hans Trunkenpolz was keen to play down reports of some members being in benificial position making it very clear that every rider gets the same level of backing the team, he also said .."I believe we are gong into the rally season with the most KTM complete KTM team ever.” ... ooo fighting talk!

The offical team pic was also launched....


and i also found the latest livery for the new Kästle KTM - 690 Rally

[John]

Thankfully Eurosport (in conjunction with Yahoo UK) has again deiced to run its annual Dakar forum, for anyone that wishes to keep in touch with the latest info from the teams families and friends then this will be the place to go.

Another excellent place is the racing forum on ADVrider. It's a bit US focused, but should be information about the Brits there too.

They trialed "almost live" podcasting for the Baja 1000 a couple of weeks ago, which was great. There are plans to do it for the Dakar too, and it's open to any team riders or support crew. It would be great if some of the Brits use it too.

PS Jenna - did you get the PM I sent you (via Kymmy because your PM box is overflowing)?

[Jenna]

ok all the pre event press releases are now coming out so here goes....

KTM

Hans Trunkenpolz - KTM Rally Team Management is speaking
Interview with the Head of the Rally Department - Hans Trunkenpolz ...

Please tell us something about the teams for 2008
The KTM teams for the Dakar 2008 include winners from 2006 and 2007, the second-place getter from 2007 and three more top riders. We are therefore represented in the best possible way, not only in quantity but also in the quality of our riders, who have another Dakar victory firmly in their line of vision. Three of the six riders are presently working hard to heal the after effects of crash injuries so that they can be sure to be on the starting line in really top form. Marc Coma and Cyril Despres are the absolute favourites for the overall victory but there's no way that we are underestimating the top riders of the other brands who are continuously further developing their material. As a principle, I do not give any predictions about who might win the Dakar 2008, because unexpected things come along practically on a daily basis. They require that we take them into consideration and they create a whole new set of circumstances.

All riders are starting with the new 690 Rally, are there any technical changes / improvements when compared to last year?
In principle the 690 Rally remains the same. But we are able to continually make small modifications and improvements from the comprehensive testing that we carry out and as a result of the other rallies that we participate in.

Are there any changes in the regulations and if so, what effects might they have?
As well as the very needy and very strict control of the speed limits, there have been other measures to increase safety, like for example, a separate piste each for motorcycles and other vehicles in Morocco, which is very important. In the marathon sections that do not allow assistance, the factory riders must also ride at a controlled speed, because in the case of a crash they have to be able to get the bike going again without the help of a mechanic. Riders must factor this into their strategy.

How important is the area of customer care at KTM?
It is extremely important for KTM. The 690 Replica has been exclusively developed for our customers. Special prototypes are also used for the factory team. With the Replica, however, KTM chose to produce a machine that from its construction was identical with that of the factory bike. The sale of more than 200 Replicas in the first year of production is an indication of just how well the motorcycle has been accepted.

The Neck Brace System is being continuously further developed. How are riders getting along with it and what kinds of further developments have been made?
The Neck Brace System has been completely accepted by the riders, and after a short period of getting used to it, none of them feel that their movement has been restricted. Because of the sales success of the brace, the manufacturers has sufficient budget at their disposal to carry out intensive further development, and this is now being done.

NMSP...

The four cars which are due to spearhead the Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart Team’s 2008 Dakar bid successfully completed the special shakedown session which took place today at the squad's usual test venue in Marmagne, northwest of Macon, approximately 60km from its headquarters in Pont de Vaux, France.

All four crews braved the freezing weather to give their respective Pajero Montero Evolution MPR13s a final systems check before the vehicles are trucked to Lisbon, Portugal, in time for scrutineering and the official start of the African marathon which kicks off on January 5, 2008.

Luc Alphand/Gilles Picard (France), Hiroshi Masuoka/Pascal Maimon (Japan/France) and Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret (France) and Joan 'Nani' Roma/Lucas Cruz (Spain) all profited from the day to bed in a variety of mechanical parts and make a number of fine-tuning adjustments to their cars and seating positions round the maze of gravel tracks that make up the test base.

