Dakar Rally

[Rumpig]

Stage 1 cancelled... due to rain??? how soft are these blokes...

One of the main issues was medical related....the race really relies on the ability of medical staff being able to access the racers should they need help, and with the big storms that hit that area, helicopters were grounded well away from where the race was. They were also apparently concerned that the stage was going through mountainous areas, and in the slippery conditions someone could easily have gone over the edge.

[Bird]

Price dropped to 10th, now back up to second
http://www.mcnews.com.au/antoine-meo-wins-dakar-stage-seven/

[Rumpig]

I've been recording SBS coverage to watch it, I'm a day or 2 behind now, but did see Price was on the climb back up the rankings. Wish they'd show more of the actual race and loose the other crap they have on the half hour of coverage

[Bird]

Wish they'd show more of the actual race and loose the other crap they have on the half hour of coverage

Agree 100%

[Rumpig]

Sad to hear about that 60 something year old guy getting hit by one of the vehicles and dieing    Makes me wonder how those who were cleaned up on the first day are going also. Plenty of riders going down and out of the event with broken bones of late, it would be interesting to read the full list of injuries sustained by everyone at the end of the race i reckon.

[Bird]

Sad to hear about that 60 something year old guy getting hit by one of the vehicles and dieing    Makes me wonder how those who were cleaned up on the first day are going also. Plenty of riders going down and out of the event with broken bones of late, it would be interesting to read the full list of injuries sustained by everyone at the end of the race i reckon.

Reading on bloke I used to race withs website about it last year and how many went down after it started raining and turned to slime, while he towed his son to the finish line filling him in for a hunge klms or so LOL!


Then the heavens opened and half the people who’d come flying past us were laying upside down at the side of the track because they couldn’t ride mud. It was unreal and to be honest really, really funny.

But that quickly turned on us. As soon as Llel’s bike got wet it just died so we had quite a few Ks of towing through mud that you wouldn’t believe. Llel was awesome holding on to the tow. Basically a rally bike on desert tyres doesn’t grip too well in those conditions so you have to hook second gear and keep it pinned. I was just filling him in permantanly for kilometre after kilometre. The top layer of mud was so thick I have no idea how he held on. I would have given up long before!
http://www.simonpavey.com/history-boys-become-first-father-and-son-dakar-finishers/

[Rumpig]

Watching yesterdays footage they had some team where someone towed another guy on their bikes for the last couple of hundred klms of the day (230klms i think he said)...that would be a long day in the saddle for sure. I saw footage the other day of a truck hooking up to a single seater buggy to tow him...the truck took off before he could put his helmet on, was spraying him with dirt and rocks as he had no windshield in the thing, and dust so thick he couldn't see where he was going. This was in car footage from the buggy, scary Shit as the truck just put his pedal to the metal and he was pretty much trying to stay alive attached to the back of that thing 

[Bird]

50 degrees!!! **** that!

Toby Price is just two stages away from a historic Dakar Rally victory after extending his lead to more than 35 minutes in the overall motorcycle standings.

The Australian rider finished second on stage 11, just 18 seconds behind Frenchman Antoine Meo.

The strong ride in stifling heat allowed him to add a further 12 minutes to his overall margin over Stefan Svitko and he now leads the race by 35 minutes and 23 seconds.

"I can't smell victory yet, not yet," Price said.

"I won't smell victory until I cross the finishing line on the last day.

"We're another day closer, but for sure, it's been a hard one."

The 28-year-old from Singleton in NSW's Hunter region said he struggled to get airflow as the mercury soared in the last 50 to 80 kilometres.

"It's been hard on the bikes today. There's been a lot of hot weather," Price said.

"The bike is still going really well, there's no water leaking or anything.

"It still feels strong, so we're in a good spot."

With a commanding lead, Price said he would look to minimise risks as he hopes to cross the finish line in Rosario on Saturday as the first Australian to win the gruelling race in any category.

