2010 Dakar -Good News!

[CrazyFrog]

Looks like the bike cc restrictions have been relaxed for next years Dakar race, but will be all restricted for by 2012.

Here's the news release....

For the Dakar 2010, the ASO Elite pilots must ride with a restrictor reducing the power of their bike, if its cubic capacity is over 450 cc. Or they may use a bike of a cubic capacity under or equal to 450 cc.
The other pilots are free to choose their bike with no restriction.

For the Dakar 2011, the ASO Elite pilots must imperatively ride a bike of a cubic capacity under or equal to 450 cc.
The other pilots must ride a bike of a cubic capacity under or equal to 450 cc, or a restrictor, if the cubic capacity is over 450 cc.

At last, for the Dakar 2012, all the pilots will ride 450 cc’s.

The restrictor is currently being developed and it will be delivered to the Elite pilots from mid July. This restrictor has been designed in order to have a similar weight / power ratio between the different cubic capacities.

I wonder how they're gonna peg the power back on the 690RR, and still let it breathe freely like the fire eating monster it is. At least it won't be revving its tits out to reach max power

[.chris]

It still messes things up for the KTM Rallye guys, not much point developing the 690 anymore when you have to hold it back to 450 levels of power, might as well start with a 450 and try and squeeze some more out of it.

Which is a real shame, the 690 is a great bike. I went out this weekend and did a bit of Dakar/Baja style riding in the gravel (at 1/5th the speed) and she just loves it (my rear indicators did not like the gravel roost so much, infact they hated it so much the literlly leap right off the bike) but me and the rest of the bike had a great time.

But on the bright side, at least we got one big cc race bred bike out of them

[CrazyFrog]

A-Ha, found the details on the restrictor, sounds simple enough.


The ASO will deliver the restrictors for the month of September – in time for the period when drivers are beginning to prepare their machines. The system is very quick and simple to install – it only takes about ten minutes to fit one to a bike undergoing preparation. Once it is in place, the restrictor will be visible at a glance, enabling stewards to check that a driver has not removed it.

How does it work ?
The restrictor is an aluminium ring to be positioned between the carburettor and the air filter. In concrete terms, air flow will be reduced, and the ring diameter calculation will result in performance equivalent to that of bikes with 450cc engines. In terms of pure power, the 660cc will still have a slight edge so as to compensate for the difference in weight, which could otherwise penalise them.

What effect does the restrictor have on the mechanical balance of the engine ?
There won’t be any effect at all. On the contrary, by minimizing the load on the engine, it’s almost as though the driver was being obliged to drive economically. Risk of overheating will therefore be reduced. Engine reliability will be intact.

So, no engine blow ups then?

[.chris]

The restrictor is an aluminium ring to be positioned between the carburettor and the air filter.
:

That will be tricky on the fuel injected bikes like the 690.

[topo]

That will be tricky on the fuel injected bikes like the 690.

I think you'll find that the 690rr (rallye's) are carb'd not FI, by all accounts that i've heard the restricted 690rr is still the weapon to beat as there have been a few reports of the power being lower (as expected) but an off set increase in torque and "ride ability".

The current generation of 690r's have very little resemblence to the 690rr's of Coma,Despres etc.

I see on the Dakar entry list http://www.dakar.com/2010/DAK/presen...s/engagesM.pdf that Paul Cumings is entered as an Australian. He was entered in the Australasian Safari this year as a Kiwi, regardless all the best for him. Hope he has more luck than at the safari.

[CrazyFrog]

I see on the Dakar entry list http://www.dakar.com/2010/DAK/presen...s/engagesM.pdf that Paul Cumings is entered as an Australian. He was entered in the Australasian Safari this year as a Kiwi, regardless all the best for him. Hope he has more luck than at the safari.

Yep, all good to see another (Kiwi) out there.
I saw this one on ADV rider today, Rob Pollard's 690R from Oz. Go the Anzacs!

[Brian d marge]

Risk of overheating will therefore be reduced. Engine reliability will be intact.

So, no engine blow ups then?

A lot of engines use swirl and the gasolines cooling to keep combustion hot-spots , thus detonation and subsequent overheating to a minimum

not saying that in this case this will happen , just that some engines do ...


Where is the Enfield entry ,,,thats what I want to know

then watch those frenchies get the learn!

