Dakar rally

[Fletch]

Started yesterday, check local listing, there is 1/2 hour coverage daily at 4:30 MST.
will this be the year KTM's 18 years of dominance finally comes to an end?
I'm rooting for Laia Sanz as usual:
https://youtu.be/Yh65RftZhjw

and this year I'm also hoping for the best for this newcomer:
https://youtu.be/KX46qDkhsbs

she seems legit:
https://www.dakar.com/en/news/2019/gianna-velarde-the-woman-who-is-leaving-is-going-to-be-very-different-from-the-woman-who-comes-back/160231

I wish all the riders luck and hope KTM pulls off another win just because they can   

[greatbuffalo]

You can also watch the coverage on Youtube. They have a separate video each day for each category. Its basically the same footage that they use for the broadcast with the same basic storyline but usually with a bit more.

https://www.youtube.com/user/dakar

[Fletch]

thanks, I'll check it out.

[greatbuffalo]

They also do a video called Dakar Heroes everyday and also checkout Octane 27 for raw footage taken by fans. Always some interesting stuff there.

[Lonesome Dave]

Thanks Danny Boy!

[Bogus Jim]

Lots of sand this year, whoever's the best rider in sand is likely to win. I expect lots of crashes.

Article on the Dakar possibly moving back to Africa. Getting difficult to find host countries, apparently.

https://www.archynety.com/news/the-dakar-is-looking-for-a-future-2/

[greatbuffalo]

There is a lot of Sand but its the hard pan washes and the rocky and vegetative terrain that usually catch people out.
Here is a good example.

I watched an interesting video the other day where they were saying that the organizers had proposed a top speed that machines are capable of. Then someone submitted a study where most all the fatalities and critical injuries have happened in the moderate speed technical sections. 

[greatbuffalo]

Here is another channel that has a lot of international motorsports stuff and some raw footage from the Dakar

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCg0iNj2krU0_bk4FNOTzeEQ/videos

[Bogus Jim]

I still maintain that the sand is going to cause problems once the riders start pushing it. And as evidence I submit this authentic video of a crash, which is more interesting than your boring 5 minute video of a stuck truck. 

[Fletch]

did anyone ever ride the old mine tailing up by terry peak before they reprocessed them?
Had my head stuck into the sand more than once there, can't imagine the speeds these guys run and the miles they cover.

[greatbuffalo]

You crack me up Jim. Reminds me of Motocross Madness

[Fletch]

KTM pulls it off for the 18th time.   😜
To bad Honda can't make a bike for Brabec that will make it to the end. 

[Bogus Jim]

The entire podium was KTM!  1-2-3

[Fletch]

Do you think the people at Beta know about the Dakar?

[Bogus Jim]

Do you think the people at Beta know about the Dakar?

Red bikes seem to be cursed in the Dakar, perhaps Beta should stay away if they know what's good for them.