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Bob
5th January 2008, 01:11
The 2008 Dakar Rally has been cancelled.

Four French tourists were killed in Mauritania in December; eight of the fifteen stages of the rally were due to pass through the African republic.

The event organisers, the Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), said there had been direct threats against the race issued by terrorist groups. In a statement, the ASO said "Following several consultations with the French government and taking into account its firm recommendations, the organisers of the Dakar have taken the decision to cancel the 2008 edition of the rally.”

"Based on the current international political tension and the murder of four French tourists but also and mainly the direct threats launched directly against the race by terrorist organisations, no other decision but the cancellation could be taken.

As regards the future of the rally, the ASO added "The Dakar is a symbol and nothing can destroy symbols. The cancellation of the 2008 edition does not endanger the future of the Dakar."

The Dakar Rally had been held uninterrupted since 1979 although stages had been cancelled in the past.
xwhatsit
5th January 2008, 01:17
This is really shit.

It better continue next year. You always read about things like this that stop one year (World War, etc.) and just lose momentum and never continue. I hope what he says about the Dakar being a symbol is true.

Can't they just ride around Mauritania?
sAsLEX
5th January 2008, 01:17
Just saw that on the BBC!

Just have a few AC-130s following the riders would be my solution
awayatc
5th January 2008, 02:36
Got stuck in Mauritania's desert once for a few weeks, Polisario freedomfighters wanted the "Spanish Sahara" ....but Morocco contested this good for nothing sandpit , untill it got back the territory between 2 Spanish cities Ceuta and Melilla in Northern Morocco! (No Spanish police and the Moroccons have no jurisdiction and the drugs are so cheap..oops wrong forum....:rolleyes:)
Spain does not want to do this untill it gets Gibraltar back...
So you see it's the Poms fault again....:laugh:
awayatc
5th January 2008, 02:43
The 2008 Dakar Rally has been cancelled.

Four French tourists were killed in Mauritania in December; eight of the fifteen stages of the rally were due to pass through the African republic.
.

Tourists in Mauritania?

Yeah right....
denill
5th January 2008, 07:08
Did you read CycleNews.Com: <a href=http://www.cyclenews.com/ShowStory.asp?HeadlineID=11734>The Dakar's Been Cancelled:</A>
Dutchee
5th January 2008, 07:13
Gutting. Probably a good call, but would've been damned hard to make.
Bloody terrorists.
James Deuce
5th January 2008, 07:13
Bring back Colonial Empires.
merv
5th January 2008, 07:56
Yep things compared to the days when the Poms were in control are looking pretty sick.
James Deuce
5th January 2008, 07:57
Actually the French had most of that part of Africa, hence the Paris-Dakar route.
dmc
5th January 2008, 11:57
Good old Al-Qaeda have screwed things again, because of threats this years Dakar has had to been cancelled. :2guns:
imdying
5th January 2008, 12:04
Wow, that's a shame :(
James Deuce
5th January 2008, 12:34
Thread number three about the Dakar being canceled.

See Conquey? There ARE reposts.
sAsLEX
5th January 2008, 13:27
Thread number three about the Dakar being canceled.

See Conquey? There ARE reposts.

No but we have different opinions in all three threads........ which we couldn't have in one thread
James Deuce
5th January 2008, 14:06
Yes good point! Maybe Conquey is on to something!
dmc
5th January 2008, 14:10
Thread number three about the Dakar being canceled.

See Conquey? There ARE reposts.

Why move my post out of Adventure/Dual Purpose? it maybe a repost but I'd consider Dakar just as much Adventure as Offroad and since I and my mates all ride Adventure bikes of Dakar's past then it would make perfect sense for me to have it where I posted it?
James Deuce
5th January 2008, 14:12
I didn't/couldn't move it, why quote me?
dmc
5th January 2008, 14:13
Because I'm picking you are pointing it out to whoever did move it.
James Deuce
5th January 2008, 14:21
Riiiiiight.
skidMark
5th January 2008, 14:27
Blame canada.
xwhatsit
5th January 2008, 15:09
Why move my post out of Adventure/Dual Purpose? it maybe a repost but I'd consider Dakar just as much Adventure as Offroad and since I and my mates all ride Adventure bikes of Dakar's past then it would make perfect sense for me to have it where I posted it?

Because all the threads are about the same thing; you need to pick one thread to be the `master thread' when merging and the first thread wins.
sAsLEX
5th January 2008, 15:13
Because all the threads are about the same thing; you need to pick one thread to be the `master thread' when merging and the first thread wins.

maybe I have the ultimate solution.......

All subsequent threads are closed, and the relevant posts contained within moved, then the mod leaves the original post in say the Adventure forum and links to the all encompassing thread in the bottom of the first and only post in the now defunct threads?

That was Adventure billy see the thread about Dakar ventures in follows the link, just like news hound Bob, and racing man Tim, and 250 Frank, and Angel Zara.....
dmc
5th January 2008, 15:28
maybe I have the ultimate solution.......

All subsequent threads are closed, and the relevant posts contained within moved, then the mod leaves the original post in say the Adventure forum and links to the all encompassing thread in the bottom of the first and only post in the now defunct threads?

That was Adventure billy see the thread about Dakar ventures in follows the link, just like news hound Bob, and racing man Tim, and 250 Frank, and Angel Zara.....

Sounds like a plan, I know the mod's don't want multiple threads but its a pain if you start a thread and it disappears from the forum without any warning, I'm all for locking a thread and linking it somewhere else if it makes it easier but it would be nice if the locked thread was left in the forum it was started.
DrewBroadley
5th January 2008, 15:35
It's not like they have any tall buildings to fly planes into....
denill
5th January 2008, 15:45
Sounds like a plan, I know the mod's don't want multiple threads but its a pain if you start a thread and it disappears from the forum without any warning, I'm all for locking a thread and linking it somewhere else if it makes it easier but it would be nice if the locked thread was left in the forum it was started.

I read that the Dakar had been cancelled on CycleNews.com, noted it wasn't in 'Off Road' so posted a link to the article.
Went back later and couldn't find it??

When I did find it, now sanwiched amongst the earlier posts, I did a bit of a rant at the Mods, as I reckon if it the Dakar aint Off Road -WTF is it?

But yeah it is bloody messy now and I agree with you.
MonzaLapRecord
6th January 2008, 18:05
The Dakar Rally has been cancelled this year due to security concerns in Mauritania.

Thats a real shame for all of the privateers who have funded their own entries.
There are quite a few clips on youtube for those that are interested.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wD8w0Tmh9Y&feature=related
Steam
6th January 2008, 18:10
Ladies and Gentlemen, Fourth Place goes to..... Mr Monza Lap Record!
denill
7th January 2008, 11:42
A REAL bastard for the privateers especially. :mad:

Anyone know if there is to be some compensation??
NordieBoy
7th January 2008, 14:25
A REAL bastard for the privateers especially. :mad:

Anyone know if there is to be some compensation??

Their entry will carry over to the next one.
Some of the riders who were all paid up and got injured before the Dakar have had it done.