Dakar Rally [with potential spoilers]

[Project84]

Originally Posted by icantdrive55

Saw that. Doubt the Toyota mechanics are gonna get much sleep tonight. On another note, the list of withdrawals includes 4 of the 5 Zongshen entries on Day 2.

That sucks!

I have been quietly following the Cyclone 250 (RXC?) and have read that they're planning to use the same frame (or close there of) and put the 450 in it. That's a bike I'd be interested in if the price was $5k or so.

This news kinda puts a damper on that whole plan!

[Project84]

Originally Posted by icantdrive55

Saw that. Doubt the Toyota mechanics are gonna get much sleep tonight. On another note, the list of withdrawals includes 4 of the 5 Zongshen entries on Day 2.

double post.

[witttom]

Shit.

Originally Posted by Dakar Rally

THIS JUST IN: Toby Price Racing fell off his motorcycle, and is now with the medical team. The reigning champion is out of the race. #Dakar2017

Well... that sucks.

[witttom]

RedBull Stage-4 coverage sucked today. Delayed by well over and hour, and when they finally aired, they really didn't show much of the racing. It was more of s status update.

MSNBCHDXLESPEN Stage-3 coverage wasn't bad.

[icantdrive55]

Don't think I would have wanted to be Price lying on the ground today with a broken femur in the remote back-country. Saw a post that pegged the temps as high as 120*F.

Last of the 5 Zongshen entries withdrew today.

[Project84]

Originally Posted by icantdrive55

Last of the 5 Zongshen entries withdrew today.

Bet your ass people over at chinariders.com won't be praising Zongshen after this!

[F1Tod]

Sucks for us KTM fans that Toby is out. Broken femur.Wow!

[icantdrive55]

Originally Posted by Project84

Bet your ass people over at chinariders.com won't be praising Zongshen after this!

Maybe, but given how difficult the conditions seem to have been this year--both in terms of technical terrain and navigation problems--it could simply be that the riders withdrew as opposed to a mechanical issue. With the heat and humidity, it might be a case of severe dehydration. I'm guessing that as a first year entrant, the factory didn't have any expectation of finishing very high in the standings.

[witttom]

Originally Posted by F1Tod

Sucks for us KTM fans that Toby is out. Broken femur.Wow!

Root for Liana Sanz. She's KTM, and has been climbing the ladder for some time now (wasn't she in the Top-10 last year? Maybe?). I think she's struggling a little bit, had some navigational challenges recently, but she's hard core and determined and due IMHO. You've still got KTM factory riders Sam Sunderland and Matthias Walkner too. With Price moving aside as the dominant KTM force, I think there is a good chance that Sunderland will fill that now vacant spot. ..and I think he has something to prove (don't they all?).

[witttom]

Originally Posted by Dakar Rally

Class: Sam Sunderland took advantage of today's day of rest to pay a visit to Toby Price Racing (who is looking better, by the way) at the hospital. We heartily applaud that! 👏 (📸: IG/sundersam) #Dakar2017

[witttom]

Brabec/USA wins Stage-6 (previously Stage-7, before they cancelled Stage-6?), but of course he is still dealing with the 1-hour penalty for an incorrect fuel filling like the rest of the Honda riders, so.... he's still kinda screwed.

[F1Tod]

Congrats to my favorite team, KTM does it again, 1-2-3!!!!! Congrats to Laila getting 16th on her KTM.