2007/08 Aprilia RXV4.5/5.5 launch-The lion has been tamed (only a little…)
When Paul Walker from Aprilia called me to see if I was interested in a rendezvous with the brutal V-twin RXV’s I had to say yes. I rode the bikes at the world launch in Sicily earlier in 2006. Already at the end of 2006 the 2007/08 models are ready with improvements. I rode the new models around a castle in the English countryside.
Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Ian Jubb/MCN, Tor Sagen & Milagro (06 shots)
Since Ducati showed us the Hypermotard concept in Milan 2005 we have been very eager for a ride. Early May in Sardinia and we are finally in the seat of the latest motard designed fun-bike to enter the market. In hyper mode we rode the Hypermotard both on the road and on track. Is this the perfect motorcycle?
Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Stefano Taglioni & Marco Campelli
Buell XB12X Ulysses compared to the new XB12X Super TT
It would have been wrong of me not to compare the two latest models from Buell since I had the chance to swap between the two all day long over two days in Spain.
To give you an idea of where these two models are compared to other offerings in this growing market place I’ll use the KTM 950 SM and 990 Adventure as examples since I have tested both in the past. Buell have used the exact same idea, but with very different raw materials. The Super TT is based on the Ulysses which is Buell’s adventure touring motorcycle. The TT is a harder version of the Ulysses with firmer suspension, lower seat height and more aggressive styling. XB12X UlyssesXB12X Super TT
2007 CCM SR40 Street Scrambler, CR40 Café Racer & FT35 Flat Tracker-From Stroka to SR40, on any day!
Since rising from the collapse in 2004 CCM have recently launched an all new retro collection of offroad and road motorcycles. The British maker of offroad and competition motorcycles has only recently turned to the retro market. And it’s a wise choice since CCM’s heydays was in the 70’s and 80’s. We rode the new Street Scrambler and Flat Tracker on English roads and on the Speedway track.
Little Frodo the Elf (or Hobbit, whatever…) had just ridden the HP2 Enduro before I picked it up. The rear end looked like a sad beaten dog before I pumped it up to an Enduro man’s size with my cycle pump. I had been having nightmares about this mud pit filled with water followed by a very steep hill. There was no two ways about it, the HP2 had to go in, whether I wanted to or not.
Words: Tor Sagen Photography: Claire McHugh/Tor Sagen
Since 2003 KTM has had a big Adventure Enduro on offer. This year KTM has treated Adventure fans with the latest 999cc engine from 990 Superduke. We attended the world launch at the far away Island of Fuerteventura on the west coast of North Africa. If you look the Canary Islands up on a map you will see that the Islands are parallel with the greatest desert in the world, Sahara. KTM had a great adventure awaiting the lucky journalists that had made the journey from all over the world.
Words: Tor Sagen/Photography: Redeye, Peuker and Halwax TEST
BMW R 1200 GS Adventure-Brutal Adventure
R 1200 GS has been a huge success for BMW and time was right to introduce the Adventure version in 2006. My adventure ended brutally in a farmer’s stone wall.
With the FMX 650 Honda has made supermotard fun and games accessible to a lot more people. Gone are the days where you had to buy expensive wheels with your XR enduro to get a Honda supermotard. True, the ultimate is still a CRF with supermoto wheels. But FMX 650 is not about ultimate performance, it’s about honest and cheap fun.
Coma completed the eight day event in 21 hours 25’08 KTM said in their statement
“I am especially happy to win the Optic 2000 Tunisia rally because it was the only one that had eluded me,” Coma said at the conclusion of the rally. “After falling in the Dakar, what better way to come back to the World Championship. My love of bikes, competition and Africa have all been good motives.”
Unlike other years where a prologue has been run in Europe before debarking for the African sectors, this year there was no prologue but instead the first stage was held on the island of Corsica. This was immediately followed by the longest stage, the 506 km from Tunis to Douz. Then over the following days riders matched their skills against the challenges of the desert, the elements and nature before concluding on Sunday. The final stage took the riders from Matmata to Touzeur, a distance of 353 km, ending in style by crossing the finish line amid the “Star Wars” film sets.
