DAKAR 2015

java

Expedition Leader
What a day today. Salar killing machines off right and left. Looked like a miserable day on a bike.
 

Stumpalump

Expedition Leader
Adventure bike guys know that when we are blazing 70 and 80 on dirt roads it is just fun, easy and seems like a normal pace once your in the zone and adrenalin is pumping. It's a fun fast level us 85 %er's get to. Dakar brings it a whole lot higher. I think I'm understanding why they need a navigator but help me understand the brain and what's going on in this extream race? This guy read it wrong but how do you read anything at over 100mph?
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/watch-moment-dakar-rally-driver-4960348
 

java

Expedition Leader
Navigation plays a huge part in this race. They are not always on a road, and being able to read your roadbook (navigation notes) is very important. If your cruising down a road and it says turn right at km126.4, you had better turn right at 126.4 even if that means going off the road and straight across a dirt expanse. On this last stage the winner averaged 55.xx MPH, thats FAST over 175 miles.

Roadbook for a bike. Its electrically activated, there is a switch on the bars to roll it forward. You have to keep an eye on your odo vs the roadbook. No GPS is allowed in the Dakar, other than as a heading. No arrow to waypoint etc.

Dakar-2010-Road-Book-Befurious.com.jpg
 

haven

Expedition Leader
2015 Dakar is complete. About 50% of the racers DNF, so just completing the course is a great achievement.

"Mini" racers (totally custom tube chassis, onto which a body that looks sorta like a Mini is squeezed) dominated the car category. A HiLux pickup made things interesting with a second place finish. Kamaz finished 1-2-3 in trucks, and KTM took 8 of 10 places in bikes. Noteworthy was a woman finishing 10th on a Honda.

Robby Gordon won the final day's stage. I think this is the first Dakar that Gordon finished.
 

psykokid

Explorer
Robby Gordon won the final day's stage. I think this is the first Dakar that Gordon finished.

Negative.. He's finished quite a few..

12th in 2005
8th in 2007
3rd in 2009
8th in 2010
14th in 2013

DNF in 06,11 & 14 and Disqualified in 2012
 

Willman

Active member
^ It was fun to follow RG this year. Hopefully next year will be his year....

Navigation plays a huge part in this race. They are not always on a road, and being able to read your roadbook (navigation notes) is very important. If your cruising down a road and it says turn right at km126.4, you had better turn right at 126.4 even if that means going off the road and straight across a dirt expanse. On this last stage the winner averaged 55.xx MPH, thats FAST over 175 miles.

Roadbook for a bike. Its electrically activated, there is a switch on the bars to roll it forward. You have to keep an eye on your odo vs the roadbook. No GPS is allowed in the Dakar, other than as a heading. No arrow to waypoint etc.

Dakar-2010-Road-Book-Befurious.com.jpg

Great Infor.
 

FordGuy1

Adventurer
I could watch a 5 hour documentary on the Robby Gordon support truck

I Spoke with Robby at the Parker 425, and they had to put gear oil in the motor to run the last stage! The Gordini did well for a brand new vehicle and next year should be awesome. There are also rumors of 4 Gordini's getting built for the next Dakar.
 

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