2018 Africa Eco Race Stage Reports

 12TH STAGE IN SENEGAL: SAINT LOUIS / DAKAR: 230 KM
THE LAC ROSE WELCOMES ITS HEROES

Last day for all participants of the 10th edition of the Africa Eco Race to honor all those who managed to reach Dakar after more than 6000 kilometers. The Lac Rose welcomed these heroes who have all been able to parade on the podium in front of the public.

One last session

All participants had to leave the bivouac in the early morning even before sunrise to join the start of a final fling. After 230 kilometers of liaison, it is on the beach on the shores of Lac Rose that they started for 22 kilometers. A final boost to celebrate the end of the competition before taking the podium to end this 10th Africa Eco Race. Reward for some, deliverance for others, this last day was celebrated in the middle of a crowd where locals and the entourage of some competitors came to enjoy the show.



Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin (FRA-BEL / MCM) opened the show by crossing the finish line ahead of all the cars to blow the dust one last time by slipping 360 degrees in front of the public. A final battle with Dimitri Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS / MINI) on the beach before enjoying their final victory.

The big winners of this edition were congratulated by the number one motorbike rider, Paolo Ceci (ITA / KTM) while Gerard De Rooy (NL / IVECO), winner on truck category, congratulated Tomas Tomecek (CZE / TATRA) for his 2nd place.

Smiles and champagne

Everyone had a smile, happy to be reunited one last time to celebrate their adventure.
The traditional parade on the podium allowed the drivers to pay tribute to their staff by getting them up for a photo shoot and a champagne shower.

A little further, the spectators could approach the vehicles queuing, some children have even been able to get inside some cars for a photo.



Jean-Louis Schlesser and René Metge also had a big smile on their faces, delighted that this new race went so well. Jean-Louis was even already focused on the next edition: "we already have registrants, and seeing the joy of the Dutch this year, it should grow fast."

As much on the side of the organization as competitors, the slogan was the same despite fatigue: "Heading for next year! ».

Tomecek a real hero
This one deserves to become a legend. Tomas Tomecek (CZE / TATRA) has achieved a feat by reaching Dakar alone in his truck from Monaco. More than 6,000 kilometers later, the triple winner of the event manages to finish his 8th Africa Eco Race in 9th place. He braved the dunes, came out of complicated situations without help and took up the crazy bet that he embarked on to spice up his race. He finished 2nd in the trucks behind Gérard De Rooy (NL / IVECO). "I'm happy like a child, it's a dream come true," he said just behind the podium at Lac Rose.

SSV in the spotlight
Jean-Hugues Moneyron and Thierry Maury (SEN-FRA / CF MOTO) will have reached the end of their goal. This crew of Team Dakar dreamed of joining their city in Senegal by overcoming the race with their SSV. And yet mechanical problems at the end of the first week had complicated things but the motivation and determination of the team composed of two other crews led them safely. They finish 15th in the event and were received as heroes in the country.

Special mention to Jean-Claude Ruffier and Jérome Bos (FRA / CAN AM) who take 26th place with the oldest driver of the event. At 78, he finishes his first rally-raid... it's never too late!



Blackburn, first of the "malle-motos", Rafferty best veteran
They were nine to embark on the adventure in "malle-motos". These riders who receive no assistance but just a trunk transported by the organization are often those who sleep the least on the bivouac. Thus they find every night the minimum necessary to reach Dakar and are left to themselves to take care of their mechanics. Among them, Jonathan Blackburn (GBR / KTM) achieves the best performance by taking the 5th place. This morning he was relieved to finish and was especially eager to recover with a good night's sleep.
Nathan Rafferty (USA / KTM) finished just behind but won the title in the veteran category.

Team Ullevalseter, youth and experience
This team still has a bright future. Pal Anders Ullevalseter (NOR / KTM) is already experienced at the age of 49 and with two victories in the Africa Eco Race, even if he intends to return to wipe his failure this year, the Norwegian has decided to talk youth. As a national coach, he has selected two young drivers to join him on the adventure of the African desert. Felix Jensen and Marius Helmersen are 26 years old and have participated for the first time in their young career in a full-scale rally. The Norwegian succession is ensured with the nice 4th place of Felix in the overall classification. A performance all the more remarkable since he had an eye surgery to treat his vision problems and took a year to recover. The three team-mates are now looking forward to coming back next year to let their experience talk.

T2 podium
In the classic 4x4 it is Poland that has the best ride on the 4006 km leg. Robert Szustkowski and Albert Gryszczuk (POL / FORD) of the R-Sixteam team were the fastest and won the trophy in their category and finished 29th in the competition. Gérard Van Lieshout and Guido Slaats (NL / TOYOTA) are 2nd in the category ahead of Loïc Frebourg and Franck Boulay (FRA / TOYOTA) who complete the podium

Overall:

Car:

1. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA)
2. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS)
3. Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque n°206 (FRA)

Bike:

1. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA)
2. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR)
3. Rui Oliveira n°115 (POR)

Truck:

1. Gerard De Rooy / Darek Rodewald / Moi Torrellardona n°400 (NDL)
2. Tomas Tomecek n°401 (CZE)
3. Johannes Van De Laar / Ben Van De Laar / Adolphus Huijgens n°406 (NDL)

Watch the Stage 12 video recap here!

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11TH STAGE IN MAURITANIA : AKJOUJT / SAINT LOUIS : 558 KM
GLORIOUS MATHIEU SERRADORI (FRA/MCM), SIMONE AGAZZI (ITA/HONDA) FOR THE HONOR

The last stage of the 10th edition of the Africa Eco Race was here to confirm the winners of the competition. On a fast track of 219 kilometers, all participants could enjoy the last leg with no pressure and putted an end to their efforts over the last 15 days.

What happiness
With a last start on the bivouac this morning, the caravan of the Africa Eco Race could look at the start at sunrise. In a pretty relaxed atmosphere knowing that the podiums were already known, the competitors were especially relieved to leave the biggest dunes behind them. They all desired to finish well and have fun one last time before celebrating the end of a rally particularly intense this year with their teams who came at the finish line.



Serradori and Lurquin relieved, Italy honored
There was a lot of emotion for the Serradori Racing Team as the two heroes of this Africa Eco Race emerged from buggy number 202. After an intense battle for nearly ten days alongside last year's winner, Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin (FRA-BEL / MCM) win the most beautiful victory of their career. The Franco-Belgian crew was very moved to share this moment with their team on arrival, we even saw a few tears in the eyes of Fabian, so proud to achieve such results after many years of effort and hard work. They finish second of the day's leg, regardless of the time, the main thing was to get to the end.

It's the buggy of Guillaume Gomez and François Borsotto (FRA / OPTIMUS) that makes the scratch today, a last important victory to finish the race after suffering during the first three days due to mechanical problems. Disappointed for not being able to fight for the podium, they were feeling better after this second Mauritanian week.



Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS / MINI) did not manage to win the race two years in a row. The Russian crew finished second overall and suffered a lot from the Mauritanian sand that cost them a lot this week.

Pascal Thomasse and Pascal Larroque (FRA / OPTIMUS) offer themselves a final podium before officially climbing on the 3rd step at Lac Rose tomorrow.

Despite all his efforts to catch the podium, Gerard De Rooy (NL / IVECO) signed a very good 4th place overall for his first participation and finished at the top of the trucks, about thirty minutes behind Pascal Thomasse.

It was a ggod day for Italy with the leg's victory for Simone Agazzi (ITA / HONDA) just ahead of Paolo Ceci (ITA / KTM) the big winner of this 10th Africa Eco Race. For his second participation, the favorite of this rally held his rank and was congratulated by the double winner Pal Anders Ullevalseter (NOR / KTM) who came to the finish line for the occasion. Forced to give up because of engine problems, the Norwegian could not compete with Ceci this year but looks forward to taking revenge next year.

Luis Oliveira (POR / PROTO) made it to cross the finish line alongside his compatriot Rui Oliveira (POR / YAMAHA). The two Portuguese take respectively 2nd and 3rd place of the overall ranking. A very good performance for Luis, youngest participant who at 25 makes a remarkable entry into the world of rallying.



Mathieu SERRADORI: "There will surely be more emotions tomorrow at Lac Rose, we had a wonderful race thanks to a great team without whom we would never have done it, three years ago I did not think that we could reach such a level especially against big competitors like Vasilyev. "

Pascal THOMASSE: "We came to play the win, to finish on the podium is a very good result, I do not make forecasts for next year, I'm too young!"

Guillaume Gomez: "It was still a great stage today, almost perfect for us, it feels good to finish like that, we lived three cursed days at the beginning, it's a shame, we immediately lost all chance to fight for the classification but since Mauritania we feel better. I want to congratulate Mathieu Serradori who did a wonderful job. "

Paolo CECI: "I'm very happy to win this year, it was a dream. It was really hard but I did a good job in navigation. I want to thank my wife Sarah who helped me a lot and supported me and of course my whole team too. I had a lot of pressure from the start in Monaco, it was an extraordinary race especially in Mauritania. "

Simone AGAZZI: "I am very happy to win the leg today and especially very happy for Paolo, it was a very good race for Italy and I will remember all my life the Mauritanian sand with its dunes so difficult to conquer. »

RESULTS 11th stage : Akjoujt / St Louis : 558km*

Car / Truck:

1. Guillaume Gomez / François Borsotto n°207 (FRA) 01 :36 :19
2. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) + 00 :01 :42
3. Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque n°206 (FRA) + 00 :04 :40

Bike:

1. Simone Agazzi n°120 (ITA) 02 :00 :39
2. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) + 00 :01 :59
2. Jonathan Blackburn n°128 (GBR) + 00 :06 :35

Overall*

Car / Truck:

1. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) 40 :18 :50
2. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) + 01 :07 :31
3. Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque n°206 (FRA) + 04 :10 :40

Bike: 

1. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) 47 :21 :53
2. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) + 01 :26 :20
3. Rui Oliveira n°115 (POR) + 06 :43 :27

Watch the Stage 11 video recap here!

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10TH STAGE IN MAURITANIA : AMODJAR/AKJOUJT : 453 KM

The 10th edition of the Africa Eco Race is giving its best two days before the arrival in Dakar. After the most difficult stage yesterday, the sand is still a big part of the menu for the competitors today with a 453 kilometers leg. You had to be patient on arrival to see the fastest finish two hours behind schedule.

Mountains of dunes
It is in a valley with mountains and dunes scenery that competitors started this morning. Tired of the previous day's efforts, cars and bodies were spared with a later awakening thanks to a 45-kilometer short link before seeing the first bikes start at 8:43 am. And you had to be well awake from the beginning to tackle a big dune crossing from the first kilometers. A warm up for the continuation of the route more and more complicated in the middle of the mountains of dunes where it was necessary to follow the right direction in order not to be lost in a very soft sand. What a relief then to find the finish line at the entrance of the bivouac located a few kilometers from the city of Akjoujt.



The big win for Laure and Crespo, Ceci still there
"I don't know how we did it...", these are the first words spoken by Dominique Laure and Christophe Crespo (FRA / OPTIMUS) coming out of their yellow buggy just behind the finish line. 6h21'19" of race on the most complicated day, 13'07" better than the leaders of the Serradori Racing Team, an exceptional performance for these amateurs for their first participation in the race. Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin (FRA-BEL / MCM) maintain their leadership with a 57'28" lead over Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS / MINI) who finished 4th today. Another buggy from MD Rallye Sport took 3rd place, Guillaume Gomez and François Borsotto (FRA / OPTIMUS) managed to reach the podium on this leg, quiet worthy of the biggest African rallies.

Third beautiful story of the day belongs to Loïc Bonnevie and Sophie Hamys (FRA / CAN-AM) who finishes 6th today. An achievement because it is the best performance ever made by an SSV on the Africa Eco Race since its beginning.



Another nice surprise for the trucks as Johannes Van De Laar (NL / DAF) finishes first of the category. He crossed the finish line just ahead of Gerard De Rooy (NL / IVECO) who stopped to let him pass, the fairplay of the Dutchman who wanted to thank his compatriot for taking it out of the sand during the leg.
In motorbikes, the wisdom and experience of Paolo Ceci (ITA / KTM) have struck again. The strong leader is aheaad of Simone Agazzi (ITA / HONDA). Luis Oliveira (POR / PROTO) is relegated 3rd because of a 23 minutes penalty. Another blow for Pal Anders Ullevalseter (NOR / KTM) who was forced to give up half-way because of a new engine problem.



Dominique LAURE: "It's hard to believe in this victory, it's a big surprise! We stopped twice in the sand without wasting too much time, this is my first rally and I feared the dunes. Yesterday we had troubles in the sand, so today we decided to go slowly and then we accelerated, it ends very well for us. We are finished with the dunes, we are very happy. "

Mathieu SERRADORI: "Where is Vasilyev ?!... This one was not stolen! We helped each other all day with Fabian, it was the most difficult leg for us. We went into the dunes, we doubled Vasilyev who was stuck in the sand and we did not go out badly. Moreover the radio broke down in the end, we had to communicate in sign language up to the arrival."

Guillaume GOMEZ: "It was difficult... very hard... This leg surprised us, we did not expect it, we got stuck in the sand five or six times at the beginning and then we lost another 45 minutes a little further, we are tired by the stress but the ending is good."

Paolo CECI: "It was even harder than yesterday! There were a lot of difficult dunes to cross and a complicated navigation. I'm happy, the tough part is done, I just have to be carefull without making a mistake until Lac Rose now. "

Simone AGAZZI: "Today it was intense, very complicated in the sand but I enjoyed it."

Luis OLIVEIRA: "It was long and very difficult with complicated dunes to cross, but I'm doing well, I ride a lot with Ceci and I managed to finish the last 50 kilometers alone, I'm very happy. »

RESULTS 10th stage : Amodjar / Akjoujt : 453km* 

Car / Truck:

1. Dominique Laure / Christophe Crespo n°213 (FRA) 06 :21 :19
2. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) +00 :13 :07
3. Guillaume Gomez / François Borsotto n°207 (FRA) +00 :22 :53

Bike:

1. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) 06 :17 :50
2. Simone Agazzi n°120 (ITA) +00 :10 :46
3. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) +00 :19 :10

Classement général* 

Car / Truck:

1. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) 38 :40 :49
2. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) +00 :57 :28
3. Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque n°206 (FRA) +04 :07 :42

Bike:

1. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) 45 :19 :15
2. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) +01 :09 :49
3. Rui Oliveira n°115 (POR) +06 :28 :57

* Provisional results, subject to changes in ranking after jury deliberation

Watch the Stage 10 video recap here!

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9TH STAGE IN MAURITANIA: AMODJAR: 488 KM

VLADIMIR VASILYEV (RUS / MINI) STILL FIGHTING, ULLEVALSETER (NOR / KTM) ON TOP AGAIN

A new loop was on the program of the day allowing a little rest for the assistance and the organization who could stay at the bivouac all day long. Meanwhile, the competitors took part in a 340-kilometer stage through the prestigious dunes of Mauritania. A stage full of suspense and surprises.

The most difficult leg

Jean-Louis Schlesser announced last night, the 9th stage of this Africa Eco Race will be the hardest. This is the first time that the route goes so far in eastern Mauritania, with splendid dunes all around. It was difficult to find all the checkpoints in the middle of 100 kilometers of dunes. The whole while avoiding to get stuck in the sand, an exercise at the highest level as much in driving as in navigation.



Vasilyev is back, happy Ullevalseter

It is still a fierce duel between the crews number 201 and 202 that animated the Mauritanian tracks today. New leaders in the overall classification, Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin (FRA-BEL / MCM) have not managed the feat of doing a perfect leg. Because of three stops on the sand, they end up losing 30 minutes on Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS / MINI) the fastest today despite two punctures. The dunes spared no one, the SRT team preferred to ride carefully and were caught by the Russians at CP3. Starting 14th after a bad day yesterday, Vasilyev crosses the finish line just behind Serradori's black buggy and is now 48 minutes behind the French-Belgian crew.

The truck of Gerard De Rooy (NL / IVECO) which is doing very well in this Mauritanian week, takes second place just ahead of Serradori.

In the motorbikes, the passion of Pal Anders Ullevalseter (NOR / KTM) struck again. After a day of repairing the engine of his KTM, the 49 years old double winner of the event showed that he was still the fastest in the dunes. He won 13'36 "ahead of Simone Agazzi (ITA / HONDA), still happy to continue the adventure despite his 20th place in the overall standings, while young Luis Oliveira (POR / KTM) finishes third just ahead of Paolo Ceci (ITA / KTM). A great day for the Team Ullevalseter as the Norwegian champion's two protégés achieve their best rally performance on the most complicated leg. Marius Helmersen (NOR / KTM) takes 5th place ahead of his compatriot Felix Jensen (NOR / KTM) about thirty minutes from their master.



Vladimir VASILYEV: "We tried to attack but we had two punctures at kilometer 40 and 100 because of the very tricky sand. We still wanted to go as fast as possible. We will try to give everything tomorrow to catch up even if we know that it will be difficult to win this year. »

Gerard DE ROOY: "It was hard today with a lot of sand, we got stuck once, which made us lose about fifteen minutes. For the rest I did well in the dunes, we did a good job despite a navigation not always obvious because the wind has erased the tracks. It's been a long time since I found so much sand in the shoes! »

Mathieu SERRADORI: "It was hard physically and mentally today, we made some mistakes but we did not panic knowing that Vasilyev was further behind. It was complicated but it was a good day. »

Pal Anders ULLEVALSETER: "It was a great leg, especially when you start behind, it's easier to follow in the others. The dunes were incredible, it was difficult but I'm happy to be back and to continue the adventure. "

Simone AGAZZI: "Jean-Louis Schlesser said it was the toughest stage of the rally, so I'm very happy to finish 2nd, especially since I've prepared my motorbike myself, I'm very proud. »

Luis OLIVEIRA: "It was a good leg but very difficult with big dunes to cross, I opened the track during 50 kilometers then I fell two or three times so I preferred to let Agazzi pass and follow him until the finish line." 

RESULTS 9th stage : Amodjar / Amodjar : 488km*

Car / Truck:
1. VASILYEV Vladimir / HILTSOV Konstantin n°201 (RUS) 04:00:47
2. DE ROOIJ Gerard/RODEWALD Darek/TORRELLARDONA Moi (NL) + 04:18:13
3. SERRADORI Mathieu / LURQUIN Fabian n°202 (FRA) + 04:18:35

Bike:
1. ULLEVALSETER Pal Anders n°100 (NOR) 04 :25 :14
2. AGAZZI Simone n°120 (ITA) + 04:38:50
3. ANJOS OLIVEIRA Luis Miguel n°115 (POR) + 04:41:58

Overall:*

Car / Truck:
1. SERRADORI Mathieu / LURQUIN Fabian n°202 (FRA) 32:06:23
2. VASILYEV Vladimir / HILTSOV Konstantin n°201 (RUS) + 32:51:25
3. THOMASSE Pascal / LARROQUE Pascal n°206 (FRA) + 35:40:26

Bike:
1. CECI Paolo n°101 (ITA) 39:01:25
2. ANJOS OLIVEIRA Luis Miguel n°114 (POR) + 39:52:04
3. BENKO Martin n°102 (SLK) + 43:35:02

* Provisional results, subject to changes in ranking after jury deliberation

Watch the STAGE 9 VIDEO RECAP HERE!