Results 1. Marc Coma, Spain, KTM, 21 hours 25’08 2. David Casteu, France, KTM 21:47’48 3. Michael Marchini, France, Yamaha, 22:57’19 4. Gerard Farres, Spain, KTM, 23:23’49 5. Michael Angerer, Austria, KTM, 23:33’23
Dakar 2007 Lisbon-Dakar
January kicks off in the best possible way with the worlds greatest motorcycling adventure rally. 2006 was a deadly year for the Dakar race (see the 2006 coverage below) and safety is in the highlight once again. The factory riders will be wearing new neck-braces as a bad fall on heavy sand often leads to serious and sometimes fatal neck injury. The 2006 Dakar champ Marc Coma will once again be one of the favourite riders on his factory Repsol KTM 690 Rally. Sala will once again join Coma and the Repsol team looks strong. Coma's strongest rival looks to be Cyril Despres again. Despres heads the Gauloises KTM factory team. Team Rally Panamerica and Paal Anders Ullevaalseter are other strong KTM competitors. Shortly we will present other 2007 Dakar teams and competitors. Who will be the big surprise in 2007? Dakar 2007 kicks off on Sunday January 7 in Lisbon, Portugal. TS/Photo: Mitterbauer/KTM
Dakar 2006: Marc Coma
Repsol KTM rider Marc Coma won the Dakar 2006 overall after the last stage in Dakar that was not timed. Despite this Ullevålseter and Fretigne fought for the last stage's unofficial win. Ullevålseter won the unofficial battle and is also the best privateer in the rally on 6th. Coma commented: “I was well prepared to fight a long and difficult battle. And I already learned that in order to win a Dakar at least two things have to occur. First is not to make mistakes, second is that opponents make at least one mistake. If nothing of that happens, then you have to feel the right moment and unlock the gas. I did not made big mistakes, Cyril was unlucky and fell, and finally I only had to administer a favourable situation. Anyway it has been a ten days long stress. With a marvellous final purpose reached. Thanks to everybody. Thanks to KTM." Overall results as after stage 14. Alain Duclos won the 450cc class on his KTM 450. Pic: DPPI
Dakar 2006: 14th stage results
David Fretigne takes his first stage win in Dakar 2006. Finally the 450cc Yamaha-Motor France Ipone rider could claim a victory to his name in this years Dakar. Fretigne is this year as he was last year the only non KTM rider to take a stage win. The riders are now in Senegal and the holy grail Dakar itself. Marc Coma is still the overall leader and he was number two after today's special. Farres Guell third. Tomorrow's stage is only 110 kilometres in Dakar.
If Repsol KTM 660 RR rider Marc Coma cruises in to Dakar tomorrow without crashing or mechanical problems he will win the Dakar 2006. Marc Coma (SPA) has not won a single stage in the Dakar 2006, but has taken an impressive 8 second places. Will Coma resist trying to win tomorrow's stage and just cruise in? Coma would then follow in the footsteps of Repsol KTM's 2004 edition of the team that saw Spaniard Nani Roma take the victory in Dakar. TS. Pics: DPPI/T. Flechsig
Coma's water carrier, Giovanni Sala, finally won a stage today. Sala is a enduro specialist and commented: “It is true: yesterday I was disappointed. But that’s it. Nothing to be emotionally related to the today’s stage. In fact, due to my starting position, I have had a bizarre opportunity: that one of catching my first victory in this Dakar avoiding any risk of lose my “salary” of “water carrier” for the Repsol KTM Team. As we say in Italy, it was the opportunity to grasp two pigeons with one bean”, meaning to collect two benefits with one only effort. Nothing to add: I feel very happy!”. Pics: DPPI/P. Batini
US riders Blais and Street has improved greatly at the latter stage of the rally. Jonah Street commented to Dakar.com: "Another good day for me on a stage even faster than yesterday’s, but sometimes a bit dangerous. I stopped when I saw Azevedo on the ground and stayed with him for about five minutes. Except a tiny mistake, I have been almost perfect in navigation. Actually, I improve every day. For me, the rally should last one more week to enter the top 10."
Team Scandinavia's Guatemalan rider, Francisco Arredondo (57 overall), finished as number 52 on today's stage and according to Solveig Ullevålseter, Pål Anders's wife and press contact, Francisco was jumping in joy when he arrived the depot. All the contenders can smell the finishing line in Dakar now. The riders are now in Guinea and it is hard going. Pål Anders Ullevålseter is still number 6 overall after finishing 15th today. Yesterday's stage saw his rear tyre's mousse dissintegrate and he lost one hour just on that incident. But this is Dakar and it has happened before that the leader of the whole race gets an engine seizure on the last stage. So the race is not over until Dakar finishing line even though the last stage is an easy one on the beach. Sunday 15th January is the big day for all the competitors as the race concludes. Marc Coma and Cyril Despres is separated by 31 minutes and are the two most likely contenders to win Dakar 2006. Pic: DPPI
The first non KTM to reach the finishing line after today's special and transport was David Fretigne once again flying the flag for Yamaha. Pic: DPPI
Best BMW rider is Nick Plumb (UK) that is currently on 80th place overall. Fellow BMW rider and last man standing on the Race to Dakar project, Simon Pavey, is currently on 89th place of 95 riders. BMW's F650 GS Dakar is virtually the same bike as you can buy at the dealers and it's a good job just making it this far.
