El Dakaro Videos 2012

**Eddieb** · 11th January 2012, 06:43

Originally Posted by Padmei

Doesn't it say something about the level of overall skills & commitment of the leading Dakar riders when someone with legendary bike skills such as Birchy runs mid field. Outstanding.

Chris made a comment to that effect after stage 8 in his daily email update:

Originally Posted by Chris Birch via email

“Well that was 500k’s of pure shi*t, not one good bit!! It was just flat out, like FLAT OUT, dusty as hell with rocks everywhere!! But I made it back in one piece, doing nothing stupid, which seems to be working for me at the moment!! Still really enjoying it. Am I tired? Nope, I’m averaging 7 hours sleep a night [I pointed out that was more than me – Mon].

Those top guys are SOOOOO fast, geeze... I’m at my comfortable limit, going as fast as I can without doing anything risky as I really don’t need to!

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Stage 9: looks like Birchy had some problems to WP1. Through in 98th place, over twice as long as the top runners.
Picked things up after that though, back to his normal mid-30's...
Not finished yet though.
Expect to see him clear the last WP in 5 mins or so.

I was wondering the same thing, he's passed a lot of riders again to make it up.

**NordieBoy** · 11th January 2012, 06:48

Started 32nd, finished 32nd

**NordieBoy** · 11th January 2012, 07:36

Looks like there was a change in the start times and Chris (and others) got there late.
Hence the longer (5min or so) 1st WP times.

Penalties to come?

**NordieBoy** · 12th January 2012, 07:52

20mins of penalties. 5 for speeding and 15 for engine change?

32nd overall. Went nicely this stage.

**cooneyr** · 12th January 2012, 08:34

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

20mins of penalties. 5 for speeding and 15 for engine change?

32nd overall. Went nicely this stage.

Pretty reasonably penalties given first time and obvious engine change required.

17th on today's stage it seems. That's bloody good!

**Padmei** · 12th January 2012, 16:34

Whats the story with engine etc changes? Aprt from marathon stages I thought it was all ok?

**k14** · 12th January 2012, 16:38

Originally Posted by Padmei

Whats the story with engine etc changes? Aprt from marathon stages I thought it was all ok?

Always a penalty but they increase the more often you change it. Something like first change: 15 mins, 2nd: 40 mins, 3rd or more: 2 hours.

**cooneyr** · 12th January 2012, 20:19

Someone will correct me if I'm wrong but last year I got the impression the 450 riders were allowed 3 engines for the ride, no penalties, no questions asked. This year I understand changes are allowed but you will get time penalties. 15 mins for first change, 45 for second, 1.5hrs for 3rd . . . . Guess it is to drive reliability into the engine designs an obviously means some interesting race strategy.

Did you fellas realise that the Dakar made national TV sports new (TV1) tonight. They played the footage from this thread and went on about how ruthless Peterhansel is. Any opportunity to diss the sport aye!

Cheers R

**dino3310** · 12th January 2012, 21:04

his first Dakar and he's riding in the top fiddy... man thats impressive.

**Brian d marge** · 13th January 2012, 01:08

Originally Posted by dino3310

his first Dakar and he's riding in the top fiddy... man thats impressive.

if you have seen chris ride AND he has won some top flight competition , that even top flight riders havent won

AND

he is saying the dakar top riders are FAST

They just might give me old enfield a run for its money me thinks !

Stephen

**NordieBoy** · 13th January 2012, 06:43

Chris is 28th overall after todays stage!
He picked up 8mins on Daryl Curtis but the stage was fairly short.
The 2 Chileans ahead of him seem to have changed engines...

**NordieBoy** · 13th January 2012, 07:14

Robby Gordon on this stage...
Pos: 1, 1, 1, 4, 17, ???

**cromagnon** · 13th January 2012, 07:23

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Robby Gordon on this stage...
Pos: 1, 1, 1, 4, 17, ???

Live Eurosport coverage said he had lost over an hour but didnt say why..... BMW for the win....

**cooneyr** · 13th January 2012, 07:42

Originally Posted by NordieBoy

Chris is 28th overall after todays stage!
He picked up 8mins on Daryl Curtis but the stage was fairly short.
The 2 Chileans ahead of him seem to have changed engines...

I assume he started 17th, given thats where he finished yesterday's stage (due to navigation errors by others it seems), and he finished 17th too. So no placed gained in the stage but he is riding with others more his pace at this time i.e. faster than the around 30'th placed fellas, probably getting a better run with less dust and less people to pass. Or am I reading too much into this. Hope not.

Opportunity to show true colors, keep moving up the leader board and maybe get a better starting position for 2013?

All in all this is still looking like a very positive race for Birchy.

Cheers R