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8TH STAGE IN MAURITANIA: CHAMI / AMODJAR: 477KM

MATHIEU SERRADORI (FRA / MCM) ON TOP, LUIS OLIVEIRA (POR / YAMAHA) STILL IN THE GAME.

After one night without being allowed to approach their vehicles, the competitors took part of the second lef of the marathon this morning. A 439 kilometers leg with beautiful dune passages under a blazing sun was waiting for them. The real difficulty of the Mauritanian sand and the pressure of the race have probably revealed the future winners of the 10th edition of the Africa Eco Race.

Find your trail
From the beginning of the stage, the participants found themselves on the off-piste with a first dune crossing as a warm-up. Then, they were able to regain speed by rolling alternately on sandy fast tracks. This third Mauritanian leg then revealed more and more complicated dune crossings. The best competitors came out with caution. But for everyone, the finish line offered itself as a deliverance after 900 kilometers of a two days race without assistance.



Serradori on a regular basis, Oliveira is doing the job
You had to be confident this morning to start and open the track. Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS / MINI) have therefore decided to be caught by Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin (FRA-BEL / MCM) after 80 kilometers of race in order to follow them in the dunes. The two cars then played a game to see who would dare to go first on the dunes. A game that ended up turning to the advantage of Serradori Racing Team who won the leg even if they got stuck in the sand a few kilometers from the finish line. A feat noticed by the organizer Jean-Louis Schlesser who came to congratulate them: "what is important is to win the second leg of the marathon, bravo!".

Less enthusiasm at the end for the Russians who finished 1h22'13" behind the new leaders overall. Not lucky with some engine belts troubles and a difficulty getting stuck in the sand, they finished 14th today. This stage was particularly successful for two crews of the MD Rallye Sport team. David Gérard and Pascal Delacour (FRA / OPTIMUS) take the 2nd place just ahead of Jean-Noël and Rabha Julien (FRA / OPTIMUS). The crazy "Roc and Gravillon" (David and Pascal) as well as "Penelope and Jolicoeur" (Rabha and Jean Noël), as they call themselves, were happy of their results after avoiding the dangers of the day. Unfortunately, this was not the case for their Team mates MD Rallye since Pascal Thomasse and Pascal Larroque put their Optimus buggy on one the sides. Guillaume Gomez and François Borsotto who have not much to hope have been the “Saint Bernard” of the desert by helping the two Pascal to get out of this bad step. Difficult stage also for Rémy Vauthier and Jean Brucy who broke a transmission and lost a lot of time to repair. Also Bad day to end with for Yves and Jean Fromont (FR / Buggy FROMONT) as, without the hydraulics, they will join the bivouac on the Balai truck.



In T2, Robert Szustkowski and Jaroslaw Kazberuk (POL / FORD) win with their Raptor once again. They beat Gilles Gard - Manuel Pinto (FR / MITSUBISHI) and Eric Gallant - Jean Marc Ancel (FR / TOYOTA). Overall, the Polish crew is now in 25th position.

In T3, after a day in hell yesterday because of fuel supply problems, Vincent Guindani's two CAN AMs - Stéphane Nguyen and Loïc Bonnevie - Sophie Hamys took revenge today, finishing 12th and 13th respectively on the stage. However, it is still Jean Hugues Moneyron and Thierry Maury (SEN / CAN AM) who lead the pack in this category with the 18th place overall.

Gerard De Rooy (NL / IVECO), still impressive with his truck, had fun in the dunes by driving faster than some cars and took 4th place. A podium of the day 100% Dutch since the leader of the general truck finished in front of the DAF of Johannes Van De Laar and the MERCEDES of Johan Elfrink, both separated of only 3 minutes.

In motorcycles, all riders in the race came out of the stage before dark. Some in pain in the image of Franco Picco (IT / KTM) arrived last good after having mechanized a long time on the track. On the other hand, Luis Oliveira (POR / YAMAHA) won his second stage with a 6'24 "lead over Paolo Ceci (ITA / KTM), who remains the overall leader, and Simone Agazzi (ITA / HONDA) also enjoyed himself. in the sand to finish third ahead of Rui Oliveira (POR / YAMAHA) who wins the category over 450 cc.

For the Veterans, with 8th place, Nathan Rafferty (USA / KTM) is the winner of the day in this category over 45 while in general, Henrik Rahm (SUE / KTM) has only 5 minutes of ahead of the American. In the challenge Motul Moto Malles, Jonathan Blackburn (GBR / KTM) is still leader with a superb 5th place provisional overall.

Mathieu SERRADORI: "We saw that Vasilyev let us pass before the dunes, he stopped on the side and opened the hood, so we had to go alone in front. It was physically hard, the sand was soft, it was hot and we tanked once. I was convinced that Vasilyev was leading in the middle of the dunes, it was really rough. "

David GERARD: "We're happy, and for Mathieu too! It was complicated, very tricky in navigation and difficult with the camel grass on the last part. We got stuck once but Pascal was very efficient in getting us out and he lost his phone! We paid attention to the car because we lost a ski yesterday and this morning the mechanics had only 10 minutes to repair our belts, they were amazing. "

Jean-Noël JULIEN: "We did it slowly but surely, it was a difficult leg, we had to pay attention to the car, but we drove without putting pressure on it. Last dunes, we stayed calm, it was not simple but full with emotions."

Vladimir VASILYEV: "We had problems with engine belts and we lost a lot of time to repair, and then we got stuck in the end in the camel grass, it was very difficult. «

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Watch the Stage 8 Video Recap HERE!

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7TH STAGE IN MAURITANIA : CHAMI / CHAMI : 486 KM

VLADIMIR VASILYEV (RUS/MINI) AND PAOLO CECI (ITA/KTM) BIG LEADERS

The 2nd Mauritanian day launched the famous marathon stage of the 10th edition of the Africa Eco Race. In the first part of this event, the competitors could enjoy a 486 kilometers leg. A day off for the mechanics who does not have the right to approach the cars staying in a "parc fermé" until the start of the 2nd part of the stage tomorrow.

Do not take a risk
A few hundred meters from the bivouac, the first part of this special started with a straight line of speed. A slightly sandy fast track sent the competitors to a first easy dune crossing before coming back on very fast tracks with a tricky navigation. The real difficulty remained in the last thirty kilometers with a dunes and camel grass to avoid in order not to damage the vehicles. A complicated leg where caution was required before reaching the "parc fermé" in the middle of a 900 kilometers marathon.



A big fight
As announced, the Vasilyev-Serradori duel made the Mauritanian tracks vibrate on this sandy stage. Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin (FRA / MCM) had the heavy task of opening on a rolling but tricky course in navigation. A difficulty that did not slow down Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS / MINI). The defending champions managed to pass the French-Belgian team for another intense duel on a good part of the stage.

The Russians finally won two minutes before their rivals. A little mistake on the sand later, the buggy of Guillaume Gomez and François Borsotto (FRA / OPTIMUS) which took the 3rd place of the day with 30'27 "of delay. Pascal Thomasse and Pascal Larroque (FRA / OPTIMUS) remain comfortably on the 3rd step of the podium overall, finishing 4th today.

In T2, the special stage which was quite fast with rolling sectors made the fortunes of the powerful FORD Raptors as Robert Szustkowski and Jaroslaw Kazberuk (POL / FORD) finished in 28th position, ahead of Alexey Titov and Andrey Rusov (RUS / FORD), on the same vehicle. In the T3, the former biker Jean Hugues Moneyron (SEN / CAN AM), co-driven by Thierry Maury, who was on the first edition of the Africa Eco Race on two wheels, stroke hard today. He finished in 24th place at the scratch and was ahead of the other two SSV CAN AM team Senegal Kamil Rahal - Thierry Sanchez and Jean Claude Ruffier - Jerome Bos.



Still the first truck on the race, Gerard De Rooy (NL / IVECO) had to change a tire during the leg and finished 7th while retaining his 5th place overall. The Dutch driver finishes ahead of Miklos Kovacs, Peter Czegledi and Lazslo Acs (HUN / SCANIA) more and more present in the front positions and Tomas Tomecek (CZE / TATRA), still performing well, although he is driving and navigating alone . It is more than a challenge for him as this year, the navigation is particularly hard. In general, although the Czech lost a little time on the Hungarian, Tomecek remains 2nd with a little less than an hour ahead of Kovacs.

In motorcycles, Paolo Ceci (ITA / KTM) let his experience speak and managed to win in front of Dmitry Agoshkov (RUS / KTM) who completely evolved since he got in Mauritania. The young Luis Oliveira (POR / YAMAHA) crosses the finish line just behind the Italian but takes the 3rd place because of a missing waypoint which costs him 20 minutes of penalties.

Martin Benko (SLK / KTM) finished in a good 4th place in front of the three youngsters, Felix Jensen (NOR / KTM), Julien Sanchez (FRA / KTM) and Marius Helmersen (NOR / KTM), first in + 450 cm3.
Another hard day for double winner Pal Anders Ullevalseter (NOR / KTM) who started the stage late because of a mechanical problem this morning. Unfortunately he could only ride a few kilometers before returning to the bivouac.



Vladimir VASILYEV: "It was a good leg, we drove very well even though the fight was intense, everything is going well with the car, we are ready for tomorrow."

Mathieu SERRADORI: "We managed to handle the first day of the 900 kilometers without assistance. We started with a good rythm, Vasilyev then caught us and we did not let him go. Fabian did a very good navigation and we did not have any problems, I thought we could drive faster than him but we drove side by side at 200 km / h without being able to overtake them. "

Guillaume GOMEZ: "Today we got stuck once but I did not ride in the sand for a year... I lost about twenty minutes to get out with the sandblasting plates. It is my first rally with François, he brings me a lot and calms me, he makes a very good navigation and helps me to find the tracks. Now I would like to do at least a scratch before the finish in Dakar. "

Paolo CECI: "It was very fast today with a few dunes, I had a lot of fun, I drove with Luis for more than 400 kilometers, it's very good if we can continue the adventure like that. I knew that Pal had mechanical problems, it's a real shame. My bike is fine, I'm just going to change the air filter to be ready for tomorrow. "

Dmitry AGOSHKOV: "It was a long leg with a complicated navigation, there was a lot of sand just before the finish line but I really like it!"

Luis OLIVEIRA: "It was a good day with a complicated navigation, it was still nice to open the track, I had to stay focused but I missed a waypoint, I'm ready for tomorrow. »

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RESULTS 7th stage : Chami / Chami : 508km*

Car / Truck:

1. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) 03 :53 :48
2. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) + 00 :02 :09
3. Guillaume Gomez / François Borsotto n°207 (FRA) + 00 :30 :27

Bike:

1. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) 05 :20 :22
2. Dmitry Agoshkov n°163 (RUS) + 00 :01 :05
3. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) + 00 :01 :57

Overall:* 

Car / Truck:

1. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) 22 :51 :28
2. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) + 00 :16 :23
3. Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque n°206 (FRA) + 02 :02 :06

Bike:

1. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) 28 :57 :13
2. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) + 00 :58 :45
3. Martin Benko n°102 (SLK) + 03 :21 :17

* Provisional results, subject to changes in ranking after jury deliberationy
Complete ranking on this link : http://www.africarace.com/fr/course/2018/home

WATCH THE STAGE 7 RECAP VIDEO HERE!

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6TH STAGE FROM MOROCCO TO MAURITANIA: DAKHLA / CHAMI: 650 KM

MATHIEU SERRADORI (FRA / MCM) AND
LUIS OLIVEIRA (POR / YAMAHA) ACCELERATE

After a very early morning waking up at 4am, all participants had to take the road by night for a 429 kilometers liaison with the crossing of the border. The 10th edition of the Africa Eco Race continues its journey in Mauritania where a first leg ending in the dunes after 211 kilometers.

New landscape

All the vehicles were able to reach Mauritania this morning without any trouble. A very good organization that even allowed the competitors to rest once they got to the start of the leg two hours before the race. A route that gave way to off-piste and sand. Leaving Boulanouar, the competitors quickly joined the mine's railway before arriving at a succession of off-piste tracks. A crossing of dune just before the arrival gave them a little taste of what will wait for them in the coming days and especially tomorrow with the marathon stage...

Straight on the dunes

It's a black buggy that has emerged first in the dune just before the finish line. Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin (FRA / MCM) were the fastest to win this leg, finishing 2'21" behind leaders Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS / MINI). With an average speed of 144 km / h, the French have still shown that they have a very good car. It was a very good day for Guillaume Gomez and François Borsotto (FRA / OPTIMUS) enjoying this stage, making their best performance on this leg. The crew of the team MD Rallye Sport takes the 3rd place and finally managed to solve all its mechanical problems to get back on the competition. A playground where the Optimus are going very weel as Pascal Thomasse and Pascal Larroque (FRA / OPTIMUS) had fun even if the dunes still worry the pilot, wishing to avoid to be trapped on the sand... They retain their 3rd place overall 1h30 ahead of Remy Vauthier and Jean Brucy (SUI / OPTIMUS).

The first truck remains the one of Gerard De Rooy (NL / IVECO) finishing 12th and still 5th overall.
In motorcycles, Luis Oliveira (POR / YAMAHA) continues to impress by being the fastest today. He won in 1h50'2" followed by Paolo Ceci (ITA / KTM) and Pal Anders Ullevalseter (NOR / KTM) .The three men who started with a two minute gap at the start came out of the last dune almost together. The Mauritanian fight is launched!



Mathieu SERRADORI: "I do not know if it is a good operation to win today and open the marathon tomorrow... But it was necessary to avoid wasting time with Vasilyev who followed his strategy keeping his advance. It was a warm-up leg here and everything went well, we are happy, Vasilyev let us pass, it will be difficult to make the opening in the dunes... "

Vladimir VASILYEV: "It was a strategic race but it was a leg for big engines with a straight line. For the marathon it will be necessary to keep a cool head without making mistakes for the car and for tires because we only have three spare wheels! "

Guillaume GOMEZ: "We finally managed to do everything we could today, the mechanics, the navigation and the pleasure to pass the other cars. We drove without taking any risk, the navigation was not complicated but we had to stay focused. "

Gerard DE ROOY: "It was a long day that started very early but crossing the border was quite fast, so we had to wait arriving early at the start of the leg. Some buggies doubled me, I was not the fastest but I will go slowly tomorrow, be careful and enjoy the sand. "

Luis OLIVEIRA: "I drove quietly behind the guys then I accelerated to attack midway and managed to pass them just before the arrival. The sand in the dunes was very soft, I still could learn today with this 1st Mauritanian leg. "

Paolo CECI: "It was almost like last year, I drove fast on the whole stage, I'm happy to ride with Pal and Luis. Tomorrow it will be complicated, he we will have to ride carefully without damaging the bike in the marathon event, and of course, not get lost. "

Pal Anders ULLEVALSETER: "It was nice today, very fast all the way and not complicated in navigation. Tomorrow it will be very difficult, I hope nobody will get through but me!"

Ranking stage 6 Dakhla / Chami : 650km*

Car / Truck :
1. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) 01 :27 :26
2. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) + 00 :02 :21
3. Guillaume Gomez / François Borsotto n°207 (FRA) + 00 :04 :32

Bike :
1. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) 01 :50 :26
2. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) + 00 :02 :12
3. Pal Anders Ullevalseter n°100 (NOR) + 00 :04 :14
Sans titre 1.jpg

Overall ranking*

Car / Truck :
1. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) 18 :57 :40
2. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) + 00 :14 :14
3. Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque n°206 (FRA) + 01 :29 :48

Bike :
1. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) 23 :36 :51
2. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) + 00 :56 :48
3. Rui Oliveira n°115 (POR) + 02 :56 :54
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Complete ranking on this link : http://www.africarace.com/en

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE RECAP VIDEO!

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5TH STAGE IN MOROCCO

FORT CHACAL / DAKHLA : 631 KM
VASILYEV (RUS/MINI) STRIKES AGAIN, ULLEVALSETER (NOR/KTM) BACK ON TRACK

Last leg in Morocco

Once again, the 10th edition of the Africa Eco Race gave the competitors a new route. The day started with a light rain which enabled the dust to stay down for the rest of the day. A 436 kilometers leg brought the rally to Bir Anzaran passing the mighty phosphate conveyor belt of Laayoune. The track was very fast with some complicated navigation points. The competitors went straight south and finished the day with 174 kilometers liaison before reaching Dakhla for a well deserved rest day.



With an average speed of 145 km/h, Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS / MINI) didn't waste any time! On this very fast leg, today's winners secured their slight lead on the overall standings before attacking the dunes of Mauritania. Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin (FRA / MCM) finished 2nd in 3h05'35, or 6'12" back from the leaders. After the first week they are 16'35" down in the overall ranking but consolidate their lead over Pascal Thomasse and Pascal Larroque (FRA / OPTIMUS), finishing 6th today. Patrick Martin and Didier Bigot (FRA / MERCEDES) took 3rd place ahead of Gerard De Rooy, Darek Rodewald and Moi Torrellardona (NL / IVECO), still the first truck of the competition. For his first participation, 10 years after his father, Gerard De Rooy will be able to rest peacefully with the 5th place overall.



In the motorcycles, Pål Anders Ullevalseter (NOR / KTM) was pleased despite his disappointing day yesterday because of a mechanical issue that forced him to abandon the leg. Although the battle for victory is over for him, the double winner of the Africa Eco Race had a lot of fun starting last and passing the other riders. He achieved the best time of the day in 4h00'11", 4 minutes faster than Paolo Ceci (ITA / KTM). The young Luis Oliveira (POR / YAMAHA) is still on the podium even if he loses a few minutes over Paolo Ceci still in the lead.
To concluded this first week, the couple Loic Bonnevie and Sophie Hamys (FRA / CAN AM) in SSV managed to climbs into the top 20 by taking the 18th place in the overall ranking.
The rest day have arrived, it is now time to take care of the vehicles and the bodies in Dakhla, the famous kitesurfing spot, where the bivouac stays on the breathtaking beach.



Vladimir VASILYEV : It was mainly a straight line, it was very fast, it went well for us, as a foretaste of the rest day!



Mathieu Serradori : "We drove fast but could not get back to Vasilyev, maybe we did not follow the good tracks at the beginning, we did not expect to waste time today but they were very strong. We are still fighting for the win with a good car in good conditions. It was our goal to approach Mauritania 15 minutes from the leader, it is the case, we are happy."



Pal Anders ULLEVALSETER : "I started last and I had a lot of fun catching up and overtaking lots of competitors to win. I'm disappointed for not being in the fight for the win anymore but I managed to take a good time. Now I'm going to take some rest and will enjoy spending some time with the other competitors tomorrow. "



Paolo CECI : "It was very fast today, it went well for me in navigation, I'm happy with my ride. It's a shame for my fight with Pål but it does not change anything for me, I have to stay focused, the road is still long. Now I can go and take some rest at the hotel, the bike is amazing. "



Luis OLIVEIRA : "It was difficult for me with the navigation but it was very fast, some waypoints were hard to find but it was a good day and the adventure continues."