"Everything went perfectly smoothly," reported the team Technical Director, Thierry Viardot. "The intention of today’s run wasn't to work on the set-up of the cars. That was done some time ago as a function of the results of the different test sessions organised during the year. Our objective was essentially to ensure there were no problems following the cars' build. Certain drivers were happy to call it a day after a brief drive, others spent longer at the wheel, but the exact distance covered by each crew was up to them. When you're talking about an event that lasts several thousand kilometres, it really wasn't a difference of a few of kilometres one way or the other today that will make a big difference once the competitive action begins next month.

"The beauty of the test facilities we use is that they offer a wide variety of surface types and we are free to make any changes we wish if we want to reproduce certain conditions,"concluded Viardot. "Another advantage is the fact that the tracks never get muddy, even it rains. However, with temperatures ranging from -6°C to -3°C today, that wasn't a problem this time!"

The shakedown session took place just days after the crews had completed their final physical fitness course of the year together. After their hike le Tour du Mont Blanc in July and a week of outdoor activities in Catalonia, Spain in November, this month's programme took them to the Thalasso Centre in Douarnenez, in Brittany, France, for a week of running, cycling, swimming, sauna and thalasso-therapy.

"It's always nice to get together off events but this sort of work is a vital part of our build-up to the Dakar," explained Luc Alphand's co-driver and former biker Gilles Picard. "The programme wasn't quite as intensive as it was the two other two times, and the sauna and thalasso-therapy were quite relaxing. That said, it was still sufficiently taxing to ensure we slept soundly each night!"

The 16-day 2008 Dakar starts in Lisbon on Saturday, January 5, and is scheduled to finish by the Lac Rose, near Dakar, Senegal, on Sunday, January 20.

[Jenna]

VW.

The Volkswagen factory drivers Carlos Sainz (Spain) and Michel Périn (France) are starting to the Dakar Rally with lots of tailwind: Together, they won the title in the FIA Cross-Country World Cup in November, after clinching one victory and two second places.

Like their teammates Dieter Depping/Timo Gottschalk (Germany), Mark Miller/Ralph Pitchford (USA/South Africa) and Giniel de Villiers/Dirk von Zitzewitz (South Africa/Germany), Sainz and Périn are piloting one of four factory-fielded Volkswagen Race Touareg vehicles in the cross-country classic that will start in Lisbon on 5 January and will end in the Senegalese capital of Dakar on 20 January.

What does the title win in the 2007 FIA Cross-Country Rally World Cup mean to you personally?
Michel Périn: "For me, personally, this was a very nice and important exploit. The World Cup is an FIA Championship and, therefore, important. Even though this season encompassed only a few competition runs it was a successful one: We celebrated a victory at the Rally Transiberico. In Morocco we were running in front and only lost victory to our teammates Giniel de Villiers and Dirk von Zitzewitz on the final leg on account of a puncture. And the UAE Desert Challenge at the end of the season, we finished in a good, second place as well."
Carlos Sainz: "Of course, for every racer it’s great to be winning. However, for me, the World Cup title was also a good symbol that showed how well we and the whole Volkswagen team are prepared for the 2008 Dakar Rally, as our main focus throughout the season was naturally on preparing for the ‘Dakar‘."

What was the best moment of the 2007 season?
Carlos Sainz: "For me, clearly it was arriving at the finish of the UAE Desert Challenge. With extreme heat and deep sand, the conditions of this rally had been difficult for me. Nonetheless, as the runner-up, we achieved a superb result and secured the World Cup title.”
Michel Périn: "I felt very similar. Our strategy worked out in Dubai, we didn’t drive aggressively, instead tending to play it safe when we started to the rally. Although we got stuck on the last day we claimed second place there. The entire team did a good job. For me, arriving at the finish in Dubai has been one of the nicest experiences this year."

How would you describe the teamwork between yourselves?
Michel Périn: "I can only say it’s very good."
Carlos Sainz: "Michel and I have become more familiar with each other from one rally to the next. Ever since the Dakar Rally, where the two of us had the overall lead for four days, things have simply been going perfect. The rapport between us is very good and the teamwork between us couldn’t be any better."