And last but not least, here's a image of Stage 11 winner Alain Duclos. Pic: DPPI
Local hero Alain Duclos won today's 11th stage of the Dakar 2006. It was a dream come true for the French/Mali KTM 450cc rider. Marc Coma still is the overall leader of the desert rats. Unfortunately we haven't got any photos of Duclos in the archive so here's one of Coma. Pic: DPPI
Bad luck for Ipone Yamaha-Motor France rider David Fretigne
On stage 7 David crashed after jumping over camel grass twice. This is how David's nose looked like after the crash. Then on Stage 8 Fretigne lost 2 hours through navigation errors. And on stage 9 David crashed badly too. The only race left for the 450cc Yamaha rider is to reach Dakar in one piece. Please make sure not to stick your nose in the sand again David! Yamaha's honours are now in the hands of Portuguese rider Helder Rodrigues (WR450F Kit Africa - Vodafone) that finished a surprising third today that puts him ninth overall. that puts him 15 minutes behind the leader of the 450 class, Alain Duclos on a KTM 450. Rodrigues is riding a customer Yamaha-motor France bike through a scheme that was launched this year. P: DPPI
Pål Anders Ullevålseter charges for podium in Dakar
The sturdy Norwegian 37 year old KTM 660 RR rider is once again the top privateer in Dakar. Currently Ullevålseter is fourth overall and charging for a podium place in Dakar. The Norwegian is about 34 minutes short of Sala on third. On todays stage PA lead the way after passing more than 100 riders and he was not caught until after 350 kilometres by the bliztering fast Marc Coma. Ullevålseter was deeply sadened by the loss of navigation mate Caldecott. Ullevålseter uses every opportunity to call wife Solveig as soon as he has finished every stage. Both PA and wife Solveig has become celebrities both in Norway and Sweden as PA is racing single handedly for the Scandinavian colours in Dakar. PA's strength is stamina and it shows after a very good result on the longest special of the race. Photos: DPPI TS
Overall standings after Stage 9 Dakar 2006
Marc Coma comments after stage 9
Coma commented to Dakar.com:
" This is very hard news for all of us. We are going to try to cope with it but it will be difficult. I do remember Andy’s smile and a lot of other things. Nevertheless Andy did what he loved and he shared his passion with us even if he joined the team very soon. I didn’t contact his family, our team manager did it. That’s all. It hard not only for our team but also for all competitors of Le Dakar. "
Stage 10 will see the riders enter Mali, but due to today's events the special is cancelled and all the riders will ride the transportation to honour Andy Caldecott's memory.
Cyril Despres won the toughest special in the Dakar race even with injury. this shows which calibre Despres is made of. The tragic loss of fellow KTM rider Caldecott will be on everyone's mind tonight and no one will want to celebrate. Marc Coma is still the overall leader, but Despres is getting closer again.
KTM statement regarding the death of Andy Caldecott: "The accident happened directly after the day off. This information has totally shocked us, we’re at a loss for words.
The terrible accidents in the past 2 years caused us to start with mixed feelings and question our rally engagement. The presenters of the Dakar have tried to make the rally safer together with several manufacturers. A tempo limit has been adopted, a GPS system which enables each rider to be located and to allow him to communicate with the presenter. Riders can have more rests now due to shorter tank stops. A pretty sportive rally until yesterday’s day of rest eclipsed the pain of the past - today we were brutally pulled out of our dream to make this rally safe.
Our thoughts are with Andy and his family."
Dakar has claimed yet another good man
Australian Repsol KTM rider Andy Caldecott died today on his way to Dakar on the longest special in the race. The report came from the organisers and Dakar.com. Eurosport reports that Caldecott crashed fatally at the 250km mark today. Caldecott joined the Repsol KTM team at the last minute this year when Jordi Durans of the KTM Junior team got injured. We will update with all the details, reactions and results from Stage 9 this afternoon. Our thoughts goes to Caldecott's family and friends. Andy Caldecott, 41, was competing in his third Dakar. He had finished 6th of the 2005 edition and was currently 10th overall of this edition after having won stage 5 between Nador and Er-Rachidia in Morocco. R.I.P
KTM Gauloises rider Isidre Esteve crashed twice today and has been sent to hospital with helicopter. Dakar.com reports that: "his days are not in danger".
Dakar: 8th Stage results
Navigation were the big separator today. Here is what David Casteu had to say: “I have to thanks Cyril Despres”, said Casteu at the finish”, he is a master in navigation. I only had to follow him, and learn. At the finish I thought for a long time this was the area where last year we have lost Fabrizio Meoni, and I dedicated him my first victory, I am sure he is watching us and he is also happy for my today’s success”. Eurosport video report.
Here are a couple of maps that shows where in the world Mauritania is and what the organisers have to say about Saturday's stage 8, Atar-Nouakchott in Mauritania, before the rest day on Sunday. From Dakar.com: "On the first part of the special, the windy route crosses canyons and wadis. Competitors will feel themselves shot like a pinball against the massifs. After the series of zigzags, a very fast stretch will temp the most itchy to push the speedo. But over-confidence could lead to bad surprises"
From Dakar.com: about S7"A tricky pass. Navigational finesse will be rewarded during the major difficulty of this first week which will be contested off track. Absolutely off-track. Indications will be sparse on the road-book, and those who miss the WPM’s will have all their work cut out to find the right passes. After the dunes, competitors will be driving along stony plateaux and slaloming in camel grass."