RESULTS 5th Stage : Fort Chacal / Dakhla : 631km*

Car / Truck:
1. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) 02 :59 :23 
2. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) + 00 :06 :12 
3. Patrick Martin / Didier Bigot n°205 (FRA) + 00 :35 :03

Bike:
1. Pal Anders Ullevalseter n°100 (NOR) 04 :00 :11
2. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) + 00 :04 :03
3. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) + 00 :19 :05
Vasilyev.jpg

Overall:*

Car / Truck:
1. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) 17 :27 :53
2. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) + 00 :16 :35
3. Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque n°206 (FRA) + 01 :25 :02

Bike:
1. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) 21 :44 :13
2. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) + 00 :59 :00
3. Rui Oliveira n°115 (POR) + 02 :41 :30
* Provisional results, subject to changes in ranking after jury deliberationy

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View the embedded image gallery online at:
https://advmotoevents.com/tag/race#sigProId8988cd0503

WATCH THE STAGE 5 RECAP VIDEO HERE!

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4TH STAGE IN MOROCCO : ASSA / FORT CHACAL : 499 KM

VLADIMIR VASILYEV (RUS/MINI) FOR A GOOD WIN, PAOLO CECI (ITA/KTM) BIG LEADER

The fourth day in Morocco is a first with the longest leg of the Africa Eco Race since its creation. 497 kilometers with fast tracks and some sand. It's been a big fight in cars between Vasilyev and Serradori, in motorbikes Paolo Ceci settles his leadership.

The west rush
For this big premiere, the competitors drove close to the Oued Draa for a few kilometers on a sandy part before the rocks where the navigators had to be very focused. Ater M'seied a wide track brought them to the southern Moroccan desert. The vehicles got into some more fast tracks in the heart of massive plains with no much landscape and thus not many visual point to navigate with. It is a very complicated section with many possibilities to go in the wrong direction. As they got closer to the Oued Hamra things went harder. Totally flooded a year ago, all the tracks have disappeared, it has therefore become an off road section not easy to escape. Finally, they had to come across a dune before finishing the stage on e very fast wide track all the way to the bivouac in Fort Chacal.



Vasilyev as boss, Ullevalseter out
The long awaited auto duel of this edition is launched. The defending crew Vladimir Vasilyev - Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS / MINI) and Mathieu Serradori - Fabian Lurquin (FRA / MCM) have engaged in an intense battle full of twists and turns. Leading, the French had to slow down in the last part of the leg because of a power steering problem. The Russians were able to take advantage but three punctures made them waste time and the two cars passed each other before Vasilyev won the final sprint 3'21" before Serradori. Pascal Thomasse and Pascal Larroque (FRA / OPTIMUS) confirm their 3rd place overall by finishing just in front of their partners at MD Rally Sport Guillaume Gomez and François Borsotto (FRA / OPTIMUS) who managed to finish the leg without mechanical problems.

In the motorbikes, very difficult day for the double winner Pal Anders Ullevalseter (NOR / KTM). His chances of winning this year are compromised because of a fuel tank problem that forced him to abandon the leg after 100 kilometers of racing. Paolo Ceci takes the opportunity to consolidate his leading position by winning the stage of the day 8'52" ahead of Luis Oliveira (POR / YAMAHA). A good operation for the Portuguese who takes the 2nd place in the overall ranking.



They said :
Vladimir VASILYEV: "It was a great leg but Jean-Louis Schlesser did not spare us the punctures... After three tires dead we did not have a spare wheel anymore! It was difficult especially at the end in navigation, we still have two minutes ahead of Serradori, it was a great fight today, we did not stop crossing each other, it was great. "

Mathieu SERRADORI: "We opened the track with a good navigation before engaging in a great battle with the Russians, it was very intense! After 414 kilometers of racing I had no more power steering, it was very difficult to turn the wheels in the dunes but we wanted to finish and had to slow down. Finally we are doing very well thanks to Vasilyev's misadventures. Now we will have to repair and come back tomorrow."

Gerard DE ROOY: "It was a long day but a very nice leg with a lot of navigation, I got lost once, the truck was fine, I drove slowly knowing that I did not have anyone behind me. I preferred to be careful. "

Paolo CECI: "It was a difficult leg with the navigation but I did not make any mistake, I drove with Oliveira up to 30 kilometers from the finish, physically I feel good but I'm disappointed because I could not fight with Ullevalseter. "

Luis OLIVEIRA: "I'm still learning, it was a good day for me, I passed Ceci after 40 kilometers of racing and I opened the track for a while then I got lost and ended up finding Paolo's tracks until the finish. "

RESULTS 4th stage : Assa / Fort Chacal : 499km 
Car / Truck: 
1. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) 04 :47 :09 
2. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) + 00 :03 :21 
3. Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque n°206 (FRA) + 00 :09 :28 
Bike: 
1. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) 05 :38 :57 
2. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) + 00 :08 :52 
3. Simone Agazzi n°120 (ITA) + 00 :35 :02

Overall:* 
Car / Truck: 
1. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) 14 :28 :30 
2. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) + 00 :10 :23 
3. Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque n°206 (FRA) + 00 :43 :56 
Bike: 
1. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) 17 :39 :59 
2. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) + 00 :43 :58 
3. Rui Oliveira n°115 (POR) + 02 :19 :52

Recap Video Here!

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3RD DAY IN MAROCCO : AGDAL / ASSA : 421 KM

MATHIEU SERRADORI (MCM) THE FASTEST, FIRST FOR LUIS OLIVEIRA (POR / PROTO)

The 10th edition of the Africa Eco Race caravan is still going south in Morocco. On this January 4th 2018 the leg starts directly at the bivouac and 400 kilometers later they reach Assa where awaits them a 21 kilometers to the bivouac. Speed was the order of the day to the delight of Mathieu Serradori in the cars and in the motorcycles it was a great first for Luis Oliveira.

A fast track
After a short night for many competitors who had a very tough day yesterday, it felt nice to have more time this morning to get prepared for the leg starting just outside the bivouac. The leg started with a nice fast track at the foot of the Anti-Atlas mountains. Later the cairns helped them follow the track so they can speed during a long part of the leg. Throughout the day, the competitors passed many military outposts but also many dried lakes. It was near the end of the stage where the navigation got a bit more complicated as they headed back toward the Oued Draa. The finish was set up on the outskirts of the town of Assa.



Serradori , the surprise Oliveira
Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Luquin's car was the fastest on this particularly tough leg. Starting two minutes after leaders Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS / MINI), the SRT crew crossed the finish line a few seconds behind their main competitors. A tight duel between the two cars that remained in contact a good part of the race. The Russians were still happy to congratulate them just after a tire puncture on the finish line. The result of 400 kilometers of fast stony tracks but tough on the tires. That's what caused some problems to Pascal Thomasse and Pascal Larroque (OPTIMUS) who lost time to change a wheel and finished 4th. 3rd place went to Remy Vauthier and Jean Brucy (SUI / OPTIMUS).
The first truck of the day also had to replace a wheel just behind the finish line. Gerard De Rooy (NL / IVECO) finished 5th, frustrated for not being faster but gaining two places overall.

In motorbikes, after 4h52'16" of race, Luis Oliveira (POR / YAMAHA) arrived second of the stage. At 25, he came with his father, who acts as a mechanic for his first rally-raid and is already on his way with a 3rd place overall, he finished 26" behind of Paolo Ceci (ITA / KTM) who wan the stage and takes the lead 2'26" in front of Pål Anders Ullevalseter (NOR / KTM).



Poor Elisabete Jacinto (POR / MAN) only female truck driver is forced to give up. The regular actress in the Africa Eco Race broke her differential and does not have the spare part in her assistance truck. It is very sad that she leaves the Africa Eco Race before joining Mauritania, as last year when her engine broke during the 2nd stage.

They said :
Mathieu SERRADORI: "We are happy, it was a great leg, Fabian navigated very well which allowed us to catch up with Vasilyev, there was a good fight. We will open tomorrow, I have confidence in my co-pilot so that's not a problem. "

Vladimir VASILYEV: "Today it was particularly tricky because of pebbles, it was like being on Mars, we like our rivalry with Serradori, we are fighting on the track but we are friends."

Rémy VAUTHIER: "We drove fast but it was not a good race, the Africa Eco Race is not really easy, besides I have the flu but we manage to finish 3rd today, I'm happy with it."

Pascal THOMASSE: "These stony tracks were not fun... and as we did not change our tires yesterday, I wanted to be careful but 50 kilometers from the finish we had problems with one wheel. I prefer the 100-kilometer stages at my age! "

Gérard DE ROOY: "It was a great leg, very long, we had a slow puncture a little before the finish but we were able to drive and continue to the end, slowing down. It will be difficult to top the overall ranking but I keep the podium in mind. "

Luis OLIVEIRA: "It was a quick and difficult leg for me, I'm learning every day, it means a lot to me to have passed the two best drivers, I made a mistake, Paolo came back faster and I followed him to the finish. "

Paolo CECI: "For 200 kilometers until the refueling it was very monotonous, then there was a lot of navigation, it was easy to make mistakes. Today it was flat and stony, I preferred the dunes yesterday. The motorbike is doing very well and I am confident. "

Pål Anders ULLEVALSETER: "There were a lot of stones, it was very hard physically, I got lost twice but I managed to get back into the race to keep in touch with Paolo. I hope to feel better and better day after day. "

RESULTS

3rd Stage in Morocco: Agdal / Assa : 421 km
Car / Truck:
1. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) 03 :48 :12
2. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) + 00 :00 :22
3. Remy Vauthier / Jean Brucy n°209 (SUI) + 00 :13 :33
Bike:
1. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) 04 :54 :56
2. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) + 00 :01 :57
3. Pal Anders Ullevalseter n°100 (NOR) + 00 :04 :29

Overall:

Car / Truck:
1. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) 09 :41 :21
2. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) + 00 :07 :02
3. Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque n°206 (FRA) + 00 :34 :28
Bike:
1. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) 12 :06 :05
1. Pal Anders Ullevalseter n°100 (NOR) + 00 :02 :29
3. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) + 00 :32 :43

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE STAGE 3 RECAP VIDEO!

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2ND DAY IN MOROCCO

DAR KAOURA / AGDAL: 478 KM
VLADIMIR VASILYEV (RUS / MINI) ON TOP, PAL ANDERS ULLEVALSETER (NOR / KTM) FEELING GOOD
The 2nd Moroccan day offered to the competitors the real beginning of the race. On the program a 443 kilometers leg between dunes and stony tracks under a summer sun, enough to disturb the ranking and reveal the favorites of this 10th edition of the Africa Eco Race.



After a short 28-kilometer run that saw the first bike leaving at 7:15 this morning, each competitor joined Merzouga to start the leg. The famous dunes close to the Erg Chebbi offered both navigation and driving difficulties, especially on the sand particularly soft because of the heat. Off-piste, 7 dune crossings, rolling tracks... The two highlights of the day will be the crossing of the Oued Draa, which is usually soft at this time of the year, and the Erg Chegaga which is often tricky.



Just past the finish line, the winners of the day and overall leaders Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov threw themselves on bottles of water. Under the eyes of the organizer, they were congratulated by all their staff and some spectators after 4h50'25 of race. "You did not even burst, bravo! ", said Jean-Louis Schlesser the former teammate of the best co-driver of the day.
Very nice 2nd place for Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin (FRA / MCM) who finished 1'56 after the winner of the day. Third place goes to Pascal Thomasse and Pascal Larroque (FRA / OPTIMUS) 14'26 off the lead.
A very good day for Serradori Racing Team taking the 2nd place overall. Harder day for Gerard De Rooy, Darek Rodewald and Moi Torrellardona (IVECO) who reach the finishing line 1h05'46" behind the leader and falls off the podium.
In the motorbikes category, the race remains tight with an arrival within seconds in between Pål Anders Ullevalseter (NOR / KTM) and Paolo Ceci (ITA / KTM). The fight promises to be intense between the two competitors as Ullevalseter takes the lead of the overall standings 3 seconds ahead of his main rival for the final victory.
For the less fortunate, the evening also looks very long... The day's leg revealed everything you can find in the hardest routes in the greatest African raids. They will reach the bivouac very late at night after a very educational experience navigating in the dunes.



Pål Anders ULLEVALSETER: "It was a great leg with lots of dunes, I caught up with Paolo, thanks to his navigation mistakes, I tried to overtake him but it took me a lot of time because he's really really fast."



Paolo CECI: "It was incredible, there was everything in this leg: sand, navigation, fast tracks... all that can be found in Morocco. Today Pal caught me 30 kilometers from the finish and we drove together. The fight is not over! "



Vladimir VASILYEV: "We're tired, it was a long leg, it's been a long time since we had any, in the dunes it was not easy, the sand was soft and it was brittle. It was a wonderful stage with interesting tracks, thank you Jean-Louis! "



Pascal Thomasse: "Why do we do this?... Now it's better but 100 kilometers from here I would have preferred to be on my couch! In the dunes it was long, hard and very brittle. I took a normal rhythm to avoid damaging the car, we end the day at our place, without making any mistakes. "



Mathieu Serradori: "We started on a good rhythm, Fabian did a great job, it was very technical navigation, we had a good day with a speed around 200 km/h! "

Résults:

Second Stage : Dar Kaoura / Agdal : 478 km
Car / Truck:
1. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) 04 :50 :25
2. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) + 00 :01 :56
3. Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque n°206 (FRA) + 00 :14 :26
Bike:
1. Pal Anders Ullevalseter n°100 (NOR) 05 :52 :43
2. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) + 00 :02 :22
3. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) + 00 :27 :32

Overall :

Car / Truck:
1. Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) 05 :52 :47
2. Mathieu Serradori / Fabian Lurquin n°202 (FRA) + 00 :07 :24
3. Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque n°206 (FRA) + 00 :17 :32
Bike:
1. Pal Anders Ullevalseter n°100 (NOR) 07 :09 :09
2. Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) + 00 :00 :03
3. Luis Miguel Anjos Oliveira n°114 (POR) + 00 :34 :43

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE STAGE 2 RECAP VIDEO!

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FIRST STAGE IN MOROCCO

VLADIMIR VASILYEV AND PAOLO CECI FIRST LEADERS !

After a busy day, celebrating New Year's eve on a rough sea, all the participants in the 10th edition of the Africa Eco Race arrived at the port of Nador at the end of the day on Tuesday 2 January 2018. A tough first day for all competitors with a special stage before reaching the bivouac 500 kilometers later.



After the obligatory passage through Moroccan customs, the caravan of the Africa Eco Race 2018 was able to benefit from the first light of the sun around a Moroccan breakfast orgqnised by the governor of Nador. All vehicles then took to the road to join the start of the race with the mountains of the Anti-Atlas as a backdrop.
 51 kilometers of liaison before starting the race to warm up the engines under a cloudless sky... Until 9:22 am local time when the first bike Pal Anders Ullevalseter (NOR) made his mark on the route drawn by René Metge.

With a special stage of 92 kilometers to warm up for both drivers and navigators. On a gravelly rugged track, the 91 vehicles had to be wary of a complicated navigation between the wadis and the small, almost invisible tracks.
A win today for the 2018 favorite and winners last year, Vladimir Vasilyev and Konstantin Zhiltsov (RUS). A good stage also for the Optimus of Pascal Thomasse and Pascal Larroque who take 2nd place. The good news story of the day comes from a brand new participant, the team of Gerard De Rooy (NL) driving his truck Iveco takes 3rd place in the standings, just ahead of Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin.
Mechanical problems for Guillaume Gomez and François Borsotto (MD Rallye Sport) who still managed to cross the finish line albeit very slowly.
Amongst other competitors on four wheels, special mention for the Ford of Alexey Titov and Andrey Rosov (RUS) first series vehicles.
Finally in the SSV category, it was the Italians Stefano Pelloni and Gianluca Grociani who were the fastest, arriving 25 minutes after the winner of the day.
In the motorbike category no surprises. Paolo Ceci (ITA) left 2nd and finished 1st ahead of Pal Anders Ullevalster and Dmitry Agoshkov (RUS).



Vladimir Vasilyev : "This first stage went well, the Moroccan tracks are excellent, it's been a long time since we have competed, so it was a very good warm-up, the car is running well, we were fastest but at the same time careful. "



Pascal Thomasse : "It was rural land with lots of pebbles, we enjoyed the speed and the navigation was very good despite two small mistakes that made us lose about ten seconds. The car is perfect !"



Gerard De Rooy : "It was a very nice special stage, first we had to warm up on the first kilometers with this new truck, then the dust added some difficulties but the tracks are great, I'm really happy to be here in Africa. "



Paolo Ceci : "The navigation was difficult but I managed to overtake Ullevalseter midway and then we drove together, I'm very happy with my race."

Résults:

1st Stage in Morocco: Nador / Dar Kaoura: 92 KM
Car / Truck:
Vladimir Vasilyev / Konstantin Zhiltsov n°201 (RUS) 00 :57 :22
Pascal Thomasse / Pascal Larroque n°206 (FRA) + 00 :03 :06
Gerard De Rooy/ Darek Rodewalde / Moi Torrellardona n°400 (NLD) + 00 :05 :25
Bike:
Paolo Ceci n°101 (ITA) 1 :14 :07
Pal Anders Ullevalster n° 100 (NOR) + 00 :02 :19
Dmitry Agoshkov n°163 (RUS) + 00 :03 :53

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE STAGE 1 RECAP VIDEO!

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AND THEY'RE OFF !! 10TH AFRICA ECO RACE GETS UNDERWAY

On Sunday morning in Monaco, Jean Marie Bigard offcially started the 10th anniversary edition of the Africa Eco Race. Alongside organiser Jean Louis Schlesser, the race godfather was clearly thrilled to be part of the event as the 91 vehicles roared out of Monaco. Childlike, he enthused.



"When Jean Louis asked me to come, I accepted at once." Jean Marie Bigard exchanged his comedian hat for that of rally raid superfan this morning. He started by discussing his charitable association "bouchons d'amour" which collects plastic bottle tops in order to raise money for building schools in Africa. "The Africa Eco Race is going to bring me home a whole lorry load of bottle tops! It's the best way to recycle and to build new schools." The comedian was there as much for his charity as to live out a dream. He adores the racing trucks: "I actually met Gerard de Rooy (winner of the Dakar) - I'm so excited!" For two hours, he stood and watched the competitors roll out one by one, a huge smile on his face.



35 motorbikes, 110 cars and 34 trucks will cross Morocco and Mauritania before crossing the finish line at Lac Rose in Senegal on Sunday 14th January. 91 of them will actually be racing: 34 bikes, 1 quad, 35 cars, 9 SSV and 12 trucks. They represent 27 different nationalities. They were all excited and emotional at the start - last chance to say goodbye to family and friends, take a few photos they were off. Next stop Sete, where they will board the boat for Morocco. There were smiles all round and the pride in being able to take part in adventure like this was evident.