"We've made a bit of time on the overall second placed rider which is our main goal and hopefully the next two days we can take it a little bit easier," Price said.

Former race leader Paulo Goncalves crashed out of the rally after a fall early in the day.

Price, in his second Dakar, will now turn his attention to the 481-kilometre penultimate stage through semi-mountainous regions from San Juan to Villa Carlos Paz.

In the car division, Stephane Peterhansel leads by more than 50 minutes despite finishing fourth behind Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah on stage 11.


Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/motorsport/dakar-rally-2016-australian-toby-price-extends-lead-has-victory-in-sight-20160114-gm6cc1.html

[tk421]

Sad to hear about that 60 something year old guy getting hit by one of the vehicles and dieing    Makes me wonder how those who were cleaned up on the first day are going also. Plenty of riders going down and out of the event with broken bones of late, it would be interesting to read the full list of injuries sustained by everyone at the end of the race i reckon.

The bike riders get smashed.  A friend of mine did Dakar on a KTM:
2013 - Broken Leg
2014 - Dislocated Knee
2015 - Finished 32nd
2016 - Didn't enter, but is thinking about 2017

The level of support they get is amazing. They have a tracking device that if your bike stops moving for a set amount of time sets of an alarm with the organisers. They then phone you to see if you are ok. Each bike has an emergency button, bit like an EPIRB.   When he broke his leg, a fellow rider stopped and hit the button. They had a medical chopper and doctor at his crash site in under 4 minutes from the button being pressed.

[tk421]

Nice work from Toby Price to become the first Australian to win Dakar by a comfortable 39 minutes

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/01/17/00/03/toby-price-becomes-first-australian-to-win-the-dakar-rally

[raider]

Fantastic result. Probably won't get the accolades he deserves by our media though ( or else they will all jump on the bandwagon ). Just read that he is a 4 time Finke winner too and Marc Coma is his mentor. Imagine having that legend giving you tips.

[Foo]

Fantastic result. Probably won't get the accolades he deserves by our media though

I bet if he played up like a drunken halwit, he would! 

Foo

[Bird]

That time of year again..

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

[wakychapmans]

That time of year again..

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

thanks for the reminder... I always miss the first couple of days.

[Bird]

http://www.foxsports.com.au/motorsport/dakar-rally-2017-stage-1-defending-champion-toby-price-makes-solid-start-in-motorcycle-category/news-story/ad67de4307f555be29a4d7a6718feb24

MOTORCYCLE STANDINGS, STAGE 1

1. Xavier De Soultrait (Yamaha) 28m20s
2. Juan Pedrero (Sherco) +2s
3. Ricky Brabec (Honda) +14s
4. Michael Metge (Honda) +18s
5. Paulo Goncalves (Honda) +28s
6. Sam Sunderland (KTM) +29s
7. Joan Barreda (Honda) +32s
8. Matthias Walkner (KTM) +42s
9. Gerard Farres (KTM) +48s
10. Ivan Cervantes (KTM) +56s

THE AUSTRALIANS

17. Toby Price (KTM) +1m25s
20. Todd Smith (KTM) +2m18s
26. Rod Faggotter (Yamaha) +2m25s
64. Matt Hart (Husqvarna) +5m58s


CAR STANDINGS, STAGE 1

1. Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota)
2. Xavier Pons (Ford) +24s
3. Nani Roma (Toyota) +29s
4. Carlos Sainz (Peugeot) +33s
5. Giniel De Villiers (Toyota) +41s
6. Sebastien Loeb (Peugeot) +55s
7. Yazeed Al Rajhi (Mini) +1m06s
8. Cyril Despres (Peugeot) +1m14s
9. Mikko Hirvonen (Mini) +1m20s
10. Erik Van Loon (Toyota) +1m22s

[KingBilly]

Go Toby 

KB

[KingBilly]

[BIKES - STAGE 2] Defending champ' on his way to defend his trophy.