“Today, we realised how tough the Dakar can be. There has been kilometres of dunes and stones, and a lot of navigation as well. And today’s stage was very physically demanding. What’s more, we had to remains very focussed on every detail till the end. At once, I could see Coma. I wanted to catch him up, but I fell. It was not serious, but it really illustrates what the Dakar is. You can’t afford any mistake and remain focussed on everything till the last stage. But sincerely, I won today thanks to my mechanic Roberto Boasso and Jordi Arcarons. Every morning, when I take the bike, I know it will work perfectly well. And it gives you the confidence you need to really ride for victory. “ Notice that notorious camel grass on the photo top left of Gavardo. Photos: DPPI
Two spectacular accidents occurred to two top riders today: David Frétigné and the American Andy Grider. No serious consequences, but for the promising American of the Red Bull KTM Team his Dakar has finished on the helicopter of the organizers. Norwegian rider Pal Anders Ullevalseter commented that he could see that David Frétigné's 450cc Yamaha were much more agile on the camel grass and that whilst he and the other KTM 660 riders were slaloming around the grass, Fretigne was jumping two and two camel grass at a time very fast. Until he hit a deceptive hole after one of them. And then another... Frétigné's nose and the bike took a good beating.
Another 450 rider we haven't mentioned yet is Thierry Bethys, Honda F450 XE, that finished 10th today. “The Dakar is a childhood dream,” explained the official Honda rider before the start in Lisbon. “Every year, I used to watch it on telly. I’ve been mulling it over for the last couple of years now and I’ve come to the conclusion that, at this stage, the Dakar is a natural extension to my professional riding career. With my experience of riding, mechanics and risk management, I feel mature enough, so I think it’s the right moment.” Bethys is a French Honda MX rider. If Fretigne had not crashed twice he would have been higher on the results and it would have been the day of the 450's. Here is also a Alta Vista translation of Thierry's blog: "Hello, This evening I am with the angels. For the first time since our arrival in Africa, I rolled dust free, with visibility. Moreover, I gave myself extremely pleasure in piloting on this special. The first 200 kilometres were very fast (130-140 km/h in what relates to me, therefore 160 for the big-engined cars). Then, there was good ten kilometres with much of large holes and bumps, on this portion, I paid great attention not to fall. Lastly, the last 200 km were a treat... Indeed, of sand, of the dunes, I would have believed myself in Touquet, the grass with camel moreover. I had at this time the embarked camera and the helicopter of France Television followed me during approximately 3/4 of hour. I had fun to make some wheelies, I do not know what they will keep with the assembly, but that can be sympathetic. I finish 25th stage, and finds me 28 with the general classification. I so much took pleasure to roll in sand and the dunes until I wait the following stages impatiently. This evening, I will try to sleep early, because I am upright since 1h00 morning and the stage of tomorrow is very long. With soon for the continuation of my adventures, Thierry."
Coma increases his overall lead and Despres is believed to have dislocated his collarbone after a crash early today. He still finished 7th! Actor and adventurer Charley Boorman had to retire today due to a crash where he broke his hand. Boorman will still follow his team mates, Simon Pavey and Matt Hall, to Dakar to finish their TV series Race to Dakar. Chilean rider Carlo de Gavardo won today's stage.
Carlo de Gavardo (CHI – KTM – 1st)
“We entered the real Africa today with plenty of off-road. We had to be very careful. It is getting tough day after day but I feel really good. I did not ride too fast because I wanted to keep cautious on any kind of danger.”
Pal Ullevalseter (NOR - KTM - 4th)
"I did a good stage, the overall pace was very fast in the first half, Giovanni Sala overtook me and I was glad to be able to follow him. Like him, I had problems with the speed limit, I had to ride very carefully. The race was dangerous in Morocco, I rode at my own pace without taking any risk. My current strategy is to stay in the top 10 every day. I will attack later in long and hot stages."
Cyril Despres (FRA - KTM - 7th)
"I have dislocated my collarbone. The doctors say it is a stage 2 dislocation. I am fine. The crash happened at km 273, 50 km before the refuel point. I do remember hitting some camel grass and the back end kicking up. Isidre and Marc arrived and helped me. I don’t have the feeling that I made a big mistake. I do hope that I will be fine tomorrow morning. I couldn’t go home without at least trying to ride. My feelings are very mixed. On the one hand, it is 11 months training down the drain and that is obviously very frustating. On the other hand, it could have been a lot worse." Photo: DPPI
Dakar: 5th Stage special results
1
001
DESPRES (FRA)
KTM
03:47:40
00:00:00
2
002
COMA (ESP)
KTM
03:51:21
00:03:41
3
003
ESTEVE PUJOL (ESP)
KTM
03:52:58
00:05:18
4
160
FARIA (POR)
KTM
03:55:54
00:08:14
5
004
DE GAVARDO (CHI)
KTM
03:56:01
00:08:21
6
010
CALDECOTT (AUS)
KTM
03:58:34
00:10:54
7
008
CASTEU (FRA)
KTM
03:58:43
00:11:03
8
005
ULLEVALSETER (NOR)
KTM
03:58:46
00:11:06
9
006
SALA (ITA)
KTM
03:59:21
00:11:41
10
012
FRETIGNE (FRA)
YAMAHA
04:00:41
00:13:01
Despres was fastest today, but Coma remains the overall fastest man.