"Let's do this!" exclaimed Julie Vanneken as she mounted the starting block for her second time a bike rider in this race. Potential winner of the car category, Mathieu Serradori and Fabian Lurquin.



Matthieu Serradori (MCM) is keen to get to Morocco: "We're ready, we've been working towards this for a year. Only two days on the boat and the real work will begin." Before that, however, everyone got their moment in the sun in Monaco, joined together with one common goal: to get to Dakar in 2 weeks time.

Jean Louis Schlesser - organizer: "This morning in Monaco was incredible. We witnessed yet another race start from Monaco, making sure everything possible is done to ensure everyone gets to Sete for the boat this afternoon. After that, we will celebrate bringing in the New Year together."



Rene Metge - Sport Director: "It is always a pleasure to see all the competitors gathered here. This year they are going to experience a particularly difficult course, lots of navigation and some spectacular landscapes.

Catch the action at AfricaRace.com

The cold slowly creeps in around my sleeves and the collar openings of my jacket. It’s almost five o’clock in the morning, and epic music with sounds of double-bass and electric guitars drift from my headphones into my ears. One last try to get a bit of sleep before going on to the final stage of the Hellas Rally 2017.

For the last days I’ve been rolling through the Balkan countries, organizing my thoughts and trying to work through some personal setbacks that came up just before setting out. Motorcycle riding is therapy! The rhythms of the music are intoxicating, calming and eventually allowing me to get the bit of sleep I’d hoped for. Then suddenly, bright lights flicker before my eyes, and something rubs against my leg. I’m thrown out of the calm of sleep. “They’re here!” I think to myself and slowly open my eyes. To my surprise it isn’t Sandra and Bartek from our media team who were planning to pick me up here. No, it’s the Greek police. The situation is a bit surreal, the man in front gestures wildly, shining the flashlight in my eye. I see an ambulance and a bunch of blue lights. Taking the headphones off I stand up and explain that I’m fine and just wanted to take a snooze in the emergency parking lot of the empty highway. In the background I see the Polish van from Bartek and Sandra rush by and wave after them. “We thought you were dying”, he says relieved.



Mythology covers the history of the gods and heroes of ancient Greece. After my first Hellas Rally in 2016 it was clear that heroism resides in each participant, whether rider, organizer, mechanic, etc., and that together they bring the event up Mount Olympus. For that very reason my anticipation grew for the start of the 2017 edition.

On the narrow roads of the surrounding mountains I quickly catch up to the small bus from Team Xrepo (Sandra and Bartek). The clever Michal Latoch is again participating this year. He trains in Greece for his dream and would like to be a contender for the Dakar 2018 and bring honor to his native Poland. For me, it’s a great feeling to be together with this crew again. We reach the western Greek town of Napfaktos with its 13,000 inhabitants on the Gulf of Corinth. After the two-year stint on the island of Euböa, the Hellas Rally is returning to its old stomping grounds for this edition. Since 2011, organizer Meletis Stamatis has held an affordable rally in central Greece, one that even amateurs can participate in, thanks to a manageable level of difficulty. This year the participation grew to 199 riders from 25 nations, among them seven motorcycle classes, as well as classes for SSV and quads. There is something for everyone.



The Greeks welcome the rally with open hearts. Souvlaki skewers sizzle over the fire, ouzo (a popular Greek liquor) is poured, and the Greek salad displayed before me couldn’t be any bigger. It makes it easy to feel good here for all those involved.

In contrast to the African rallies where the bivouac changes location every night, here it remains in one place, changing the character of the event somewhat. For the traditional rally fans this might be viewed in a negative light, but it has its advantages and above all gives the amateurs the chance to concentrate more on their riding and having fun.

The prologue is short and intensive, going straight into the mountains. The terrain and surroundings are breathtaking. Fast stretches through patches of forest, smaller enduro passages with rocks, holes, and a continuous view of the sea. Doris, the goddess of the sea, has me captured for a moment and my concentration really isn’t on my press bike. Indeed, following a few bumps my rear tire skids way out to the side—I can’t control the heavy KTM 690 and all the camera equipment. A permanent grin softens the feeling from my swollen hand there on the first day of prologue. It takes a bit more time to get back in the swing of things but fortunately the pain goes away quickly.



Just like at the other rallies, here we also turn our hotel room into the “midnight press room.” We sit there deep into the night, sorting through photos, editing material, and planning the next day. It’s a blessing to be able to observe the rallies from different perspectives but at the same time a bit of a curse to withstand the permanent stress and sleep deprivation; I’m either riding, taking pictures, talking to the participants, or sitting at the computer.

The soundtrack from last year’s rally blares out of the alarm clock, yanking me from my slumber. Chronos, the god of time, calls me back to my bike, after just three hours of sleep. I get about an hour’s head start on the riders going into the stage. The night prior I had selected a route on Google Earth, a serpentine trail that clings to the slope and has views of the sea. I can’t permit a fall but at the same time need to be quick enough that I don’t get overtaken. After all, I don’t want my “rally ship” to be in the way when the fast guys speed by.

The spot turns out to be a stroke of luck, and I use the rest of the waiting time to relax. I’m not alone here, in one of the serpentine curves there is a small farm where feta cheese is made. The farmer joins me in the applause curve and hands me a bit of breakfast. It’s not just the speed and competition that count but moreover the feeling of adventure that brings people to these events, something that can also be felt in Greece.



Ugo Filosa on his Honda Africa Twin gets quite close to us on his way by, rocks flying everywhere, scaring up a horde of grasshoppers which fly around and disappear into the cloud of dust. His sound is forever engrained in my memory. Last year the Italian jockeyed for a win in the two-cylinder class with his brand-new Africa Twin. However, Dirk von Zitzewitz was able to take him out of the top spot with his modified Touratech Africa Twin. Again, this year Ugo comes back to the bivouac as “Malle Moto,” struggling like David against Goliath, only this time with New Zealander Chris Birch, the off-road coach who’s world renown for his artistic riding style. His machine is a KTM 1090, and he’s impressive on it. While Chris has a KTM mechanic on his side and is professionally accompanied by his clever Team Kinigadner, I catch Ugo that evening with his own tools and a head lamp, working away on his mistreated machine. Still, he seems to always have a smile ready for me.

I watch the edge of the route through the search field of my camera and, in comparison to a large part of Chris’s riding field, it seems like a measured harmony of balance and strength. A very impressive and technical riding pureness! Chris invites me to lunch with his wife and daughter who accompany him at this event. As it is so often, such a life is only possible with the support of family. He had won the New Zealand championship eight times in a row before also winning the Red Bull Romaniacs, taking part in the Dakar, and now teaching off-road riding to between 400 and 500 people yearly. An impressive achievement, one that I tip my hat to. The smart family guy answers my question of what drives him: “It’s the satisfied participants at the trainings, their achievements, and ever-present challenges that arise within the motorcycle sport.” One of those is the KTM 1090 project. He raises the bar even higher this year, entering the Red Bull Romaniacs on the “Beast.” What he finds best about the Hellas Rally is its adventure character. More than just a race on a fenced-off track, it’s a ride through spectacular landscapes with access to the Greek back country.



There isn’t another event in the rally calendar I know of, where professionals and amateurs rub shoulders with each other and friendship prevails. No giant motor homes, private tents, or “star attitudes” but rather a common passion that connects.

Erebos, the god of darkness, dominates the mid-section of the Special Stage. Lightning, heavy rain, fog and hail through half of the route make it into an uncomfortable situation. I’m standing nearby at 1,700 meters trying to guide my drone through the fog back to safety before the rain hits. It’s not the drone I’m really worried about, rather the memory card! Just after packing it into my bag I’m overtaken by the weather front.

Back at the bivouac I find out about the other tributes that Erebos summoned. An accident had already occurred the day prior in which two riders ran their front ends into each other. Sadly, one of them was injured and in the hospital. Today it was the Spanish team with Isaac Feliu, who suffered several set-backs. Alongside a broken chain, defective radiator, defective wheel bearing, and resulting jammed back wheel, the team had broken ribs, a broken collar bone, and a situation that no one could believe: the back tire of Isaac’s BMW F800GS swerved too far out while crossing a small bridge, sending him six meters into a ravine! He must have had a diligent guardian angel as he came away without being hurt. Not so for his bike, as the fork, back frame, and various other parts are badly bent, and for him the rally had ended. I’m happy to see that back at the bivouac, his team is able to laugh at the turn of events. Yes, technical defects, injury, and in rare cases even worse things do happen in this sport. But everyone knows that it’s part of the game, and a life totally without risk….



Those who do prefer something more low key, without the pressures of competition, can take part in this event and have fun with other like-minded riders at the Adventure Raid, riding the rally tracks with GPS on an offset schedule. The good rally atmosphere is a nice bonus, and there’s something for everyone at this event. Michal, or as I call him “Mother Poland,” gives me a savory, very tasty Polish bratwurst from the grill and another glass of vodka. As part of the media crew, we’re there for him an integral part of his Malle Moto team, and after finishing all of his daily work he doesn’t hesitate to help me tighten all the bolts on my press bike. That evening I look at the day’s ratings, in the big bike class, following Isaac’s exit, only Ugo and Chris are left with similar times, struggling for the top spot. In the elite class it’s Gerard Farrés and Stefan Svitko who, just like last year, go head to head throughout the entirety of the rally and deliver an impressive performance. It doesn’t surprise anyone, however, as both are top riders with years of experience and podium spots at the Dakar.

Gerard and I meet for an interview, and during our conversation he sheds light on a totally unexpected POV from a professional in the sport. He is one of the private riders who has almost seen it all in this sport. The Spaniard is like the guy next door, who tells me about his life, taking part in his first race at 15 years old in a small Spanish village. He often needed to pull out of races as a result of breakdowns, when his family didn’t have any leftover money for repairs. However, he never gave up his passion, which serves him today as his biggest driver. His eyes fill with enthusiasm as he begins telling me about his time at the Dakar in Africa and later South America. In the beginning years of the Dakar he had technical difficulties and was not competitive at all. He was the water boy for Marc Coma, gaining experience while passing up an offer from Honda. Being his own boss was his goal, and he developed an intensive partnership with his current main sponsor. He believed in those around him and they in him. The result was a third place as an independent rider at the Dakar 2017, working together with a common ambition, passion, and cohesion. To my question, how long he planned to keep doing this came his quick answer, “As long as my family stands behind me in this.” His wife and both daughters mean the most to him, and he tries to offer them the best this sport has to offer. When the Dakar in Africa got canceled, he thought first about the people living there. He sponsors a child in Africa and supports him and his family with the important daily needs. Those are the values he strives to pass onto his two daughters. As such, following our conversation I send him the link to my video report about the school project from Fabrizio Meoni in Dakar, with the request that after the rally he watch it.



The wind blows, the scent of moist plants hangs in the air, and water vapor rises from the drying pavement. At 5:30 this morning the motor sends an orchestra of sound over the empty mountain road, and I enjoy the ride on one of my last and longest stretches of the week. It is Helios, the god of the sun, who means well with me this morning. I turn onto a small path, up into the highest chain of mountains of this rally at 1,700 meters. A breathtaking scene unfolds before my eyes. The surrounding valleys below are shrouded in mist and I breeze alone through the stage, still ahead of the other riders and leave behind the first tracks of the day. My motorcycle roars along like a hovercraft over the rock-studded trails. It takes a while before I can let myself stop to capture the surroundings on film. A great feeling! Having arrived and after a short pause to relax, I see Gerard and Stefan fly by in first place. This time however not in full-throttle mode. No, they ride together, Stefan’s roadbook broke today and Gerard has taken him by the hand. Together they ride side by side toward the day’s finish line. Another moment of goose bumps!

To my surprise the day ends in rain, although this time I stay dry. I’m already sitting in the bivouac as the weather worsens and see Stephanie Rowe from England, trembling and limping through the camp. “She did it,” I think and walk towards her. Her eyes radiate both exhaustion and happiness, and I can only think of one sentence, which I give her on her way: “Steph, you can really be proud of yourself.” A smile from her bluish lips is enough of a reply. For more than two years Steph struggled back to life following an accident at the GS Trophy. The doctors told her she would never be able to walk without pain again, and now I see her here in the bivouac. For her just entering the rally was a huge win!



The moment has finally come, floodlights shine, and the flash of cameras capture the excitement-laden atmosphere. The voice of organizer Meletis booms out over the joyous crowd, medals and trophies are presented and all of Nafpaktos celebrates its guests. Gerard Farrés receives the crown in the elite class, followed by Stefan Svitko and Andrew Klimchief. For the big bikes it’s Chris Birch who claims the title, followed by the week’s nice guy, Ugo Filosa. For the Quads it was Gary Aldington ahead of Sebastian Souday and Alexandre Giroud who delivered the best performance. And then there’s Steph, dancing wildly in front of the podium! Perhaps it is Morpheus, the god of dreams, who made it possible again that so many participants were filled with courage and passion. In almost obligatory fashion, Sandra and I move along with the fantastic and familiar crowd swarming around the crazy-for-motor-sports Kinigadner family into the city, celebrating this finished edition of the Hellas Rally Raid 2017.

A smile spreads across my face as I check my in box on departure day. “Thank you very much for this great video. I cried with emotion. It is unbelievable, thank you very much. Gerard Farrés.” Rally sport is much more than just a race, it also shapes our compassion for others!

HellasRally.org

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Facts about the 2017 Hellas Rally Raid

Arrival: The event location of the Hellas Rally Raid has been, up to this point, moved to a different location every two years. With planes one can be in Greece in less than three hours from anywhere in the EU, and your motorcycle can be transported to the event through a service team. If more time is at hand, one can also arrive there on their own vehicle (motorcycle, etc.) and combine the rally with further travel. The route through the Balkans provides excellent travel opportunities.

Accommodation: The Hellas Rally doesn’t have a “wandering” bivouac and therefore one can check into one of the many hotels for the week. Those who want it closer to nature can pitch a tent in the bivouac.

Navigation: As in other rallies, here roadbooks are used for route navigation. The roadbooks are given out daily at the evening briefing. The navigation with the “prayer scrolls” takes some getting used to, but there are various trainings offered. For participants of the Adventure Raid, there is no roadbook but rather navigation takes place with GPS Track.

Entrance/Cost: From professionals to amateurs, everyone participate in the rally and for each motorcycle the right class can be found. Starting fees are around 600€. On top of that are the costs for room and board, material, and a service team, assuming one wants mechanical tune-ups, and transportation organized. More information can be found at HellasRally.org.

Weather: Greece is warm and Mediterranean. The rally takes place in May and therefore the temperature allow for motorsport. Cooler temperatures can be found in the mountain stages or with a cold drink of the evening bivouac ambiance.

Service Teams: With or without a service team depends on the different situations. I normally prefer a service team for beginners and those who arrive riding their own motorcycles. The costs for the service vary and are often dependent on the depth of service. A list of available service teams can be found on the Hellas Rally website.

Raids: It’s also possible to ride the same or slightly changed routes outside of the ratings. The word for that is raid! One is free from the pressure of competing and rides an adventure tour with GPS. This year there was a raid parallel to the rally, and for safety reasons the routes were ridden offset from the times of the normal rally.

Medical Assistance/Safety: The different routes have various checkpoints at which there are medical personal at hand. The off-road routes of the Hellas Rally are mostly not far from paved roads. Therefore, in serious situations fast help is at hand. As an extra safety net each person receives a GPS tracker, over which the current position can be monitored so that no one is lost.

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Bastian Brüsecke, who grew up around motorcycling, believes in choosing the right tool for the job—whether it’s written articles, photography, or film. His goal is to bring stories to others in such a way that will motivate them to get out there and experience the adventurous life for themselves. He’s a member of Rally Cool Photographers, a collective of adventure travelers, photographers and storytellers. Their office is the deserts, high mountains and bivouacs in the middle of nowhere. They live their dreams and aim to capture moments that inspire others. MotoVenture.de

Hugo Moto is proud to announce the addition of a 750cc + Scrambler class to the last round of the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro to be held October 20th and 21st in Glen Daniel, West Virginia. Racers will have the opportunity to ride 6 timed sections per day, alternating between grass track and woods sections. Competitors must be at least 18 years of age on a street-legal 750cc or larger machine with DOT-approved tires.



“Hugo Moto measures performance in smiles per hour and we can’t think of anything much more fun than ripping around a golf course on scramblers,” said Jason Smith, Hugo Moto President. “The Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro format is a perfect fit for scrambler racing. We love the fact that riders get to run their own pace against the clock on some amazing terrain. Not having to worry about who’s lined up next to you and getting to run shorter, timed segments really makes it approachable for everyone.”

Jason Hooper, Founder and Promoter of the Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series, stated, “We’ve watched the scrambler scene blow up over the last several years so we were excited when Hugo Moto approached us about adding a new class.They work closely with our title sponsor, Kenda, on scrambler tire development, so it’s a perfect fit. If the interest is strong, we’ll add it to selected events next year.”

About Hugo Moto:
Hugo Moto creates motorcycle accessories that empower average Janes and Joes to build exceptional bikes. Current focus: Making Harley-Davidson Sportsters great again with high-performance, bolt-on scrambler conversion kits. For more information visit https://hugomoto.com/ .

About The Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro Series:
The Kenda Full Gas Sprint Enduro is a nine-round AMA Championship Off-Road Racing Series. Each two-day event consists of six European-style “special test” timed sections per day, alternating between grass track and enduro tests. For more information visit http://www.sprintenduro.com/schedule/round-8-hidden-valley-golf/.

KTM has announced the twelve riders who will be given a fully supported KTM 790 ADVENTURE R in order to compete in a unique event within the 2019 Merzouga Rally – The KTM Ultimate Race.

Following special qualification events held within the six KTM ADVENTURE RALLIES across the world in 2018 and 2019, participants had to prove excellent machine control, navigational skill and competent mechanical ability across multiple days. The top two positions from each event have now been decided and are READY TO RACE. Each rider gets to compete in an exclusive class at the Dakar series race in Morocco with a fully supported ride that includes flights, accommodation, meals, entry fees, as well as a full race service.

KTM is now proud to announce the hardest and most fearless 12 riders of the KTM ADVENTURE community from around the world who have qualified for this epic final battle, which takes place from March 31 to April 5, 2019.



EUROPE: Sebastian Blum (Germany) & Stefano Sassaro (Italy)
USA: Jordan Huibregtse & Scott Myers
CANADA: Radek Burkat & Vasile Scurtu
AUSTRALIA: Robert Nowak & Steve Robertson
NEW ZEALAND: Elliot Kent & Kevin Archer
SOUTH AFRICA: Christiaan Odendaal & Greg Hodgskin

The Ultimate Race is a special class at the Merzouga Rally, very similar to the main event and partly ridden on the same routes. Like the pros, the participants will face a marathon stage where no outside assistance is allowed. The participants are entirely left to themselves, which means taking care of the maintenance of their bikes and staying the night in a bivouac.

Each competitor will have access to a specially prepared KTM 790 ADVENTURE R, which will be equipped with a host of KTM PowerParts, such as the Akrapovič Slip-on line silencer, the Ergo seat and protection parts which are essential for riding under these conditions, along with a roadbook to help navigate through the desert. The Ultimate Race participants will be treated like KTM Factory riders, supported on site with a truck and a team of mechanics to help out with parts and tools or with fixing the bike after a tough race day.