How are you going to tackle the Dakar Rally?
Carlos Sainz: "We want to use the same strategy as in 2007. First, we’re going to start with our own rhythm. After arriving in Mauritania we’re going to assess where we stand compared to the competition and develop new tactics. I’m convinced we’re in for one of the toughest Dakar Rallies in years. The proportion of sand and dunes is extremely high, which – personally – doesn’t really suit me that well. Nevertheless, we’re going to try and win this rally with Volkswagen."
Michel Périn: "Our goal is for one of the Volkswagen Race Touareg vehicles to win the ‘Dakar‘. Of course it would be nice if, in the end, Carlos and I were the winners, but the success of the team is the most important thing. One of the toughest ‘Dakars’ in years is awaiting us, so it’ll be extremely important to make headway. On the long special stages in Mauritania there are numerous possibilities to get stuck or to lose time in other ways. Also, a number of legs, which are new to all drivers and co-drivers, have been included in the route. That’s why we need to focus on safety more than usual and do our best to lose as little time as possible.”

How do you assess your competitors?
Carlos Sainz: "As in previous years, Mitsubishi will be strong."
Michel Périn: "With Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Schlesser and BMW, there are as many as four strong teams this year. At the UAE Desert Challenge BMW in particular showed that they are a serious contender."

How is your personal preparation for the rally coming along?
Michel Périn: "In the past few days I participated in the navigation week during which all co-drivers from the Volkswagen team worked together closely. This means my preparations are almost finished. Up to Christmas I’ll be going through all my documents very closely and meticulously check everything."
Carlos Sainz: "I’m preparing myself physically for the rally with an intensive fitness training programme, but I’m mentally preparing for the upcoming rough weeks in the desert as well."

How are you going to spend Christmas and when will you be heading for Lisbon?
Carlos Sainz: "Like every year, I will be celebrating Christmas and New Year’s Eve with my wife and children and then travel to Lisbon."
Michel Périn: "I’ve got different plans. Together with my wife and our daughter, I’ll be spending Christmas at home in France. Like last year, we’ll be going to Lisbon as early as on 27 December to celebrate New Year’s Eve. This gives me the advantage of being very relaxed at the starting location and to prepare myself for the rally without the stress of packing and travelling; and to see how the whole team arrives, one after the other."

[jvaughan]

cancelled !!!!!!!!!!

Taken off Dakar website

A.S.O. cancels the 2008 edition of the Dakar rally

After different exchanges with the French government - in particular the Ministry for Foreign Affairs - , and based on their firm recommendations, the organisers of the Dakar have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally, scheduled from the 5th to the 20th of January between Lisbon and Senegal’s capital.
Based on the current international political tension and the murder of four French tourists last 24th of December linked to a branch of Al-Qaeda in Islamic Maghreb, but also and mainly the direct threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organisations, no other decision but the cancellation of the sporting event could be taken by A.S.O.
A.S.O.’s first responsibility is to guarantee the safety of all: that of the populations in the countries visited, of the amateur and professional competitors, of the technical assistance personnel, of the journalists, partners and rally collaborators. A.S.O. therefore reaffirms that the choice of security is not, has never been and will never be a subject of compromise at the heart of the Dakar rally.
A.S.O. condemns the terrorist menace that annihilates a year of hard work, engagement and passion for all the participants and the different actors of the world’s biggest off-road rally. Aware of the huge frustration, especially in Portugal, Morocco, Mauritania and Senegal, and beyond the general disappointment and the huge economical consequences in terms of direct and indirect repercussions for the countries visited, A.S.O. will continue to defend the major values of great sporting events and will carry on its engagement for a durable development through the Actions Dakar, started 5 years ago in sub-Saharan Africa with SOS Sahel International.
The Dakar is a symbol and nothing can destroy symbols. The cancellation of the 2008 edition does not endanger the future of the Dakar. To offer, for 2009 a new adventure to all the off-road rally passionate is a challenge that A.S.O. will take on in the months to come, faithful to its engagement and its passion for sports.