17th yesterday, Toby Price Racing was in full flight today and gets both the second stage win and a commanding lead in the #Dakar2017 bikes' rankings.

1- Toby Price 🇦🇺
2- Matthias Walkner 🇦🇹 (+3'22")
3- Paulo Gonçalves 🇵🇹 (+3'51)

[Bird]

Standings Dakar 2017 after 2 of 12 stages
1.PRICE, Toby – AUS – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team – 3:07’17
2.GONCALVES, Paulo – POR – Monster Energy Honda Team – +2’54
3.SUNDERLAND, Sam – GBR – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team – +3’23
4.DE SOULTRAIT, Xavier – FRA – Viltais Racing Team HFP – +3’41
5.QUINTANILLA, Pablo – CHI – Husqvarna Factory Rally Team – +4’26
6.BRABEC, Ricky – USA – Monster Energy Honda Team – +4’29
7.SVITKO, Stefan – SLO – Slovnaft Team – +4’45
8.BARREDA, Joan – SPA – Monster Energy Honda Team – +5’32
9.PEDRERO, Joan – SPA – Sherco TVS Rally Factory – +6’46
10.FARRES, Gerard – SPA – Himoinsa Team – +6’49
11.WALKNER, Matthias – AUT – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team – +2’39
12.VAN BEVEREN, Adrien – FRA – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team – +7’52
13.FAGGOTTER, Rodney – AUS – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team – +8’50
14.CERVANTES, Iván – SPA – Himoinsa Team – +10’09
15.BOTTURI, Alessandro – ITA – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team – +11’08

…
25. SMITH, Todd – AUS – KTM
59. HART, Mathew – AUS – All Hart Racing – Husqvarna



TOP 5 on Stage 2 — Resistencia to San Miguel de Tucuman
1. (309) Loeb/Elena (Peugeot) 2h06m55s
2. (301) Al-Attiyah/Baumel (Toyota) +1m23s
3. (304) Sainz/Cruz (Peugeot) +2m18s
4. (302) De Villiers/Von Zitzewitz (Toyota) +2m19s
5. (305) Roma/Haro Bravo (Toyota) +3m22s

OVERALL STANDINGS after Stage 2
1. (309) Loeb/Elena (Peugeot) 2h33m31s
2. (301) Al-Attiyah/Baumel (Toyota) +28s
3. (304) Sainz/Cruz (Peugeot) +1m56s
4. (302) De Villiers/Von Zitzewitz (Toyota) +2m05s
5. (305) Roma/Haro Bravo (Toyota) +2m56s
6. (306) Al Rajhi/Gottschalk (Mini) +5m12s
7. (300) Peterhansel/Cottret (Peugeot) +7m26s
8. (303) Hirvonen/Perin (Mini) +8m49s
9. (310) Van Loon/Rosegaar (Toyota) +9m36s
10. (318) Dumas/Guehennec (Peugeot) +9m58s


LOL


The buggies of Dutch brothers Tim and Tom Coronel were returned to the open class for Stage 2 after originally being made a late inclusion in the all-new UTV class.
The pair had dominated the first test, finishing 1-2 in their machines powered by 1350cc Suzuki Hayabusa engines - some 300cc above the UTV class limit originally nominated by the organisers.
Their pace on the opening test saw organisers then decide to return them to the car category in which they were originally entered for the remainder of the rally.

[Bird]

LOL
Video labeled "Action at the first day of #dakar2017"
https://twitter.com/TimCoronel

I reckon he'll be going a screen next year.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNi9e0N42XA

[raider]

Just watching some of Stage 2 interviews and Toby Price says of the heat - Not too bad just go faster to get a breeze then the pommie bloke says there were a lot of cows and pigs on the course. Gulp !

[Diver]

Sebastien Loeb has to be the best rally/offroad driver of all time.   