Along with this unique and exclusive prize, competitors will be given a fantastic opportunity to be coached by some of the world’s finest and fastest offroad riders. Chris Birch, Marc Coma and Quinn Cody will each take on four participants and under their close guidance and tutelage will actively support these riders in every aspect of how to manage this challenge.

As for the prize? The winner of the Ultimate Race can keep their KTM 790 ADVENTURE R race bike along with receiving an all-expenses paid package for two people to see the 2020 Dakar Rally.

KTM Ultimate Race 2020

For those who are attending this year’s KTM ADVENTURE RALLIES on a twin-cylinder KTM ADVENTURE bike, KTM is excited to announce the renewed possibility to compete for a place at the KTM Ultimate Race in 2020 – registration can be done directly at the online booking of a KTM ADVENTURE RALLY event.

For more information or to register for the KTM ADVENTURE Rider Rally in Breckenridge, Colorado, visit the official page. To register for the KTM ADVENTURE Rally Canada in Rossland, BC, visit the official page.

There’s nothing better than trading stories around a campfire after a long day’s ride. Weekend warrior or world traveler, we all enjoy the comradery and excitement that dual-sport and ADV events have to offer. One of our goals is to share these grass-roots experiences with as many people as possible.



Whether you’re a first-time event organizer, or a developed establishment, ADVMoto wants to help promote your event! Our outlets can help you attract more attendees, find volunteers, or share the message of a charity that’s important to you.

ADVMotoEvents Promotion Includes:

1) Event posting on ADVMotoEvents.com map (this includes occasional information updates, before and after event)
2) Social media promotion on ADVMotoEvents and ADVMotoMag Facebook pages
3) A short follow up post (press release or event report) of content provided by event organizer with link to your event site.
4) (Optional) ADVMotoEvents Sponsorship

"MotoVermont has greatly benefited from working with ADVMoto over the past several years. ADVMoto is a top-notch publication with an incredible presence at adventure related events all over North America. You would be hard pressed to find an adventure motorcyclist that does not follow ADVMoto" -- Eric Milano, MotoVermont

ADVMotoEvents Promotion costs just $100 (paid via PayPal invoice after Event Form is Submitted), and FREE for non-profit organizations.

Thanks for working with us! Your event will reach thousands of riders who love ADV! Contact us HERE if you have any general questions, or questions regarding the event submission process.

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The Dakar Rally doesn’t care where you came from, doesn’t care how old you are, whether it’s your first attempt, or your fifteenth. The Dakar has nothing to prove. It’s you, the rider, the racer, who has to show this cross-country test that you’re capable to completing its grueling course. And that’s what draws so many to its starting line. But in all its years, the Dakar has never seen an American stand atop its podium… until now.



Ricky Brabec raced his first Dakar Rally aboard a Honda CRF450 Rally in 2016 finishing 9th overall. And while a Top-10 finish his first year was certainly impressive, he would fail to finish the next three years in a row, with a heartbreaking engine failure on the penultimate stage in 2019 while leading overall. But hard work and, as Ricky would say, “trusting the process” has paid off for the American, taking home a first-place finish in the bike category in 2020, along with two stage wins. But like a new musician producing their sophomore album, it’s the second one that really counts. So, can the young American make it to the top step of the podium at the world’s toughest race, twice?

The 2021 edition of the Dakar Rally will be unlike any other before it, and arguably unlike any other race in history. Held amidst a global pandemic, the Amaury Sports Organization (ASO) will host the rally in Saudi Arabia for the second year in a row, offering racers a landscape and terrain akin to Mars. But according to Ricky, racing in Saudi Arabia last year felt like riding back home in Hesperia, California. The fast and rocky special stages were no match for Brabec, who took home two stage wins on his way to that infamous First-Place finish, which was the first (ever) for an American. Yet, this year presents new challenges for Ricky and his HRC Monster Energy team, namely another young American racer, Skyler Howes.



Racing on a privateer team, with little support, Skyler managed a 9th place finish at the 2020 rally. This accomplishment earned Howes a spot on the BAS Dakar KTM team for 2021. With a fresh KTM 450 Rally under him, and the support of a professional racing team, Skyler is in a prime position to challenge Ricky for the podium. But he’s not the only American with his sights set on Brabec’s Number-One plate. Andrew Short, a 16-year veteran of the AMA Supercross circuit, and Top-10 finisher at the 2020 Dakar Rally, recently signed with the Monster Energy Yamaha team for 2021 and is looking to pick up his first podium finish at Dakar, as well. But aren’t they all?



Three fearless men, each with an impressive resume heading into what looks to be an exciting, albeit different, Dakar Rally in 2021. And they all have exceptionally good chances of finishing atop the podium. Ten years ago that would have sounded like a fairytale. But here we are. A new day, a new Dakar. So, will this be the sophomore album we hope to hear from Ricky Brabec, or can another American racer return home to the USA with their own Number-One hit?

SS10, Kings of the Desert

Evidently, You Can Put a Price on Victory

A challenge is meant to bring out the best in someone. Or uncover their worst. To see a difficult situation through to the end, assess the damage, then move onto the next as a better person (theoretically). At the end of this most ultimate of challenges, were so many more successes than failures. Lessons learned, and goals achieved. As the curtains closed on the 2019 Dakar Rally, Toby finally gets his kiss. Laia gives Toby a long-overdue haircut. Nassir won Dakar for a third time. Two Americans landed in the Top Five among different classes. And everyone had one hell of a race. So what happened at the crescendo?

The shortest of the specials was not meant to be easy. Harkening back to the beginning, the last stage started like the first: in reverse order. With cars, trucks and Side-by-Sides sprinkled intermittently between bikes and quads. It made for a frenzied event as racers contending for the podium pushed and shoved past slower competitors – adding a swirl of fesh-fesh and urgency to the already numerous dangers. Launching last off the line, top pilots, from two-wheeled to four, small to massive, were meant to weave around the day’s back-of-the-pack, causing chaos we can maybe assume the Dakar organization had foreseen. Just imagine: you’re riding a rally bike as fast as possible in a sand storm, when a race-spec dump truck is hurdling itself in your direction and planning to pass. Whether you like it or not.

“It’s very crazy to sit here and say that we won the Dakar rally with no stage victories until today. It’s really crazy. I’m over the moon, I’m so damned stoked. It’s been a long 10 days. Now I’ll just wait and see what damage I've done to my wrist. At the end of the day, the pain and torture has been worth it. I thought I would only be able to do two stages and then pull out and that would have been me done, but the support from everyone back home in Australia and then having some things go my way and a bit of luck, it just worked out in the end. It’s been an unreal rally.” – 2019 Dakar Rally Winner, Toby Price #3, Red Bull KTM Factory Team, AUS



But with little withdrawal today, most of the racers seemed to have overcome the obstacles set forth, managing the tremendous task of completing the Dakar Rally… In-tact. An unsurprising win came from KTM for the 18th year in a row. Australia is likely drunk with pride (and Fosters?) celebrating their good ol’ boy Toby Price (#3) for his second title after only three years. It’s not news Price had not only completed but won this rally with an injured wrist – having broken it a few weeks prior – making his winning smooch from Laia Sanz (#17) all the more sweet. Though, she won her side of the bet too, nabbing a place among fifteen best bikes at Dakar. (Farewell, mullet.) But it is respected rival, Pablo Quintanilla (#6) who, like Toby, rode on with an injury. Crashing on this final stage, breaking his ankle, then hopping back on his bike to 4th overall at the finish, Quintanilla endured what the average guy would consider extreme pain with Herculean strength.

Every Dakar is just one step closer to victory for the United States. This year saw outstanding performances, like from Californian Ricky Brabec (#15) when he achieved the first overall lead by an American since Robby Gordon (#316) in 2005. But then, his record expanded with two overall leads in a row, plus he is the first patriot to lead the General Classification three times in one event. Rookie Skyler Howes (#73) made his way to the Top Ten by Special Stage Five putting neck ‘n neck with the “big boys” (and Laia). Although, during the liaison an unfortunate accident out of his control eventually led to his withdrawal. In Cars, two of the three vehicles with Robby Gordon’s Team Speed had more of the same issues they’ve experienced throughout the competition. One of the Textron’s breaking down and the other coming to the rescue – making their exit of the desert two hours longer than expected. But ironically, the car out of contention driven by Cole Potts with navigator Max Eddy Jr. (#346) had a smooth, easy day at last having much less of the headaches they too had been contending with. But as a whole, the six members – Robby, his co-pilot, Kellon Walch, Blade Hildebrand, co-pilot Bill Conger (#367) and the from Auto 346 fought tooth and nail to get their vessels to Lima, to roll over the podium one last time.

“[It was the] hardest thing I’ve ever done, and I’ll be back for more…” – Max Eddy Jr. #346, Team Speed, USA

Grassroots riders Garrett Poucher (#71) and Nathan Rafferty (#104) have taken positions they should be proud of. Rafferty pushed himself, nearing the point of tears at one point, which he graciously documented on his social media channels. But in the end, it paid off, as did what many capable riders can’t do: finish the Dakar. And he did it in 50th place, cutting starting position from Day 1 nearly in half. Garrett, a late starter to the off-road racing scene who’s been dominating enduro and local rallies for such a short period, has shown viewers of the rally he’s tough as nails. Featured in the media for as many epic fails as epic successes, he has blown us away with a 92-wrung move up the ladder ranking in the high 20’s early on. Falling back a bit during the marathon stage, Poucher luckily kept himself together through some terrific crashes, pushing himself further to conclude this infamous event at 32nd. Casey Currie did precisely what he’d promised from the start, making a name for himself as the first American to reach the top five seeds in the Side-by-Side class during his inaugural year. And at fourth overall, he is the highest ranked US finisher in 2019!



Last of the Yanks, but certainly not least, an ever-humble Andrew Short (#29) comes home from Peru in an incredible 5th position. And he sums up his experience with gratitude and admiration: “Ended up 5th overall here at the Dakar Rally! Stoked. This crew behind me are amazing at what they do… My heart goes out to my teammate Quintanilla who left everything on the table today going for the win… Congrats to the Legend, Toby Price. He is simply amazing on a dirt bike. This race is special, and I hope one day I get the opportunity to do it again…For ten days, you basically check out of society as the race consumes you, but I can’t wait to look back at some of the moments.”

For 41 years, the Dakar Rally has dazzled the world. An untouchable realm for the elite, and hearty – the pioneers of motorsport. Taking the adventurous nature of navigation, merging it with the thrill of competition and setting the scene at first in Africa and now in ‘America del Sur.’ No longer an event, Dakar is a lifestyle, shared by the many archetypes who fill its mobile cities for 15 days or so. A scene straight out of Mad Max with overbuilt dump trucks rolling down a network of dusty lawless roadways at one moment. Then storming the dunes like mammoths running from a pack of sabretooth tigers in another. It’s a dream. A long-fought achievement, for those men and women who’ve battled this most notorious of races. January 17th signified the finale of such punishing pursuits, and then more many, the start of a very long year of waiting… Until the next opportunity comes, to dare Dakar.

KEY POINTS:

• Three years after becoming the first Australian winner of the Dakar, Toby Price has triumphed again, fighting against the increasing pain caused by a scaphoid injury that was not quite healed before the start of the rally. (Statement provided by the ASO.)

• Carlos Sainz has managed to complete what was a difficult rally for him with a stage victory. The Mini has beaten Sébastien Loeb by only 42 seconds at the finishing line. Cyril Despres is 3rd, 2’31 behind the Spaniard. (Statement provided by the ASO.)

• Francisco “Chaleco” López Contardo has won his first Dakar on his first participation in the SxS category. Although he finished third in the last special, the Chilean has also won 4 stages and has completed the rally with a lead of just over Gerard Farrés and Reinaldo Varela in the general standings. (Statement provided by the ASO.)

• Unsurprisingly, in light of the lead he had going into the last stage, Nasser Al-Attiyah won his third Dakar in Pisco. The Qatari was Twelfth to finish 9’ behind Carlos Sainz at the finish of the last special and offers Toyota its first victory in the car category. “It’s fantastic. No mistakes during the entire rally. It was a very, very difficult rally for everybody. The good thing was that from day three we were leading and we built on our time everyday until we came to the last day with a big, big lead. I’m really happy – thanks to Toyota, thanks to BF Goodrich tyres, all the sponsors, Qatar, Red Bull. It made everything happen right for this year. I’m happy for Toyota because it’s the first time in the history of Toyota that they won the Dakar, this is fantastic. [On being the favorite] It’s like what I always say, we respect all the other drivers. All the drivers are really very strong. Everybody wants to win the Dakar. But we felt when we came that in Peru, a 100% Peru rally, with no other country, there would be a lot of sand dunes, so we could do what we know we're good at. We we're leading from day three and, yeah, I'm really quite happy. [On avoiding mistakes that others made] This is the adventure of the rally. The rally is not easy and if you push every day, sure, you will have a problem with the car. I’m really happy to win this race with Toyota.” (Statement provided by the ASO.)

• Rankings of Americans after SS10

MOTO

7th Andrew Short #29 – 01h 18’ 10”; 5th in the General Classification
32nd Garrett Poucher #71 – 01h 41’ 54”; 32nd in the General Classification
53rd Nathan Rafferty #104 – 02h 00’ 57”; 50th in the General Classification
DNF Skyler Howes #73
DNF Ricky Brabec #15

CAR

52nd Blade Hildebrand, Bill Conger #367 – 03h 24’ 45”; 42nd in the General Classification
53rd Robby Gordon, Kellon Walch #316 – 03h 25’ 58”; 49th in the General Classification
DNF Cole Potts, Max Eddy Jr. #346

SIDE-BY-SIDE

7th Casey Currie #343 – 01h 37’ 28”; 4th in the General Classification

• Top Ten Stage Finishers in Motorcycles

1st Toby Price #3 – 01h 14’ 01”; 1st in the General Classification
2nd Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo #10 – 01h 16’ 22”; 7th in the General Classification
3rd Matthias Walkner #1 – 01h 16’ 39”; 2nd in the General Classification
4th Sam Sunderland #14 – 01h 17’ 20”; 3rd in the General Classification
5th Luciano Benavides #77 – 01 17’ 21”; 8th in the General Classification
6th Kevin Benavides #47 – 01h 18’ 00”; 12th in the General Classification
7th Andrew Short #29 – 01h 18’ 10”; 5th in the General Classification
8th Xavier de Soultrait #18 – 01h 20’ 17”; 6th in the General Classification
9th Daniel Nosiglia Jager #28 – 01h 24’ 03”; 10th in the General Classification
10th Sebastian Buhler #110 – 01h 24’ 42”; 20th in the General Classification

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SS9, Pursuing the Penultimate

The Country’s Cocktail Isn’t the Only Thing Sour in Pisco

The second-to-last stage is bittersweet. On one end, it marks the conclusion of a long, grueling endeavor for everyone from the riders, their teams, the media and organizers who, since January 7th this year, have coped with sand storms, fesh-fesh, overwhelming heat and using a small filthy telephone booth for a toilet. At the other, it also means the end of an adventure, saying goodbye to friends, coming back to reality and, for a very specific group, facing the results.

Special Stage 9 offered racers their second mass start. Broken into groups once again, they set off on a high-speed chase for the horizon, with only dunes and fesh-fesh between them and the finish line. Being their fourth special to zig-zag through the area, the familiar terrain has been churned and scored so much by tire tread, it acted capricious at best for the competitors. Every day, people would say “the dunes were huge” and today was no exception. But the angles would play a bigger part in the pilots’ demise. One such rider, Gabriela Novotna (#57), spent an hour and a half digging her bike out from the (appropriately titled) depression between two very sharp dunes, shaped akin to a pizza slice.

“Today we raced in one big box. We went back-and-forth, and back-and-forth to the coast…and kind of raced over itself figure-eight style. The tracks were really tough…there’s a lot of fesh-fesh, and the fesh-fesh was chopped up really bad because we’ve raced across it in multiple directions. So, it just made it…abusive so-to-speak.” – Garrett Poucher #71, Garrett Off-Road Racing Team, USA



Another few suffered a similar fate to Ricky Brabec (#15), when engine failure brought on heartbreak for Adrien Van Beveren (#4) whom has remained in the Top Five for a majority of the race. And big news in cars, 13-time champion Stephane Peterhansel dropped out after just 26 kilometers when his co-driver David Castera had hurt his back. On the other hand, Michael Metge (#16) and Daniel Nosiglia Jager (#28) took full advantage of the mayhem, placing themselves comfortably in the first and second seeds of the stage.

News about Brabec’s withdrawal on Tuesday somewhat overshadowed other big events leaving many of us with questions. Namely, what caused the ASO to give Kevin Benavidas (#47) a three-hour penalty? It was confirmed the Monster Energy Honda Team rider had concealed extra notes taped to his gas tank offering alternative routes, or “short cuts,” through some of the more challenging and slower sections of the route – a common practice, apparently, which the ASO banned in 2018. A statement from the Dakar officials:

“Kevin Benavides was sanctioned yesterday with a 3:00’00 penalty after race authorities deemed that the rider had violated one of the new rules established for the race. The team is currently gathering all the necessary information to present an official claim against the sanction.”



This issue directly relates to a statement published on social media by Toyota Gazoo Team co-pilot Dirk Von Zitzewitz criticizing the organization for taking away what he considers to be an essential part of being a navigator: doing their homework. Nonetheless, what Benavidas was caught with is currently against regulations so it’s an opportunity for organizers to set an example, which in this case was an additional three hours for essentially cheating. Kevin is nonetheless sitting at 13th in the General Classification.

Despite losing a few key figures – Brabec, Skyler Howes (#73), Cole Potts and Max Eddy Jr (#346) – to DNFs, the Americans aren’t out of the running for some worthy finishes. Andrew Short (#29) and Casey Currie (#343) both sit in 4th place, eyeing the podium for their respective classes. Robby Gordon with co-pilot Kellon Walch (#316) and Blade Hildebrand with co-pilot Bill Conger (#367), both cars representing Team Speed, have clawed through restrictions and multiple mechanical issues to find themselves in respectable positions, considering the circumstances. And of course, the underdogs: Garrett Poucher (#71), a business man from Santa Clarita, California, who’s finding himself at the heels of factory riders even after enduring some cringe-worthy crashes, gone viral thanks to the likes of Dakar Heroes and Red Bull. And Nathan Rafferty (#104), whom considers himself a ski bum, has found a comfortable spot in the low 50’s. Nonetheless, the race isn’t over yet. And with even a short 111k special ahead of them, challengers can’t expect to take it easy until the podium in Lima.

KEY POINTS:

Ø An injured Toby Price (#3) leads the Dakar Rally in Bikes by one minute going into the final stage. “I’d like to finish on top,” said Price, who is still battling the pain of a recently broken wrist. “We’re so close; it’s so tight! I know it’s going to be very hard tomorrow and I’ll give it my best. I know I’m likely to be on the podium tomorrow, and it’s amazing. But I obviously want to win.”