French Yamaha rider Davide Fretigne commented after S4 that the Spaniards riding in front (Coma and Esteve) rode like madmen since they know the place well. Fretigne had a crash before CP1 that caused problems for his knee and he would see a osteopath with the problem, but also stated it was nothing serious. The WR450F still works well and it is expected some ground can be made on the very fast front four riders when the riding gets even more technical. Photo: DPPI
Today we'll publish a part of KTM's press release that talks about the privateer. "Each private rider plays this role in the larger context of the race. For all of them the main target is to reach the last finish line. As in a travel, they wants to bring their bikes into the Rose Lake located near Dakar, and they fight hardly for it. Private riders are often the unknown heroes that come at night, repair their bikes, heat a hasty dinner and thread into the sleeping bag. They are virtually alone against the immense difficulties of the race, but almost all of them are ready to help a momentary friend, giving him a litre of gasoline or a push him in order to start a reluctant engine. That’s the particular solidarity of the Dakar.
One of this private riders is Italian Fabrizio Mugnaioli, A 44 aged farm owner in Tuscany, Italy. We met him near the airplane that transports the metal cases, one for each rider. There the competitors can store everything they want, the only limit is the volume of the boxes. Normally the sleeping bag and spare parts. Fabrizio is competing with an old KTM Rally Replica, a 2001 model (Meoni won the Dakar on that very bike in 2001) that Fabrizio Meoni donated to him. The motorcycle is conserved as a reminder of a friend and a Champion we never will be able to forget." Photos: Coma: DPPI, Late Meoni: G. Soldano taken 06/01/2005 on S6 Smaraz - Zouerat.
Dakar: 4th stage: Er Rachidia - Ouarzazate (Morocco)
Spaniard KTM Gauloises rider Isidre Esteve won today's stage but we'll give you the comments from the sole Yamaha rider at the top, team Scandinavia and the privateer BMW Race to Dakar team as well. After today's stage Coma is the overall leader.
From KTM's press release:
"Esteve; I feel good, and I try to always stay clever and calm. The goal of the leadership has been accomplished today, and the main meaning of this success is that the work of the entire Team is perfect". The winner of the stage was happy but a little preoccupied: "Tomorrow" said Isidre Esteve, "I will open the trace, and a lot of work is waiting for me". The other Gauloises KTM team member Cyril Despres preferred to trace a balance of this first part of the Dakar: "Yesterday I was happy because of the result, today because I enjoyed the passage of the first dunes. I can say that the race is only at his beginning and that I made a god job. All is working well". Tomorrow the stage will reach Tan Tan, It will be "simply" the first of a "over 800" trio. Exactly 819 kilometres, with the fifth special test of the Dakar 350 km long. No dunes in the profile of the special test, but two long technical sections. Further more the race will go down to the sea level. Heat can begin to affect the hard work of the competitors.
Team Scandinavia; Norwegian KTM rider PA Ullevalseter told a story about S4 today on his website. That site works best for Scandinavians so here is what was said; "Everything went smoothly up to CP2 today. After CP2 a navigational error lead PA to the top of a mountain. At the time he was leading a group of five riders where the last rider were about 3 kilometres behind. Because of the dust you can actually follow someone from that far behind in the desert. On his way back down David Frétigné was on his way up, but turned around as soon as he could see they were on the wrong track and managed a better position than PA because of the navigational opportunity. Casteu were even further behind, but still managed to finish fifth. PA said that this is how Dakar works and that the next time he will benefit."
David Frétigné (7th on S4) ,Yamaha Motor France Ipone, comments after S3 "I left this morning at the beginning special to 9h20 and before the CP1, I had concern with my electric drive of the road book. I tried to make it function with my hand but that was too dangerous and I almost crashed several times! I was thus satisfied to stay out of other riders trace and I finished the special in this manner. The fact of navigating without GPS is very difficult. At the beginning of the special, I had difficulties before I found my rhythm. After CP2, there was much dust and the pilots obstructed themselves. I preferred to raise the foot and to ensure my special. The work carried out in Shamrock, in particular with the suspension, enabled me to be more in safety. I am not worried about the minutes up to the leaders and take the days as they pass: it is necessary for all to concentrate on the race, to work the road book each evening and to rest as much as possible. There will inevitably be worse days but... it is Dakar! With the program of the day of Tuesday: survey with 5h30 for a 4e stage full with surprises because of the first dunes... "
From BMW's press release after S1: After more than a year of preparations Dakar rookie Charley Boorman and the Race to Dakar team were relieved to be on their way to Senegal. The team who are riding BMW F650 GS bikes were also undoubtedly happy to have completed the first day without any major dramas. "I couldn't believe how nervous I was at the start but as soon as I got off the line the nerves were replaced by pure excitement" enthused Boorman. "After blowing the cobwebs away on day one I just can't wait to get my teeth in to the rally tomorrow." After a total of 370km on the first day Boorman is in 181st position with team mates Matt Hall and Simon Pavey in 185th and 186th places respectively. Both riders being as excited as Charley about what the next 15 days will hold. "I had a slight problem with the bike today" explained Hall. "Charley was riding really well and it took everything I had to keep in touch but tomorrows a new day." Race to Dakar team manager, Russ Malkin had a slightly different view on the first day's proceedings. "It's an incredible feeling just to get to the start" said Malkin. "But the relief I felt was soon replaced with the thought of the epic problems we could encounter over the next fortnight."