[Bird]

Results Stage 3 Dakar 2017
 Stage 3 results
1.BARREDA, Joan – SPA – Monster Energy Honda Team 4:23’41
2.SUNDERLAND, Sam – GBR – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team +12’29
3.RENET, Pierre-Alexandre – FRA – Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +15’30
4.QUINTANILLA, Pablo – CHI – Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +16’02
5.GONCALVES, Paulo – POR – Monster Energy Honda Team +16’20
6.VAN BEVEREN, Adrien – FRA – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team +19’40
7.CAIMI, Franco – ARG – Honda South America Rally Team +20’09
8.FARRES, Gerard – SPA – Himoinsa Team +20’43
9.PRICE, Toby – AUS – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team +21’51
10.BRABEC, Ricky – USA – Monster Energy Honda Team +24’16
11.WALKNER, Matthias – AUT – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team +25’40
12.SVITKO, Stefan – SLO – Slovnaft Team +26’41
13.METGE, Michael – FRA – Monster Energy Honda Team +27’26
14.DE SOULTRAIT, Xavier – FRA – Viltais Racing Team HFP +33’09
15.JAKES, Ivan – SLO – Jakes Dakar Team +33’39

….
18. FAGGOTTER, Rodney – AUS – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team – Yamaha
 40. SMITH, Todd – AUS – KTM
 43. HART, Mathew – AUS – All Hart Racing – Husqvarna


Overall standings after Stage 3
1.BARREDA, Joan – SPA – Monster Energy Honda Team 7:36’30
2.SUNDERLAND, Sam – GBR – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team +10’20
3.GONCALVES, Paulo – POR – Monster Energy Honda Team +13’42
4.QUINTANILLA, Pablo – CHI – Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +14’56
5.PRICE, Toby – AUS – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team +16’19
6.FARRES, Gerard – SPA – Himoinsa Team +22’00
7.VAN BEVEREN, Adrien – FRA – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team +23’07
8.RENET, Pierre-Alexandre – FRA – Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +23’07
9.BRABEC, Ricky – USA – Monster Energy Honda Team +23’13
10.SVITKO, Stefan – SLO – Slovnaft Team +25’54
11.WALKNER, Matthias – AUT – Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team +27’47
12.CAIMI, Franco – ARG – Honda South America Rally Team +28’30
13.DE SOULTRAIT, Xavier – FRA – Viltais Racing Team HFP +31’18
14.PEDRERO, Joan – SPA – Sherco TVS Rally Factory +35’10
15.METGE, Michael – FRA – Monster Energy Honda Team +38’22

[KingBilly]

This is a real shame. Hope Toby is OK

"THIS JUST IN: Toby Price Racing fell off his motorcycle, and is now with the medical team. The reigning champion is out of the race. #Dakar2017"

KB

[Dogsbreakfast]

This is a real shame. Hope Toby is OK

"THIS JUST IN: Toby Price Racing fell off his motorcycle, and is now with the medical team. The reigning champion is out of the race. #Dakar2017"

KB

Broke his leg, poor bugger.

Matt Hart - the aussie independant also had a stack hurting his shoulder, but completed the stage.

Still got a couple of aussies in there still

[Bird]

Reigning champion Toby Price is out of the Dakar Rally after suffering a broken leg in a motorcycle crash.

The Australian Red Bull racer fell off his motorcycle during the fourth stage and was airlifted to hospital before being diagnosed with a fractured left thigh bone.
The 29-year-old, who became the first Australian to win the two-week race in any category last year, headed into Thursday's (Friday AEDT) stage in fifth place overall.

Toby Price's father, John, said he is shattered by the news.
"He was doing really well," he said. "He had got himself to the front position and everything was sailing along nicely but unfortunately these things happen in the sport that he's in."

Mr Price said he spoke to Toby's manager earlier this morning about the extent of his injuries.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-01-06/defending-champ-toby-price-crashes-out-of-dakar/8165336

yea when your on the edge like that at those speeds... Shit happens really quick
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6tLFLhEp10