Ø Honda’s Kevin Benavides Hit with three-hour Penalty, knocked completely out of contention. Sanctioned for concealing extra navigation notes in unsportsmanlike manner.

Ø KTM’s Sam Sunderland (#14) suffered his own penalty during SS8 knocking the podium out of sight by an extra hour. The rule cited has to do with the competitor’s tracking device, stating, “any competitor that intentionally damages the security devices (GPS, Iritrack, Smalltrack, ICO) in order to get the devices repaired and obtain a new starting time will receive a penalty of 1 hour.”

Ø Americans Casey Currie and Andrew Short each in 4th going into Final; Either can still get on the podium.

Ø Laia Sanz (#17) poised for her best finish yet in 2019. We’ll see if tomorrow’s special sees her breaking into the top ten.

Ø Nasser Al-Attiyah (#301) is set for his third Dakar title with nearly an hour advantage over second seed in cars.

Ø Rankings of Americans after SS9

MOTO

7th Andrew Short #29 – 03h 50’ 41”; 4th in the General Classification
27th Garrett Poucher #71 – 04h 40’ 39”; 33rd in the General Classification
61st Nathan Rafferty #104 – 06h 52’ 05”; 52nd in the General Classification
DNF Skyler Howes #73
DNF Ricky Brabec #15

CAR

28th Robby Gordon, Kellon Walch #316 – 05h 59’ 28”; 46th in the General Classification
29th Blade Hildebrand, Bill Conger #367 – 06h 00’ 07”; 43rd in the General Classification
DNF Cole Potts, Max Eddy Jr. #346

SIDE-BY-SIDE

4th Casey Currie #343 – 04h 53’ 09”; 4th in the General Classification

• Top Ten Stage Finishers in Motorcycles

1st Michael Metge #16 – 03h 46’ 38”; 22nd in the General Classification
2nd Daniel Nosiglia Jager #28 – 03h 48’ 38”; 10th in the General Classification
3rd Pablo Quintanilla #6 – 03h 50’ 06”; 2nd in the General Classification
4th Matthias Walkner #1 – 03h 50’ 07”; 3rd in the General Classification
5th Toby Price #3 – 03h 50’ 07”; 1st in the General Classification
6th Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo #10 – 03h 50’ 08”; 6th in the General Classification
7th Andrew Short #29 – 03h 50’ 41”; 4th in the General Classification
8th Luciano Benavides #77 – 03 51’ 33”; 7th in the General Classification
9th Xavier de Soultrait #18 – 03h 51’ 34”; 5th in the General Classification
10th Oriol Mena #18 – 03h 52’ 36”; *9th in the General Classification

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SS8: Please Exit Stage Left

In the Eighth Special, Brabec’s Luck Ran Out for a Second Time at a Dakar 

There’s only so much to say about the Peruvian landscapes hosting the 2019 Dakar Rally. It’s sandy, dusty and unpredictable. Although Special Stage 8 might have offered relatively less navigational challenges, it still has seen its fair share of obstacles. News about front runner Ricky Brabec’s (#15) DNF is dominating the media, but it’s not all bad news for the Americans… Fellow patriot, Andrew Short (#29) still has a shot at a solid finish, beginning the day’s race at 9th overall and finishing at 5th. Privateers, Garrett Poucher (#71) and Nathan Rafferty (#104) too have chances to end in Lima with positions to be proud of.

Today’s mixed starting lineup of the ten best cars and bikes, as well as five best trucks and quads, made for an exciting launch. But the buzz didn’t last for everyone. A hopeful to win Dakar in bikes, destiny had different plans for the California native, who suffered the same fearful fate as so many great racers this week have had to face: withdrawal. Reportedly, his bike had a malfunction at kilometer 56 bringing Brabec to his climactic, albeit uneventful, conclusion. But we need not worry about the young American, as he has made it out of Dakar with his health. SLOVNAFT Team pilot, Stefan Svitko (#11), however, was airlifted out of the racecourse after sustaining a head injury. His well-being is yet unknown, though his attitude on social media seems quite upbeat. And surprisingly, despite the very challenging specials recently, most of the racers appear to have the same attitude.

“Had to unzip the Gucci jersey on this one. Another tough day with bad fog, 40km of fesh-fesh waist deep, and super soft dunes. Two more to go!” – Privateer, Petr Angelo Vlcek #59, KLYMCIW Racing, CZE



Between 1979 and 2015, only four Americans have held stage wins in Bikes. Just three of which obtained more than one. Hell in 2015, the only US entrants were Antonio Narino (bikes); Robby Gordon, Johnny Campbell, Luiz Cesar Ramirez Jr. (cars)… That’s four people – and two of them were in the same vehicle! Not until the year following Ricky’s 2016 premiere at Dakar, did he manage to nab the next stage victory for the United States. To top that cupcake with a cherry, Brabec is now the only US citizen to lead the General Classification in a whopping 15 years! But the real fun fact: only two Americans in any class have ever led the Dakar Rally overall, to include motorsports legend Robby Gordon (#316). And now, Ricky Brabec. He even broke Gordon’s record, finding himself dominant over the pack for three separate days (Gordon only held it for two). Champion desert riders, Kurt Caselli and Jonah Street were latest to earn stage wins prior to Brabec, but neither were close to the top seed in the General Classification.

“It was a really hard day. There was nothing really positive about my day, especially for the race. The coolest part was getting a helicopter ride along the beach and back. It’s heart-wrenching. Not easy. We have to go home, take a break and come back. I’m at a loss for words. It was amazing to be on the top for the previous days. It’s really nice to have the team support me and the whole team. It felt like the vibes and the confidence in me were good. That helped me to achieve so many great days.” – Ricky Brabec #15, Monster Energy Honda Team, USA

Maybe, they won’t be playing Queen’s “We Are the Champions” as Brabec disembarks his airplane in Los Angeles, but he is no less a winner. Ricky’s fourth stint at the Dakar Rally was valiant – holding the overall position after three separate specials, two of them in a row, which hasn’t been accomplished by an American since… Well it’s never happened. Plus, the last time a Yankee won a stage before 2019, again, was Ricky in 2017. Caught up in the moment, it’s easy to see why America weeps. “We were so close!” rings out from the virtual highway. Plenty of disappointment pouring onto social media, filled with pity for their nation, frustration with Honda or even anger with the ASO. But sifting through the B.S. a bit, positive messages begin to emerge. We often forget is that for several long days, our “Golden Boy” – along with his colleagues – stare death straight in the eyes in the one of the most dangerous races in existence while being watched and scrutinized and pummeled by public opinion. It takes a strong mind and tough skin to take on that sort of pressure and come out the other side whole, let alone carrying with them a positive demeanor.



Today isn’t another loss for America, or even for Ricky. It’s he who has pioneered the path, so a new set of US competitors can dare to Dakar. Many of which are making names for themselves already. His performances over the last couple of years have given the country hopes for its first rally hero. And in the eighth special, he exited Dakar Stage Left, if not the hero we’ve always wanted, then the principle player we’d had all along.

KEY POINTS:

American Podium Finishes

CARS

2009 – 2nd Mark Miller; 3rd Robby Gordon
2010 – 3rd Mark Miller (stage win)

MOTOS

1992 – 2nd Danny LaPorte
2000 – 3rd Jimmy Lewis
2007 – 3rd Chris Blais

Like many others before him, Ricky Brabec once again fell afoul of the harsh laws of the Dakar. Almost exactly one year after having broken the engine on his Honda, the American once again was forced to exit the rally for the same reason, a heart-breaking blow for a rider who, up until that point, had ridden the perfect race and was dreaming of being the first representative of Uncle Sam to win the Dakar. Although he was not expected to do as well, the official HRC rider obtained another stage victory in 2019 and most impressively was leading the general standings three days from the finish. It is a crushing blow for Honda also, because on yet another occasion they will not have been able to bring the domination of KTM on the Dakar to a close. (Statement provided by the ASO.)

Matthias Walkner posted the best time to win the Super Ica special stage. The Austrian beat Pablo Quintanilla and Toby Price but remains behind his two rivals in the general standings. “Until the refueling, Toby caught up a lot of time on me. But in the dunes, I tried to push really hard in the morning. It was a really fast track with not really visible stones and I didn’t feel so good, but at the end I felt quite good and tried to push a lot”.

For the penultimate stage of the Dakar this year, the competitors will be tackling another loop in the region of Pisco, which is especially well endowed with dunes that have already caused plenty of damage, both in the ranks of the favorites and the amateurs. Now is not the time to crack, all the more so given that the mass start, by waves of 10 in the bike category and groups of 4 in the car race, will add a spectacular nuance to the battle that has been raging for 9 days… (Statement provided by the ASO.)

The new general standings leader at the best time possible, Toby Price will have to grit his teeth and bear it if he wants to remain so until the finish. The Australian is suffering from a sore wrist and will have team-mates Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland on his tail. The two men are likely to be merciless on the loop around Pisco, unless off course Pablo Quintanilla finally tastes success on the Dakar behind the handlebars of his Husqvarna! (Statement provided by the ASO.)

With a lead of 46 minutes in the general standings, Nasser Al-Attiyah merely needs to control the rest of the rally. Sébastien Loeb has decided to continue looking for stage victories, while Nani Roma and Stéphane Peterhansel will have to rely on their experience to take the second place for which they are battling. (Statement provided by the ASO.)

Chaleco López still leads the day’s special after 200 km. However, the Chilean is under pressure from Cristian Baumgart who trails by only 49 seconds! Reinaldo Varela has lost almost one hour.

Sébastien Loeb has increased his lead over the time posted by Al-Attiyah after 300 km. The Peugeot driver now leads his Toyota rival by 5’34, while his countryman Stéphane Peterhansel trails by 29 minutes.

Rankings of Americans after SS8

MOTO

5th Andrew Short #29 – 04h 05’ 16”; 5th in the General Classification
23rd Garrett Poucher #71 – 04h 52’ 57”; 37th in the General Classification
58th Nathan Rafferty #104 – 06h 48’ 20”; 52nd in the General Classification
DNF Skyler Howes #73
DNF Ricky Brabec #15

CAR

TBD Blade Hildebrand, Bill Conger #367 – --h --’ --”; --th in the General Classification
TBD Robby Gordon, Kellon Walch #316 – --h --’ --”; --th in the General Classification
DNF Cole Potts, Max Eddy Jr. #346

SIDE-BY-SIDE

5th Casey Currie #343 – 04h 53’ 09”; 5th in the General Classification

• Top Ten Stage Finishers in Motorcycles

1st Matthias Walkner #1 – 03h 55’ 25”; 3rd in the General Classification
2nd Pablo Quintanilla #6 – 03h 56’ 10”; 2nd in the General Classification
3rd Toby Price #3 – 03h 56’ 38”; 1st in the General Classification
4th Andrew Short #29 – 04h 05’ 16”; 5th in the General Classification
5th Adrien Van Beveren #4 – 04h 07’ 13”; 4th in the General Classification
6th Luciano Benavides #77 – 04 08’ 16”; 7th in the General Classification
7th Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo #10 – 04h 09’ 13”; 8th in the General Classification
8th Kevin Benavides #47 – 04 10’ 32”; 14th in the General Classification
9th Xavier de Soultrait #18 – 04h 11’ 15”; 6th in the General Classification
10th Michael Metge #16 – 04h 14’ 36”; 24th in the General Classification

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SS7: It's All Downhill from Here

Only Three Days Left, But Can We Trust that It’ll Be Smooth Sailing? 

No matter what the outcome this Thursday, the finale of the 2019 Dakar Rally will make history. Whether we see four Americans seeded under 50th. Two US riders in the Top Ten. One standing on the podium with our National Anthem playing in the background. Or, some other combination of conclusions… It will be a proud moment. Because of those 12 individuals competing, all have fought valiantly.

Special Stage Seven offered yet another 800-ft mountain of sand. Only this time, the racers pointed their headlights downward, surfing the face of this tsunami-sized cliff. From a spectator’s point of view, the vehicles looked as if they were gliding – pushing apart the soft terrain like wake from a ship as they dove towards level plains at alarming speeds. A driver with lesser experience might begin to doubt themselves at the halfway point then, foolishly, hit the brakes, slowing the rear wheels and sliding sideways until the inside tires – now perpendicular to their original path – dig deep enough to catch and thrust the vessel into a tumbling descent. Terrifying. But exhilarating. Because the secret to overcoming the dunes, is gas. Just like the key to an epic fail… Also gas.

“Today was really, really tough. You know, it was 323K’s of what we’ve already ridden, so the track got really rough and ratted up. And the cars and the trucks obviously brought up all the rocks, so it was really dangerous…” (Pause) “I started enjoying halfway through when we got into the dunes. It was a little more fun, a little bit more technical on the navigational side of things. …All in all, you know, we stayed in one piece, kept the bike together, which is the main thing. And we’re still enjoying the rally. Still good to be in the mix of things. And looking forward to the last couple of days.” – 17th overall, Ross Branch #114, BAS Dakar Team, BWA



Understandably, Pablo Quintanilla’s (#6) performance was less than ideal for the Rockstar Energy Husqvarna team rider. But as first out the gate, he faced both the typical disadvantage in that he had no tracks to follow. And the added dangers left behind from the previous days of rallying. Grassroots racer, Garrett Poucher (#71), has had a few of his misfortunes go viral. Many of us have seen the video(s) of Poucher forcing a stage finish on a rubber-less rim. Or more recently the picture of him going full ostrich, head buried in the sand, bike swinging overhead in a direction that could only lead to “more ouch.” Yet, each day Poucher has pushed himself to the end and continues to force himself up the ladder – today clinching 36th in the stage. Fellow Yankee Nathan Rafferty (#104) has also had his fair share of mishaps which he too has had to overcome, which the BAS Dakar Team racer described in full on Instagram:

“Spent the whole night stressing as the organizers said today’s 100KM dune section was even tougher [than in Special Stage Six]…Turns out the dunes today weren’t nearly as tough as yesterday…Thought I did have the worst…wreck of my life…[with] what I thought might be a broken wrist. In the end, I slipped a few places today but am happy to still be upright.”

Team Speed’s three cars trickled into the bivouac as late as 4a.m. after suffering a variety of mechanical issues during Special Stage Six. Not to mention heavy fog and low visibility – a common characteristic of these last couple of stages. But all of which they championed, eventually. With just a couple of hours to spare before hopping back into the cockpits by 7a.m. local time, to do it all over again. With fog rolling in toward the end of the day, the ASO cut the race course out from kilometer 227 to 255, giving many teams an opportunity to eat dinner before midnight… If at all. Circumstances throughout the event have put each man to the test, but USA-natives Robby Gordon (#316), Blade Hildebgrand (#367) and Cole Potts (#346) and their respective co-pilots Kellon Walch, Bill Conger and Max Eddy Jr. have all kept their chins up and are keen to make it to the finish.



Ricky Brabec (#15) may not have won the stage, but he’s back on top in the general standings. Adrien Van Beveren (#4) continues to hold his spot in line, keeping a close eye on the podium with less than 9 minutes away from snagging the spotlight from Ricky. While the other fast-guys are as little as four minutes from tasting victory. Countryman and comrade, Andrew Short (#29), has decided to step up from 10th to 9th in the general standings with a tactic which won the Tortoise his race. Could Short surprise the world, slowly but surely – casually making his way to the podium? Will Brabec hold onto the first seed over the remaining three specials and do what’s so far been the impossible for Americans: arriving to Lima a winner and leaving it a legend.

"I was just catching up with the group on the dunes when I saw them turning around in circles. I realized they were unable to find the WP, so I pulled away and validated the waypoint, but Matthias saw me, and the rest followed him. I could've hit the jackpot today, but unfortunately, they saw me. I still managed to put time into everyone except Ricky, so it was a good day. It wasn't easy to hide that I'd validated the waypoint. We're getting near the finish, so we have to stay focused. I'm doing my best every day and I really hope it's going to pay off." – Adrien Van Beveren #4, Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team, FRA

2019 could wind up a most historic year for American motorsports enthusiasts. With two of their own firmly seeded in the Top Ten, one of which is favorite to take the championship. Not only that, but the few US privateers in the Moto class have been exceeding expectations, all of whom are elevating to new heights – and positions – each stage, with only minor setbacks. What we can expect over the next few stages? As with every special so far, we can expect nothing… But blood, sweat, tears… and triumphs.

KEY POINTS:

• With Toby Price still firmly among the first five seeds, and Laia Sanz just outside the top 15, so far it seems Price might get a big wet smooch and get to keep his trailer-chic locks.

• The defending champion is sitting seventh overall at the end of stage 7, a shade below his level of last year, but he is also aware that everything can change in a heartbeat. "It was really hard. In the sand, if somebody takes the wrong line, everybody gets lost. I got a little bit confused with some notes and lost a little bit of time. The last days are always very difficult. Normally, in the mass starts, not that much changes, but what is 'normal' in the Dakar?" (Statement provided by the ASO.)

• "Chaleco" López will keep great memories of stage 7. The Chilean driver claimed his third S×S stage win by more than 22 minutes over Reinaldo Varela —good enough to come within striking distance of the Brazilian, who now leads the race after Gerard Farrés went through CP2 with a deficit of almost 2 hours! (Statement provided by the ASO.)

• Stéphane Peterhansel still holds a margin of about 3 minutes over Nani Roma at WP5. Things are tighter 10 minutes behind the Frenchman, with Carlos Sainz, Cyril Despres and Giniel De Villiers within seconds of one another. (Statement provided by the ASO.)

• Sébastien Loeb is still gaining time on the leader of the special. The Peugeot driver recovered after losing almost 40 minutes due to an electrical problem in the first few kilometres and is clearly the fastest man on the track. He now trails Peterhansel by 31'13" after clawing back eight minutes. (Statement provided by the ASO.)

Rankings of Americans after SS7

MOTO

3rd Ricky Brabec #15 – 03h 58’ 11”; 1st in the General Classification
6th Andrew Short #29 – 04h 03’ 10”; 9th in the General Classification
36th Garrett Poucher #71 – 05h 00’ 41”; 45th in the General Classification
72nd Nathan Rafferty #104 – 06h 42’ 28”; 57th in the General Classification
DNF Skyler Howes #73

CAR

45th Blade Hildebrand, Bill Conger #367 – 08h 13’ 19”; 45th in the General Classification
 After SS6: 61st in Stage; 45th in the General Classification
48th Robby Gordon, Kellon Walch #316 – 08h 33’ 54”; 56th in the General Classification
 After SS6: 60th in Stage; 58th in the General Classification
DNF Cole Potts, Max Eddy Jr. #346

SIDE-BY-SIDE

3rd Casey Currie #343 – 04h 29’ 04”; 6th in the General Classification

• Top Ten Stage Finishers in Motorcycles

1st Sam Sunderland #14 – 03h 51’ 41”; 4th in the General Classification
2nd Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo #10 – 03h 53’ 32”; 12th in the General Classification
3rd Ricky Brabec #15 – 03h 58’ 11”; 1st in the General Classification
4th Adrien Van Beveren #4 – 04h 01’ 21”; 2nd in the General Classification
5th Luciano Benavides #77 – 04 03’ 00”; 11th in the General Classification
6th Andrew Short #29 – 04h 03’ 10”; 9th in the General Classification
7th Xavier de Soultrait #18 – 04h 04’ 53”; 10th in the General Classification
8th Toby Price #3 – 04h 06’ 00”; 3rd in the General Classification
9th Stefan Svitko #11 – 04h 08’ 02”; 8th in the General Classification
10th Matthias Walkner #1 – 04h 08’ 19”; 7th in the General Classification

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SS6: Racers Barely Stay Afloat During a Punishing Special Stage Six

As a Tidal Wave of Sand Washes Away the Competition

839 kilometers extending from Arequipa to San Juan de Marcona, zig-zagging inland to the coast, were lined with spectators. Their vehicles scattered across an open desert – raising the earth as they sped with purpose to catch a glimpse of the coming challengers. Some of those racers never appeared, however. While others rolled in bruised and battle worn – still unsure they could continue over the coming days.