Stephen

[Phreaky Phil]

There have been restrictions placed on all types of motorsport and it doesnt take long for engineers to find a way around things and make them just as fast or faster

[topo]

Looking at this years distances, looks like they've reduced the stages somewhat from previous years (to assist the 450's?).

Course detail

01/01 Buenos Aires Colon 317 km 01/01 Colon Buenos Aires 317 km
02/01 Colon Cordoba 652 km- 02/01 Colon Cordoba, 652 km
03/01 Cordoba La Rioja 626 km- 03/01 La Rioja, Cordoba, 626 km
04/01 La Rioja Fiambala 441 km 04/01 La Rioja Fiambala 441 km
05/01 Fiambala Copiaco 629 km 05/01 Fiambala Copiaco 629 km
06/01 Copiapo Antofagasta 670 km 06/01 Antofagasta Copiapo 670 km
07/01 Antofagasta Iquique 598 km 07/01 Antofagasta Iquique 598 km
08/01 Iquique Antofagasta 641 km 08/01 Iquique Antofagasta 641 km

09/01 Journée de repos 09/01 Day of Rest

10/01 Antofagasta Copiapo 568 km 10/01 Antofagasta Copiapo 568 km
11/01 Copiapo La Serena 547 km 11/01 Copiapo La Serena 547 km
12/01 La Serena Santiago 586 km 12/01 La Serena Santiago 586 km
13/01 Santiago San Juan 434 km 13/01 San Juan Santiago 434 km
14/01 San Juan San Rafael 796 km 14/01 San Juan San Rafael 796 km
15/01 San Rafael Santa Rosa 725 km 15/01 San Rafael Santa Rosa 725 km
16/01 Santa Rosa Buenos Aires 707 km 16/01 Santa Rosa Buenos Aires 707 km
TOTAL 8 937 km TOTAL 8 937 km

[cooneyr]

Looking at this years distances, looks like they've reduced the stages somewhat from previous years (to assist the 450's?). ....

Its going soft. Bunch of pussies on 450's. Back in the day, when men were real men, none of this metro crap, they use to ride 800's and do 1000km days. I'll say it again - bunch of pussies.

[Eddieb]

Its going soft. Bunch of pussies on 450's. Back in the day, when men were real men, none of this metro crap, they use to ride 800's and do 1000km days. I'll say it again - bunch of pussies.

+1000

They rode proper Adventure bikes, not girlyweight enduro machines that may or may not grenade underneath you.

[Woodman]

Whats wrong with the only rules being that it has 2 wheels and an engine, and whoever crosses the finish line first wins?

[spacemonkey]

Good to see Chris Birch From NZ winning the Roof of Africa race
And Rory Mead in 2nd.

Kiwi Chris Birch and KTM win the 2009 Roof of Africa


Dakar for him next maybe?

RESULTS 2009 ROOF OF AFRICA
1 Chris Birch KTM New Zealand 19:07:08
2 Rory Mead Yamaha New Zealand 21:20:53
3 Jade Gutzeit BMW South Africa 21:21:05
4 Darryl Curtis KTM South Africa 21:40:53

[Waihou Thumper]

Its going soft. Bunch of pussies on 450's. Back in the day, when men were real men, none of this metro crap, they use to ride 800's and do 1000km days. I'll say it again - bunch of pussies.

Sorry....After watching countless Dakar footage from the years right through to the latest and 'so called greatest' I do find the early ones more of a feat in navigating skill and pure bike skills, yes...
The latest Dakar, from 2000 onwards does seem to be a bit of a who has the money, can buy the driver , rider etc...
Reminds me of the Americas cup in some ways....Yes?
'Bunch of pussies' nope.....I still think it is a hard ride, no matter what machine you are on. In 2002 the LC8 ran rings around the field, but as you know, imagine handling that beast for 17 days or so...?
I am sure you can appreciate how the LC8 handles at the best of time, let alone making it over those dunes and finishing even!
I stand to be corrected, but whatever is under the saddle boys, they aren't pussies...at any stretch of the imagination....
1000km days, no.....not that much....

[topo]

Whats wrong with the only rules being that it has 2 wheels and an engine, and whoever crosses the finish line first wins?

I agree to an extent, problem is,
(200kg bike@200km/h)x(off piste+navigation) = one free seat next to the "maker" of your choice

I can't wait for the 450's to trickle down to us plebs already got the GasGas available just waiting for one of the big 5 to come up with the goods too!