Also riding a BMW F650GS British privateer racer Nick Plumb had a great first day finishing in 70th position overall as the highest placed BMW. Photos: DPPI and Batini
The first few days of the Dakar race never tells us much about the outcome. Due to the nature of the race it's a victory in itself to take a stage win. But after today's third stage and the first in Africa (Morocco) the results starts to get more interesting. Australian Andy Caldecott surprised by riding the stage three special faster than anyone else. Caldecott got the opportunity to ride this years Dakar after Jordi Duran got injured. Duran was going to partner Jordi Viladoms in KTM's junior team. Caldecott is the Australian KTM importer and is part of the Repsol KTM factory team. Andy commented: “Too many rocks and stones everywhere, then many changes of direction“, said the Australian just after the finish line, “It was not a walk, but I am used to be fast when the track is fast, and I like very much large open spaces”.
Overall reigning Dakar champ Cyril Despres leads by a margin of 1 minute and 16 seconds. "The riders encountered many changes of direction, and they have to face a speed limit monitor for the first time. “For me it was an annoying stage”, said the today’s new leader of the race Cyril Despres, “because of a new instrument installed on our console that we have to check continuously. The new rule of the Dakar impose a speed limit of 160 km/h (about 100 miles per hours), and a monitor connected with the GPS warn us when we are reaching this limit. Unfortunately is the same alarm of the “sentinel”, the overtake warning. With the same “beep”. So with this new “entertainment” we are obliged to drive and open the gas intermittently. In addition I had a little problem with the bolts of the instrumentations, and the “traditionals” stony tracks of Morocco completed the today’s “Menu”. Anyway I finished third and I reached the goal. I am first overall and I am in the game. This the most important."
Despres wins first special of Dakar 2006 in Portugal. KTM Gauloises rider Cyril Despres managed a time of 58’10” on the muddy paths of the 83km long special. Tomorrow's stage takes the competitors into Spain and Malaga where all the bikes and riders will be shipped to the African continent and the first African stage in Morocco. TS
BMW F 650 GS Dakar & Race to Dakar team
In a professional Dakar team it is usually the most experienced rider that heads the team with a support rider also called the "water carrier". The water carrier in this team is the experienced Australian Simon Pavey whilst rookie B-film movie star Charley Boorman is the main rider. The third rider of the Race to Dakar team is Mike Hall that will be doing onboard filming. the greatest thing about this great PR stunt by BMW-Motorrad UK is that there will be a DVD with all the preparations and action from the race available after the race. There is not that many films of the Dakar race with emphasis on the motorcycles so the race to Dakar project is more than welcome for adventurous bikers.
“I’ve wanted to race in the Dakar since I was a young boy,” said Charley. “Then after Ewan [McGregor] and I rode around the world last year I thought I’d try and make this dream come true. During my preparation for Long Way Round, I met BMW off-road instructors Simon Pavey and Nick Plumb, who have competed in the Dakar several times and they persuaded me that I could do it.”
In 2004 Charley Boorman and Ewan McGregor rode 20,000 miles from London to New York on BMW R1150 GS Adventure motorcycles. The duo rode through Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, and Siberia before flying to Alaska in Canada and riding across the USA to finish in New York. The Long Way Round television series has been seen all over the world from Africa to Uzbekistan and has turned Charley into a household name, as well as a credible ‘unofficial’ ambassador for BMW Motorrad.
F 650GS Dakar. The bikes have been modified in a number of different ways including upgrading the wiring loom, improved exhaust, air boxes, suspension, fuel tanks, sub frame, lights and other accessories. Michelin have supplied the team with all the tyres and mousses necessary for the race. Other features include GMX radiators and cooling system, Talon front wheels, Ohlin steering dampers, Venhill throttles, Sebring exhaust silencer and Magura handle bars. The bikes will also be equipped with the Sentinel warning system which is a safety feature allowing each the riders to be alerted with a klaxon and warning light when a truck or car is moving up behind them. In earlier years without Sentinel bike riders had either been knocked off or deflected as trucks steam past. Max power: 50 Bhp max torque: 60 Nm, seat height: 935mm, dry weight: 190kg and fuel tank (from Touratech): 34,5 litres.
KTM factory Dakar teams
Gauloises KTM
GAULOISES KTM: Cyril Despres, Isidre Esteve, Michel Gau and David Casteu
Repsol KTM
REPSOL KTM: Marc Coma, Carlo de Gavardo, Giovanni Sala and Andy Caldecott (not pictured)
Red Bull KTM
RED BULL KTM USA: Chris Blais and Andy Grider
Repsol KTM junior
Latest news is that Jordi Duran will not ride due to injury and Andy Caldecott has been able to step into the KTM Repsol team. This means Jordi Viladoms represents Repsol KTM Junior as the sole rider.