“I’m very sad, and disappointed, to say that this is the end of my Dakar. On Special Stage Six… I guess it all started after Special Stage Three…There was a little kid on a moped…and he didn’t look…he just turned in front of me. And there’s nowhere to go; there’s nothing I could do, so I just grabbed as much brake as I could grab, and it threw me to the ground, hard. Which in hindsight is probably the best thing that could have happened, because if I would have hit the kid, I’m certain I would have killed him.” – Rookie Skyler Howes #72, Garrett Off-Road Racing team, USA

Anyone following Dakar might know, Howes’ race didn’t end after SS3. He rested his injured shoulder – which he’d suffered from the aforementioned crash, took some pain pills and woke up the next day for the Marathon Stages. Part One, his performance was respectable, but not up to his liking. Part Two, though, blew everyone out of the water, as the privateer is not only exceeding expectations for his third rally effort, ever, but he managed to place in the Top Ten during Special Stage Five. As is the case when competing with a fresh injury, Skyler’s shoulder wouldn’t stay in place for long. Within 30 kilometers of entering Special Stage Six, a minor crash caused his shoulder to dislocate. He reset it and continued onward. It was a sharp ledge in the unforgiving dunes which ultimately ended his ride, subsequently dislocating his shoulder for the second time.



Those first off the line were flummoxed by the complicated navigation. Errors allowed the latter top tier to catch up – possibly following or learning from their freshly laid tracks. Alas, the race on Sunday was difficult for everyone. Treacherous waves of soft, unruly sand, fickle weather and lacking visibility, plus, the pièce de résistance: a daunting ascent up a steep, Everest-sized cliff made of khaki-colored granules which don’t pack down but part ways like the Red Sea. (Poignant…? More like frustrating.) Before racers had a chance to reach the climax, they endured sand hills relatively smaller, but apparently not much less difficult to overcome. Even Xavier de Soultrait (#18), dubbed the “King of Dunes” among comrades, struggled to ride over some of those obstacles – making two or three passes at a climb. Still, a few challengers came out victorious. Pablo Quintanilla (#6) nabbed a stage win sneaking him just passed Monster Energy Honda Team rider Ricky Brabec (#15) in the General Standings where Pablo now sits at Number One just four minutes ahead of the American.

"It was a hard stage. I attacked from the beginning, caught Kevin [Benavides] and overtook him. At KM 290, I had a problem with the road book and was unable to read it, so I had to follow Kevin. We were near the finish when I got a fuel running. In the end, it was a blessing in disguise to have to ride behind because, if I'd kept on attacking at the same pace, I would've run out of petrol. In the end, it was a tough and stressful day, but it's a fantastic finish." – Stage Six Winner, Pablo Quintanilla #6, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Team, CHL

Anything can happen during a special stage. Something miraculous or catastrophic. Out the gate or moments from the finish, even a minuscule incident can change a competitor's destiny in an instant. Something every man and woman coming to Dakar know: all their efforts – the training, prepping, raising money, competing – could be for nothing. But can they ever really know what's coming until they learn it the hardest way? Today, one unfortunate fellow flew up over a dune and landed so abruptly, he broke both of his ankles. And a front runner, Lorenzo Santolino (#63), sustained a bad crash early on, which took him out of contention, though he is said not to have any fractures.



There are those who experience this fate before they even set rubber onto the racecourse. And others, seconds from victory. It's how this rally business goes. The name of the game. It's enough to break a man's spirit. To bring those who are toughest to tears. But after the dust settles and the fallen pick themselves back up, the true test of character is in the grace with which one moves on. Because if we’ve learned anything from rally racing, the greatness of man is not measured by the number of his successes, but in how he conducts himself when facing failure. To sum it up, as eloquently stated in the novel, The Art of Racing in the Rain: "There is no dishonor in losing the race. There is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose."

KEY POINTS:

• [Jose Ignacio] Cornejo [Florimo] (#10), who moved up to second place after race authorities returned the time that he had spent assisting fallen rider Paulo Gonçalves in stage five, ended up opening the way for several kilometers. As a consequence of this disadvantageous position the Chilean dropped time but managed to keep pace with his adversaries. (Statement courtesy of the ASO.)

• A recent injury to Toby Price’s right wrist hasn’t seemed to slow him down over these last six specials. Though it’s supposedly "…getting worse. It's going to be hard, but we're just trying to keep pace. We've still got four days to go. We'll see what happens." Still positive, for good reason, Price (#3) has managed to hold onto his third overall position.

• Reportedly, Laia Sanz (#17) and teammate Price had waged a bet at the 2019 Dakar Rally. If Toby finishes in the top five, he will receive a five-second kiss from Laia. While Laia can cut Toby’s “ungainly” mullet if she ends in the top 15.

• The Dakar Rally’s Quote of the day: "Yet another stupid mistake. The first special wasn't too bad, until I saw Nani stuck five kilometers from the finish. He didn't signal for help, but after he helped me out two days ago, I felt compelled to rush to his aid. As a result, I ended up in a sand basin and lost twenty minutes. It wasn't a mistake, it was a real blunder. Victory's slipping away after too many mistakes." – Stéphane Peterhansel #304, X-Raid Mini JCW Team, FRA

• Rankings of Americans after SS6

MOTO

6th Ricky Brabec #15 – 03h 58’ 17”; 2nd in the General Classification
8th Andrew Short #29 – 04h 04’ 41”; 10th in the General Classification
47th Garrett Poucher #71 – 06h 41’ 50”; 46th in the General Classification
54th Nathan Rafferty #104 – 07h 23’ 33”; 53rd in the General Classification
DNF Skyler Howes #73

CAR

TBD Blade Hildebrand, Bill Conger #367 – --h --’ --”; TBD in the General Classification
TBD Robby Gordon, Kellon Walch #316 – – --h --’ --”; TBD in the General Classification
DNF Cole Potts, Max Eddy #346

SIDE-BY-SIDE

3rd Casey Currie #343 – 04h 29’ 04”; 6th in the General Classification

• Top Ten Stage Finishers in Motorcycles

1st Pablo Quintanilla #6 – 03h 50’ 47”; 1st in the General Classification
2nd Kevin Benavides #47 – 03h 52’ 39”; 4th in the General Classification
3rd Matthias Walkner #1 – 03h 55’ 08”; 6th in the General Classification
4th Toby Price #3 – 03h 55’ 35”; 3rd in the General Classification
5th Adrien Van Beveren #4 – 03h 56’ 18”; 5th in the General Classification
6th Ricky Brabec #15 – 03h 58’ 17”; 2nd in the General Classification
7th Stefan Svitko #11 – 03h 59’ 07”; 8th in the General Classification
8th Andrew Short #29 – 04h 04’ 41”; 10th in the General Classification
9th Luciano Benavides #77 – 04 06’ 00”; 11th in the General Classification
10th Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo #10 – 04h 12’ 34”; 12th in the General Classification

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Special Stage 5

"At the conclusion of Special Stage Five, we saw Xavier de Soultrait (#18) at the front with Walkner (#1), Santolino (#63), Beveren (#4) and Short (#29) at his heels. But after consideration from the ASO, Sam Sunderland (#14), whom had stopped today to assist Paulo Gonçalves (#2) after his game-ending crash, reportedly awarded Sunderland extra minutes off his resulting time, elevating Sam to first place. Meanwhile, Walkner incurred a 3-minute penalty, subsequently reordering today's results. 

The time removed from Sam's score was surely appreciated as the #14 Red Bull KTM Factory Team rider had slowed once more in the last leg of the special to offered guidance to rookie Skyler Howes (#73) whose road book had split 100 kilometers from the finish, leaving him blind. Motorcycles are trickling into the bivouac in Arequipa after a long Marathon and another roughly 200 kilometers of liaison. Just another exciting day at Dakar!"

SS5, Part Two of the Marathon Claimed Its Victims

With a Head-to-Head Start this Foggy Friday Morning, Competitors Prepared for an Epic Battle

Leaving the start at 8a.m. local time in waves, or rows, of ten at five-minute intervals, the racers knew they were in for an all-out attack within the first several kilometers of Special Stage Five. But for the most ambitious competitors, the war waged until the close, and those who couldn’t soldier on fell victim to the dust.

Departing in the second lineup at 8:05a.m., Rockstar Husqvarna Factory rider Andrew Short (#29) jumped into second place while teammate Pablo Quintanilla (#6) quickly caught up and took first. Another American, rookie Skyler Howes (#15) too broke through the pack into third. Maybe they’d taken advantage of the fresh tracks laid down by the first group? But all’s fair in Love and War, and the special stages at Dakar can stretch across hundreds of kilometers of battle field for the rally’s respective warriors looking to finish each day victorious.



The top guys have been zig-zagging in and out of the premier positions all morning. Quintanilla seemed comfortable leading until something set him back nearly a minute behind Kevin Benavides (#47) who managed to overtake the group by WP4. The Honda rider bested Adrien Van Beveren (#4) by only 6 seconds and Toby Price (#3) by 8 seconds. Furthermore, fourth-placed rider, Lorenzo Santolino (#63), trailed by only 9 seconds. Part Two of the Marathon stage here at Dakar has been wild! Launching in waves, the competitors, especially in the front, have been at each other’s throats all day long!

On another note, the inspiring story of Nicola Dutto (#143), paraplegic motorcycle racer at Dakar, has concluded this morning in Moquegua. The Italian rider has been announced as a non-starter on the day’s special, just as his companions in this adventure, Pablo Toral (#144) and Julián Villarrubia (#146). In a surprising turn of events, front-runner, official Honda racer, Paulo Gonçalves has ended his 12th Dakar journey far short of the finish line, enduring a severe fall after kilometer 155. It’s possible he’s suffered a slight head injury and a broken hand.



Meanwhile, the ASO retracted their previous statements about driver Robby Gordon’s (#316) withdrawal yesterday. Apparently, Gordon made it to the race course, albeit among the last group to start. But Team Speed still tolerated yet another huge blow when their second car driven by Americans Cole Potts and Max Eddy Jr. (#346) officially withdrew during Special Stage Four, noted early this morning. Although, word around town is the organization will let them rejoin the race on Sunday – a statement still needing confirmation. However, it’s US driver Blade Hildebrand and co-pilot Bill Conger #367 who’ve kept up a solid pace all day, hitting WP1 00:35:41 behind front runner, Carlos Sainz (#300) though they are yet to land at the finish line.

Quintanilla regained the lead after 227 km, 14 seconds in front of his team-mate Andrew Short, as they crossed WP5. With Van Beveren and Price hot on their tails. Howes is keeping his head up in an ocean of sharks, by the final Waypoint reaching the 6th seed and fighting for a 9th place finish in a triumphant effort from the navigation novice!

In the last kilometers of an incredible special, mayhem unfolded as Xavier de Soultrait (#18) came out of the woodwork to secure his second first-place finish at the 2019 Dakar Rally. Matthias Walkner (#1) predictably wound up in the winner’s circle at 2nd with Lorenzo Santolino 28 seconds behind, claiming 3rd. This Part Two of the Marathon special, five strong riders came out on top:

1st Xavier de Soultrait #18 04h 15’ 11”; 8th in the General Classification
2nd Matthias Walkner #1 04h 15’ 20”; 4th in the General Classification
3rd Lorenzo Santolino #63 04h 15’ 48”; 11th in the General Classification
4th Adrien Van Beveren #4 – 04h 16’ 14”; 5th in the General Classification
5th Andrew Short #29 – 04h 16’ 24”; 10th in the General Classification

Ø Top Ten Stage Finishers in Motorcycles

1st Xavier de Soultrait #18 04h 15’ 11”; 8th in the General Classification
2nd Matthias Walkner #1 04h 15’ 20”; 4th in the General Classification
3rd Lorenzo Santolino #63 04h 15’ 48”; 11th in the General Classification
4th Adrien Van Beveren #4 – 04h 16’ 14”; 5th in the General Classification
5th Andrew Short #29 – 04h 16’ 24”; 10th in the General Classification
6th Luciano Benavides #77 – 04 16’ 24”; 13th in the General Classification
7th S. Svitko #11 – 04h 16’ 53”; 9th in the General Classification
8th Toby Price #3 – 04h 17’ 33”; 3rd in the General Classification
9th Skyler Howes #73 – 04h 17’ 48”; 18th in the General Classification
10th Ricky Brabec #15 – 04h 18’ 34”; 1st in the General Classification

“Today the riders [will complete] the marathon Stage. Ricky is riding to plan. We have a day off and then the second half of Dakar starts. This is a critical point where they will really test the riders’ navigation skills. We will keep pushing and crafting in the following days!” – Johnny Campbell, HRC’s Team official

With a rest day ahead, the second half of Dakar will surely not disappoint… At least its fans.

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SS4, The Marathon Begins…

America Finally Gets the Victory They’ve Been Waiting for at Dakar 2019

In Peru, they call it “fesh-fesh.” A term, unbeknownst to them, the racers were becoming quite familiar with. Maybe they thought they'd seen the last of it. But fesh-fesh, or silt to the rest of us, ruled the start of Special Stage Four. Like riding in Moon dust. Traversing the mountains of Mars. The route today was otherworldly.

Did the race go by quickly, or was it just Ricky? The Fast Guys were certainly still fast among motorcyclists, but even the second speediest rider of the day, 2018 Dakar Winner Matthias Walkner (#1), came in a whopping 6 minutes and 19 seconds after Brabec (#15).

“I needed it. Yesterday was tough on me and I lost a lot of time. Today I really, really needed to push with the marathon night and motocross start tomorrow. It kind of helps me because tomorrow I can…have the stage under my control and finish where I want. With the motocross start it makes it easy to manage. That’s my plan for tomorrow and I’m really happy with today and getting the stage win as well as making up a bit of time... My body is still 100%, the bike is still 100%." – Brabec #15, HRC Factory Team, USA

A huge win not only in Part One of the Marathon stage, but as the now overall leader in the General Classification for bikes. It’s not only a victory for himself and HRC, but for America who’s watching anxiously. No pressure.

“Ricky is executing a really good Dakar thus this far.” Said HRC’s team official Johnny Campbell. “Yesterday, was really tough with the fog and mental stress of opening the stage. Today was a good day to attack, take back some minutes. Tomorrow [Friday, January 11th], they will have the second part of the marathon stage, starting with a mass start in a line. If Ricky maintains his consistency tomorrow, that will help for the final stages.”

A lot of the same faces smile back at you when you scroll through today’s standings on the event site – Price (#3), Van Beveren (#4), Sunderland (#14), Goncalves (#2). But it’s the rookies, the grass roots guys, the men and women who prove all you need to dare the Dakar Rally – besides a small fortune – are heart and will... And maybe a couple of loose screws.

New to rally, but not motorsports, Andrew Short (#29) seems to be the most consistent racer out of the bunch. Not swaying too far in or out of the Top Ten, in this special, he clinched 12th place. Short has managed to keep a steady pace throughout the event, showing the world that his key to success so far is repetition. Fan favorite Laia Sanz (#17) is at this point a Dakar veteran, sitting at the 20th position by the time she reached Moquegua. Her regular presence with the Elite 20 continues to inspire followers of all types to go for what may appear to some as impossible. Rookie Skyler Howes (#73) has been posting impressive times all week, bringing himself from the back of the pack into a seat next to the factory riders, if not contention for the podium. He took 23rd in SS4 which puts him only two spots behind Sanz in the General Classification.



Of the remaining Americans, Garrett Poucher (#71) having had an incredible comeback during Special Stage Three, jumping 92 positions into 28th, settled for a humbler 56th place this Thursday afternoon. Although if you asked the unrelentingly upbeat rider about his day, he’ll throw you a thumbs up, and look almost too ready to jump back on the saddle. An underrated competitor thus far, Nathan Rafferty (#104) has been quietly climbing the ranks every day, without any real setbacks, leaping to the 64th starting position for the morning’s “motocross” sendoff – a nostalgic ode to the origins of this 41-year-old event. Motorbikes and quads will depart from Moquegua while the four-wheeled iterations of machine will embark from further south outside of Tacna. Each group will begin in a line across a wide open plain, literally battling head to head for the most favorable positions.

It’s safe to say, viewers are excited to see their chosen teams meet on equal terms, if only for one round. Casey Currie (#343) will represent the US in his Side-By-Side, 9th in order.

Oddly, a few names are missing from SS4’s standings in Autos, specifically the Americans. Although they haven’t been noted as withdrawals, yet, Blade Hildebrand and Bill Conger #367, who were in 27th as of this morning, aren’t anywhere to be seen. Likewise, Cole Potts and co-pilot Max Eddy #346 would have left from 56th today, but no notes have been recorded on Dakar’s continually updated website. Hopefully, this mystery will be solved when the two cars pull up to the lineup in the A.M.



Those who surely won’t be starting the race tomorrow, and were noticeable absent in today’s special, will be Robby Gordon and teammate Kellon Walch (#316), whom chose to pull out of the race for reasons which sound more like gossip than fact. Some assume it was due to car issues the team had experienced during Special Stage Three, but in a quote offered by Gordon himself, the truer cause for abandoning ship might have more to do with frustration:

“With the rule limitation they have on our car we had to remain at half throttle and play the speed control game. It’s very disappointing they have this rule on us. It wasn’t so bad yesterday as it only hurt us a little bit, but I wasn’t prepared for this today. We got passed by some pretty slow cars doing 50 mph faster than we were, and there’s nothing we could do about it.”

It can’t be said enough: Dakar is full of surprises. The moment you become comfortable with one prediction, an incident or a player spins your expectations in a whole different direction. Maybe that’s why we can’t get enough of it. Competitors, assistants, media and enthusiasts alike binge through news coverage, social pages and tv spots likes junkies on a rally bender. Why? Because no drug gets your heart pumping quite like adrenaline.

