Dakar

Who's watching Dakar? I like it, and in The Netherlands it's being broadcasted daily so two weeks of motorsport ahead. And KTM being à major player, also nice.

Just checked the local times and it's on at 17.30 in the west Oz, I'm in...

Couple of big offs caught on camera today. Spectacular and nasty all in one.
Fantastic scenery. I'd really love to got there.
Argentinian girls are supposed to be some of the best looking on the planet, I understand.

Would be great to go there. Are there any SD.net readers over there nu the way?
My personal favourite is dutchman Frans Verhoeven on a Sherco this year. Finished second yesterday, quite good!

Anyone got an opinion as to whether Dupre should have got all that time given back to him because the mud hazard wasn't in the route book?

I watched that. In my opinion its an Enduro, your not supposed to know the terrian be it posted on a map or not, and no he should not have got his time back.

That guy who was going along the dessert and his front end just fell through the very soft sand that was not on the map either but it happens, nor was the small hole when that other guys bike did a full 360 and he flew off, I dont think the spider that got in that guys eye was on the map either.

But it makes for some closer racing which is why they did it I suppose, I dont care who wins, never heard of either of em, just enjoying the scenery and bikes.

The ASO who organise the Dakar rally is french. And Depres is french aswel.
I've been to the Le Mans and B'ol dor many times, and have seen some dubious decicions in favor of french teams and riders.

Don't think it's fair like people said - it's suppose to have difficulties not mapped.

But especially because Paulo Gonçalves helped him ( and his KTM was deeper than his bike ) and the lawsy french took off after



This, the eurosport didn't show...

Another french and again lack of fairplay. It seems he has forgotten about the days of running bikes

I agree. Dupre was totally out of order asking for help and then fooking off as soon as he was ok. The BMW team are supposed be incensed.
Dan's point about hazards is completely fair as well. Some drivers and riders saw it and navigated around it some chose to drive/ride through it and got stuck some didn't. Surely that's the whole point of 'adventure rallying' it's not all sanitised stages where drivers and riders go flat out it takes a whole range of skills.
Peterhansel knocking the rider and his bike over was out of order: doesn't look as though he's getting a penalty for it which is a surprise (not).

definitely some controversy going there with Despres and Peterhansel in those incidents. A bit inconsistent on the penalties I feel but c'est la vie.

I have to say I am a little less of a Despres fan after what he did....but watching him and Coma ride just makes me smile all day!!

Eurosport coverage is OK but not massive. I've been working in Holland a bit lately and its better there. I'm justglad I have been able to keep up.

Also been following the uK riders on Twitter.

Stan is finishing in the top 50 each night at the moment....i think his best was 34th! If any of you are on twitter, find the riders and send them some support, they've had a tough time and it means a lot to them