REPSOL KTM JUNIOR: Jordi Duran and Jordi Viladoms
All Photography by H. Peuker
Scandinavian Dakar heroes
Norwegian rider Pål Anders Ullevålseter will this year participate in his fifth Dakar rally. PA is twice European Enduro champion and the 2004 world rally champion. In the Dakar rally PA finished 9th in 2002, 7th 2003, 5th 2004 and had to retire due to a nasty crash in 2005. Lisbon-Dakar is yet another chance for PA to try and win the whole event for the first time. All these years he has been riding as an amateur in Dakar and has showed that you don't have to be part of a factory team to perform well. PA's bike this year will be a KTM Rally Replica 660 as Team Scandinavia's sole rider. PA is the highest ranked outsider to have a chance to win Lisbon-Dakar. Some more images of the bike here.
In the last years Swedish rider PG Lundmark has been a part of the team as well, but this year PG has got other plans. He will ride a BMW HP2 from the North Cape in Norway to the South Cape in South Africa. The journey starts in Norway 22nd December and PG will go through Norway, Finland, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Botswana, Namibia and finally South Africa. Here's PG's website where he will keep a diary of the journey.
Dakar statistics, the winners
Year
Rider
Bike
2005
Cyril Despres
KTM (Overall)
David Frétigné
Yamaha (450 Class)
2004
Nani Roma
KTM (Overall)
David Frétigné
Yamaha (450 Class)
2003
Richard Sainct
KTM
2002
Fabrizio Meoni
KTM
2001
Fabrizio Meoni
KTM
2000
Richard Sainct
BMW
1999
Richard Sainct
BMW
1998
Stéphane Peterhansel
Yamaha
1997
Stéphane Peterhansel
Yamaha
1996
Edi Orioli
Yamaha
1995
Stéphane Peterhansel
Yamaha
1994
Edi Orioli
Yamaha
1993
Stéphane Peterhansel
Yamaha
1992
Stéphane Peterhansel
Yamaha
1991
Stéphane Peterhansel
Yamaha
1990
Edi Orioli
Cagiva
1989
Gilles Lalay
Honda
1988
Edi Orioli
Honda
1987
Cyril Neveu
Honda
1986
Cyril Neveu
Honda
1985
Gaston Rahier
BMW
1984
Gaston Rahier
BMW
1983
Hubert Auriol
BMW
1982
Cyril Neveu
Honda
1981
Hubert Auriol
BMW
1980
Cyril Neveu
Yamaha
1979
Cyril Neveu
Yamaha
Lisboa-Dakar 2006, Yamaha WR450 F Rally
Have plans for new years eve yet? Well, more than 230 riders have planned their new years eve slightly more and for longer than most. 31 December 2005 Dakar 2006 kicks off in Lisbon, Portugal. Before that time we hope to have presented most of the teams that stand a chance to win, the outsiders and the novelties. We'll kick off by presenting the bike from the second largest manufacturer in Dakar 2006, Yamaha WR450F Rally. David Fretigne that rides for Yamaha Motor France finished 5th overall and won the 450 class last year. Due to several fatalities the last few years the larger more powerful twins have been banned from competing in Dakar 2006 and this opens up for the 450 and it could well be a 450 rather than a 660 that takes the top place on the podium in Dakar 15 January 2006. David Fretigne is one of the favourites for the top spot. The bike he rode in the Dakar 2005 is similar to the 2006 bike and had the Ohlins two-wheel drive that Yamaha claims increases top speed in deep sand by 10%. Here is the 2005 specs: Single cylinder, liquid-cooled 4-stroke, DOHC 5-valves, 449cc, 41+Hp, Keihin FCR 38/41mm, 5 speed, Factory fully adjustable 48mm USD fork, Monocross with Factory Kayaba gas shock absorber, 20/21 inch front, 19 inch rear wheel, dry weight 112kg, fuel; 2 x 16 litres + 2 x 6 litres aluminium tanks and state of the art GPS navigation system. Both WR450F and WR450F 2-trac is available with the Yamaha Motor France rally kit.
The Dakar race is the last great adventure and it takes it's toll. Here is a before and after image of Yamaha Motor France rider David Fretigne.
Before After
RALLY Cross-Country Rallies World Championship calendar 2006
CALENDAR 2006
07.03 -16.03.06 - Rallye por las Pampas - Argentinia 07.04 -17.04.06 - Rallye de Tunisie - Tunisia 06.05. -13.05.06 - Rally di Sardegna - Italy 30.05 - 05.06.06 - Rallye Orpi Maroc - Marocco 23.06 - 01.07.06 - Rallye d’ Orient - Turkey 20.07 - 05.08.06 - Rallye dos Sertões - Brazil 30.09 - 08.10.06 - Rallye des Phararons - Egypt 05.11. - 10.11.06 - UAE Desert Challenge - Dubai
31.12.05 - 15.01.06 - Dakar
Husqvarna world champs in Supermoto S1
Gerald Delepine and his Husqvarna SMR 660 are the new S1 Supermoto World Champions.