KEY POINTS:

Ø Rankings of Americans

BIKE

1st Ricky Brabec #15 – 03h 40’ 30”; 1st in the General Classification
12th Andrew Short #29 – 03h 59’ 21”; 11th in the General Classification
23rd Skyler Howes #73 – 04h 10’ 30”; 22nd in the General Classification
56th Garrett Poucher #71 – 05h 09’ 49”; 66th in the General Classification
64th Nathan Rafferty #104 – 05h 33’ 20”; 70th in the General Classification

CAR

TBD Blade Hildebrand, Bill Conger #367 --h --’ --”; TBD in the General Classification
TBD Cole Potts, Max Eddy #346 --h --’ --”; TBD in the General Classification
Withdrawn: Robby Gordon, Kellon Walch #316

SIDE-BY-SIDE

9th Casey Currie #343 – 05h 17’ 50”; 9th in the General Classification

Ø Top Ten Stage Finishers in Motorcycles

1st Ricky Brabec #15 – 03h 40’ 30”; 1st in the General Classification
2nd Matthias Walkner #1 – 03h 46’ 49”; 7th in the General Classification
3rd Toby Price #3 – 03h 47’ 37”; 3rd in the General Classification
4th Adrien Van Beveren #4 – 03h 53’ 59”; 5th in the General Classification
5th Sam Sunderland #14 – 03h 54’ 05”; 4th in the General Classification
6th Paulo Goncalves #2 – 03h 54’ 06”; 8th in the General Classification
7th Stefan Svitko #11 – 03h 54’ 40”; 10th in the General Classification
8th Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo #10 – 03h 55’ 03”; 15th in the General Classification
9th Kevin Benavides #47 – 03h 56’ 10”; 6th in the General Classification
10th Lorenzo Santolino #63 – 03h 57’ 32”; 13th in the General Classification

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SS3 & SS4, Morning Dakar Rally Round-Up

Some Updates, Current Events and Filling in the Blanks
With so much going on at the Dakar Rally, it’s easy to have missed some information in the daily recaps. Here are the current standings of Special Stage Four, any missed information and some questions for later...

Summarizing Special Stage Three:

In brief, there was a whole new set of top five riders in the Motorcycle class: Soultrait (#18), Quintanilla (#6), Benavides (#47), Van Beveren (#4) and Sunderland (#14). Leader of the pack until now, Honda’s Joan Barreda Bort (#5) withdrew from the race after hours struggling to find a way out of a basin. In the four-wheel categories, Carey Currie is meeting his high expectations as he won 4th yesterday in the brand-new Side-By-Side class. Hildebrand and co-pilot Conger (#367) made good time in the Car category, taking a comfortable 27th position. And soon to follow was Potts and Eddy (#346) rolling across the line at 56th. The Americans made good progress in the rankings on Wednesday, for instance, Howes (#73) whom finished at 17th, Rafferty (#104) taking 70th and Poucher, who moved up a whopping 92 spots from 120th to 28th. Short (#29) held onto roughly the same position at 12th keeping him in the running for a podium finish at Dakar. A great success for those rooting for the United States.

“There was a section up in the mountains where there was so much fog that you could barely see three meters in front of you. It was only when I took my googles off that I had enough visibility to ride.” – Sam Sunderland #14, Red Bull KTM Factory Team, GBR

But, as there always is for the many competitors here, there were some minor setbacks. Brabec didn’t do as well as he had hoped, getting a little bit lost with a group of strong like himself, leaving him back at 13th. Yesterday, the crowd wondered where is Robby Gordon? Gordon and teammate Walch (#316) pulled up to the bivouac at 83rd place with a time of 18H 03’ 43”. It’s safe to assume Team Speed had a slow day, but we can’t blame Gordon.

“What the ASO told us in the drivers briefing last night [Tuesday, after Special Stage Two] was that today’s stage [Special Stage Three] would be a dune race and today would be majority dunes.” Said Gordon. “Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case we just cut across dunes and got back into valleys, along the beach for miles and miles for what could have been wide-open throttle for us. With the rule limitation they have on our car we had to remain at half throttle and play the speed control game. It’s very disappointing they have this rule on us. It wasn’t so bad yesterday as it only hurt us a little bit, but I wasn’t prepared for this today. We got passed by some pretty slow cars doing 50 mph faster than we were, and there’s nothing we could do about it. Other than the speed limit, today’s stage was a pretty uneventful besides getting stuck once. The car ran really good the whole time. We were running at 130KM/H what is 80MPH and just sitting there the whole time obeying the speed limit and the other competitors were just cruising by us like we were sitting still.” – Robby Gordon #316, Team Speed, USA

Special Stage Four (the Marathon):

Racers are enduring a 400+ KM special stage in much cooler temps than they’ve experienced this past week. A haze set in the morning, clouding the horizon for the men and women tackling a small, but soft, dune section, washes, silt and 30% worth of rocky terrain. With the sun breaking through the veil by mid-morning at the bivouac, hopes are that it’ll continue to light the way for the competitors. According to Dakar’s Press team, “After his first special stage win yesterday, Xavier de Soultrait is having a much more difficult day today. The Yamaha rider already trails Ricky Brabec by 8 minutes at CP2.” Furthermore, “Ricky Brabec is having an excellent day. Rider number 15 is not letting up after 200KM of the special and is continuing to open up the gaps. The KTMs ridden by Matthias Walkner and Toby Price are hanging in there, trailing respectively by 1’57 and 3’16, but behind them it is a massacre. Adrien Van Beveren trails by more than 8 minutes, Kevin Benavides by 11 minutes, Xavier de Soultrait by 12 minutes and general standings leader Pablo Quintanilla is struggling 13’27 behind!”

Live Update Dakar Stage 4 Arequipa - Moquegua, Peru:

09:30 am EST

In the bikes, Brabec is leading the field through the first 200 kilometers as the fastest rider at each of five checkpoints (CP) so far, having reached the neutralized zone not long ago. Brabec’s closest HRC Honda teammates are Paulo Goncalves (#2) and Kevin Benavides (#47), riding eight and 11 mins slower. KTM’s Matthias Walkner (#1) and Toby Price (#3) trailing by two & three mins respectively as yesterday’s stage winner Xavier de Soultrait (YAM) is 12 minutes off the pace. Husqvarna Factory Team rider, Short, again remains consistent at 11th and 12th fastest among the class through each CP with fellow countryman rookie Skyler Howes maintaining 15th position after starting 17th. The race has moved into 55 kilometers of a Neutralization Zone enroute to the departure of their final 146KM in today’s special stage.

Today the challengers set off on Part 1 of the Marathon stage which is sending racers on a 400+KM battle around the Arequipa region before splitting off – Cars/Trucks/SxS off to Tacna and Motorbikes and Quads to Moquegua – for the evening. The (wo)men and machines will be sequestered tonight, unassisted by support crews and limited in their maintenance and service of the vehicles. Tomorrow, during Part 2 of the marathon, and Special Stage Five, they race back towards Arequipa for a well-deserved rest day.



Ø Current Standings, Bikes Special Stage Four as of 10:45a.m. EST

1st Ricky Brabec #15
2nd Matthias Walkner #1, +02:59
3rd Toby Price #3, +04:15
4th Kevin Benavides #47, +12:06
5th Sam Sunderland #14, +06:55
6th Paulo Goncalves #2, +09:34
7th Adrien Van Beveren, #4 +08:45
8th Stefan Svitko #11, +09:59
9th Pablo Quintanilla #6, +13:27
10th Oriol Mena #7, +13:23
11th Lorenzo Santolino #63, +10:19
12th Andrew Short #29, +11:45

KEY POINTS:

Ø Rankings of Americans from Special Stage Three

BIKE

12th Andrew Short #29 – 04h 22’ 52”; 10th in the General Classification
13th Ricky Brabec #15 – 04h 27’ 43”; 7th in the General Classification
17th Skyler Howes #73 – 04h 38’ 28”; 21st in the General Classification
28th Garrett Poucher #71 – 05h 03’ 24”; 79th in the General Classification
70th Nathan Rafferty #104 – 06h 08’ 30”; 77th in the General Classification

CAR

27th Blade Hildebrand, Bill Conger #367 – 05h 27’ 55”; 25th in the General Classification
56th Cole Potts, Max Eddy #346 – 07h 12’ 29”; 65th in the General Classification
TBD Robby Gordon, Kellon Walch #316 – --h --’ --”; TBD in the General Classification

SIDE-BY-SIDE

4th Casey Currie #343 – 04h 47’ 27”; 8th in the General Classification

Ø Top Ten Stage Finishers in Motorcycles from Special Stage Three

1st Xavier de Soultrait #18 – 04h 07’ 42”; 6th in the General Classification
2nd Pablo Quintanilla #6 – 04h 07’ 57”; 1st in the General Classification
3rd Kevin Benavides #47 – 04h 10’ 19”; 2nd in the General Classification
4th Adrien Van Beveren #4 – 04h 14’ 24”; 4th in the General Classification
5th Sam Sunderland #14 – 04h 16’ 08”; 3rd in the General Classification
6th Paulo Goncalves #2 – 04h 17’ 13”; 9th in the General Classification
7th Stefan Svitko #11 – 04h 18’ 32”; 11th in the General Classification
8th Oriol Mena #7 – 04h 18’ 57”; 12th in the General Classification
9th Toby Price #3 – 04h 21’ 58”; 5th in the General Classification
10th Michael Metge #16 – 04h 22’ 27”; 26th in the General Classification

Ø Overall Standings for Women at Dakar

BIKE

20th Laia Sanz #17, Red Bull KTM Factory Team, ESP
90th Mirjam Pol #55, HT Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing, NLD
99th Anastasiya Nifontova #56, Nifontova 13 Team, RUS
105th Gabriela Novotna #57, Indigo Racing, CZE
108th Sara Garcia #98, Pont Grup Yamaha, ESP

“It was a pity to get lost before the refuelling because that cost some time. Despite that I’m happy and things are getting better for me now.” – Laia Sanz #17, Red Bull KTM Factory Team, ESP

CAR

33rd Cristina Gutierrez Herrero (ESP), Pablo Monero Huete (ESP) #351, Mitsubishi Eclipse Cross-Sodicars Racing
59th Camelia Liparoti (ITA), Rosa Romero Font (ESP) #371, C.A.T. Racing Yamaha
73rd Andrea Patricia Lafarja (PRY), Eugenio Arrieta (ARG) #426, DK429 Competition
81st Fernanda Kanna (PER), Alonso Carrillo (PER) #411, De 0 Al Dakar

SxS

18th Annett Fischer (DEU), Andrea Peterhansel (DEU) #385, Racing4Charity – Team Face ALS
26th Olga Rouckova (CZE), Danial Zelenka (CZE) #435, Moto Racing Group (MRG)

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January 9, 2019

SS3, New Terrain Added New Obstacles

The Dakar Rally Proves Unpredictable Once More with Fresh Winners and Withdrawals 

Special Stage Three offered racers a mix of geographical features, bringing the men and women of Dakar to the shores of the Pacific and back inland down another long, windy route. Expected to be a great navigational challenge, this section led to some exciting and unexpected outcomes.

It was the only cloud-cover the event had seen yet. A welcome change from the unrelenting sun. But early morning fog enveloped the view in some parts of the course for some time, only to be replaced by an extreme amount of dust, as many riders reported. Quite silty, the situation was likely made worse due the cars departing prior to the bikes and quads, creating additional hurdles to overcome. For those who could focus on the rare window of clarity appearing between the shroud of dirt, navigating the rocky terrain past their blind opponents was, if not easy, possible.

“It was very dusty and kind of sketchy and rocky. But if you got out of the dust, you could see just enough to avoid the rocks. So, I was pinning it… full Hare and Hound. [Like in] Baja. Exactly like everything I’ve ever raced before. The whole first 70 kilometers were like that… I passed so many people, so quickly.” – Skyler Howes #73, Garrett Off-Road Racing Team, USA

Tough day at the office for a handful of top seeded riders in the Bikes category on the 331 KM Special Stage to Arequipa, Peru. Joan Barreda Bort (#5), who looked to be a contender for the overall win, had to pull out of the race after a long struggle to escape a basin where he and his motorbike had been stuck for several hours. This of course helps clear the way – just a bit – for his most worthy adversaries. With new riders finishing in the primary five positions, we’re reminded every round at the world’s most infamous off-road rally starts a fresh battle where anyone can make it to the winner’s circle and the shoe-ins can fall from drastic heights. Xavier de Soultrait (#18) secured his first Dakar stage win just seconds, 15 to be precise, ahead of overall leader Pablo Quintanilla (#6). Kevin Benavides (#47) and Adrien Van Beveren (#4) fought miraculously through the crowd to snatch up 3rd and 4th in the stage.

Meanwhile, stage opener Matthias Walkner (#1) lost his way, supposedly taking Barreda, American Ricky Brabec (#15) and a few others with him while Yamaha’s Soultrait gapped everyone else by over six mins at the midway point. Brabec and Walkner were off by as much as 24 and 29 mins respectively at the gas stop.

Despite the loss in time, Brabec still earned a respectable 13th place at the finish, while US rider Andrew Short (#29) was quite steadfast at 12th. Skyler Howes (#73) keeps clawing his way to the top, even battling Brabec for a while before landing 17th in line. Keep in mind, the Dakar Rally is only the third navigation rally the rookie Howes has ever competed in. Two of which – the Sonora Rally and BAJA RALLY – he won, overall. Grassroots racer Nathan Rafferty (#104) too moves fluidly up the rankings taking 70th today. But the real Cinderella Story was of privateer racer, Garrett Poucher (#71), making a major comeback starting 120th in the lineup and ending the round at 28th. About 75 kilometers from the final of Special Stage Two, Poucher had suffered a malfunction which in his words, “disintegrated my bib and soon [thereafter] ripped off my rear tire.” But he pushed onward, completing both the special and liaison stages, qualifying to race the following morning. And race he did, as he jumped 92 spots which puts him at 79th in the General Classification.

At the conclusion of Day 3 of racing, in the General Classification (overall) for Motorcycles, there sits two Americans in the Top Ten: Brabec at 7th, Short at 10th; one just outside of the premiere 20: Howes with the 21st seed; and two Americans in the in the top 100: Rafferty in 77th and of course Poucher sitting at 79th. Not bad for the often-under-represented United States! But it might be too soon to make this same statement about the cars? Casey Currie in SxS #343 made another huge leap to 4th place, the US drivers, Blade Hildebrand (#367) and Cole Potts (#346) crossed the finish line at 27th and 56th. Though, we’re left to wonder, where’s off-road legend, Robby Gordon (#316)? The answer is yet to be determined…

KEY POINTS:

Ø Rankings of Americans

BIKE

12th Andrew Short #29 – 04h 22’ 52”; 10th in the General Classification
13th Ricky Brabec #15 – 04h 27’ 43”; 7th in the General Classification
17th Skyler Howes #73 – 04h 38’ 28”; 21st in the General Classification
28th Garrett Poucher #71 – 05h 03’ 24”; 79th in the General Classification
70th Nathan Rafferty #104 – 06h 08’ 30”; 77th in the General Classification

CAR

27th Blade Hildebrand, Bill Conger #367 – 05h 27’ 55”; 25th in the General Classification
56th Cole Potts, Max Eddy #346 – 07h 12’ 29”; 65th in the General Classification
TBD Robby Gordon, Kellon Walch #316 – --h --’ --”; TBD in the General Classification

SIDE-BY-SIDE

4th Casey Currie #343 – 04h 47’ 27”; 8th in the General Classification
Ø Top Ten Stage Finishers in Motorcycles

1st Xavier de Soultrait #18 – 04h 07’ 42”; 6th in the General Classification
2nd Pablo Quintanillo #6 – 04h 07’ 57”; 1st in the General Classification
3rd Kevin Benavides #47 – 04h 10’ 19”; 2nd in the General Classification
4th Adrien Van Beveren #4 – 04h 14’ 24”; 4th in the General Classification
5th Sam Sunderland #14 – 04h 16’ 08”; 3rd in the General Classification
6th Paulo Goncalves #2 – 04h 17’ 13”; 9th in the General Classification
7th Stefan Svitko #11 – 04h 18’ 32”; 11th in the General Classification
8th Oriol Mena #7 – 04h 18’ 57”; 12th in the General Classification
9th Toby Price #3 – 04h 21’ 58”; 5th in the General Classification
10th Michael Metge #16 – 04h 22’ 27”; 26th in the General Classification

Ø Tomorrow, January 10th to 11th sets off the Marathon stage sending racers on a loop around Arequipa before splitting Cars/Trucks/SxS off to Tacna and Motorbikes and Quads to Moquegua.

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January 7, 2019

The green flag waves in Peru with the Dakar Rally opening its 41st year to a roaring crowd.
 
Monday, January 7th marked the beginning of the 2019 iteration of the world’s most infamous off-road race: the Dakar Rally. But the party really started the previous day at the beach…

“What can I say but ‘wow!’ Crossing the Dakar podium for the first time was an incredible experience. The energy from the fans was off the charts. This has been something I have dreamed of doing since I was a little kid, and it has become a reality." - Garrett Poucher #71, Garrett Off-Road Racing, USA

Sunday is a time for family in Lima, which was evident as hordes of adults, children and the elderly alike packed themselves against barricades, outside the fences or lining the tall cliffs which overlook Dakar Village just to catch a glimpse of their favorite Motorsports heroes. The word floating around most of the day was “mayhem.” But as always, the ASO organization kept their cool and sent the 541 challengers (334 vehicles) up and over the bayside podium in swift fashion. Each met by excited cheers which would burst out as each team approached and exited the stage, warming the spotlight for the next.

"Up until this point the process has been pretty easy-going, but today going up and over the podium, the magnitude of this event really set in. The amount of people there to watch the ceremony was unreal, and we were packed right in there with them getting snagged for selfies left and right. Going up over the podium was brief but still a huge moment for me, putting that check mark next to my #1 dream and goal in life." - Skyler Howes #73, Garrett Off-Road Racing, USA

The following day was an early one, as motorbikes departed Peru’s capitol at about half past 5a.m. local time for the event’s first Special Stage – enroute to the Pisco bivouac. What obstacles could riders and drivers face? Where will we find the 12 Americans (Ricky Brabec #15, Andrew Short #29, Garrett Poucher #71, Skyler Howes #73, Nathan Rafferty #104 on bikes; Robby Gordon and Kellon Walch #316, Cole Potts and Max Eddy #346, Blade Hildebrand and Bill Conger #367 in cars; and Casey Currie #343 in a Side-by-Side) in the starting order for Special Stage Two? Until the final competitor reaches the end of his or her road book today, we’re yet to know. Stay tuned…

Key points:

• 541 competitors and 334 vehicles —137 motorbikes, 26 quads, 130 cars (including 30 SxS) and 41 trucks— were cleared to start the 41st edition of the Dakar at the end of the technical and administrative scrutineering.

• This year the roster of women racers continues to grow, including the rally’s first-ever female Malle Moto contestant, Sara Garcia #98 of Spain.

• Before the start of the race, the drivers, riders and crews will get a big send-off from the fans during the podium ceremony in Lima. The celebration will take place on Magdalena beach, where over 100,000 visitors flocked to enjoy a wide range of activities in the Feria Dakar over the last three days.

• The first round comes with a sand-packed 84 km course in the Pisco region.

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WestX1000.com | Get up-to-date recaps and standings of each stage by clicking here!