Dakar 2006
Despite the fact this part of the site has been poorly updated the last months we promise full coverage of the Dakar 2006 race. TS
Rally Pharaons
Overall standing after 3 stages 1 COMA MARC SPA KTM LC4 660 10:53:13 2 DE GAVARDO CARLO CHI KTM LC4 660 10:58:22 3 CASTEU DAVID FRA KTM 660 10:58:47 4 SALA GIOVANNI ITA KTM 660 11:22:13 5 RIVERA VICTOR SPA KTM 660 11:41:56 6 DURAN JORDI SPA KTM 660 11:53:50 7 VERHOEF ERIC NL KTM 660 12:33:28 8 GRAZIANI MATTEO ITA KTM 450 12:35:02 9 LAZARD LAURENT URU KTM 660 13:29:09 10 CARILLON PATRICE FRA KTM 660 13:30:32
Photographer:
H. Peuker
SUPERMOTO NI race results
S2 Race 1 – Chambon did it! After taking the fastest time in the race for the super pole, Boris Chambon were highly motivated for the first race. Right from the start, Chambon pushed very hard and got the lead after a few turns. Hunted by the Aprilia guys Bolley and Giraudo, Boris rode the KTM to the first victory of this event. During the whole race, he was the untouchable rider!
1 Chambon, Boris FRA KTM 0:00.000 2 Bolley, Frédéric FRA Aprilia 0:03.682 3 Giraudo, Jerome ITA Aprilia 0:05.149
S2 Race 2 – No gifts! Just a few words are necessary to explain the second heat: Chambon got the hole shot and no one could follow him in his speed. After 18 laps he won in front of Seel and Bolley.
1 Chambon, Boris FRA KTM 0:00.000 2 Seel, Eddy BEL Husqvarna 0:01.551 3 Bolley, Frédéric FRA Apr
S1 Race 1 – VDB strikes back By four thousands of a second difference, the two factory pilots finished yesterdays time hunt. In today’s warm up session, including the offroad part, Thierry van den Bosch was the fastest rider. Like the first race in the S2 class, KTM got victorious in the first race of the S1 class again. VDB got the hole shot and raced a race without any pressure. Second position for Hiemer, who defended his rank through the whole race against the Husqvarna pilots Lazzarini and Delepine. Unfortunately he got some trouble in the offroad part and felt back to the ninth position.
1 Van den Bosch, Thierry FRAU KTM 0:00.000 2 Lazzarini, Ivan ITA Husqvarna 0:08.656 3 Delepine, Gerald BEL Husqvarna 0:08.886 ilia 0:06.748
Photographer:
J. Barte
Supermoto World Championship Bishopscourt, Northern Ireland
Round 14 of the world motocross championship visited the picturesque but muddy circuit of Gaildorf this weekend. Motocross legend Stefan Everts won both races and consequently claimed the 85th GP win of his career. Fellow Belgian Steve Ramon (KTM) and Joshua Coppins (Honda) joined Everts on the podium. Whilst Stefan now leads the championship standings by 53 points over Coppins (Honda)
MX1 Coppins Double in SA
The eleventh round of the 2005 FIM MX1 / MX2 Motocross World Championships, at a hot and sunny Sun City in South Africa, was another successful outing for Honda's off-road racing effort as CAS Honda rider and Swedish Grand Prix victor Josh Coppins extended his winning run to two consecutive rounds. Watched by 18,000 fans the Kiwi triumphed in a scintillating battle with defending World Champion Stefan Everts to take his third career garland and bring his total of successive MX1 moto victories to four; only the second rider in the class this season to accumulate this total. Josh Coppins: "I pushed really hard in the first heat. It was my best race ever because it was a time when Stefan didn't have bike problems or that he was not riding well or had problems with lapped riders; I beat him because I was the best. This is an important time in the Championship because I want to show Stefan I can race him for this title. Even though he has a big lead you can see that he makes mistakes, more this year than ever before. This is the right time for me to push on and try to win as many mottos as possible. I got a lot of cramp in the second race. My speed was OK I was just struggling with the cramp; this is something I need to work on for the next GP. I am a little bit disappointed with that second moto because he was stronger but I can very easily live with that first race and I am really happy to have won two in a row."
That Booring man again!
Sorry Charley for our headline, but we have seen The loong way around. Charley Boorman enters 2006 Telefonica Dakar Rally with BMW support. Actor Charley Boorman obviously doesn't like his challenges to be easy. As if riding alongside close friend Ewan McGregor while circumnavigating the globe on BMW R1150 GS Adventures during the highly successful Long Way Round television series wasn't difficult enough, he now intends to enter the world's toughest motor sport event, the 2006 Telefonica Dakar Rally. The UK production team responsible for the Long Way Round will plan and manage the project, and BMW Motorrad UK will be principle sponsor, provide competition motorcycles, technical support and off-road training. Commenting on his challenge ahead, Charley said: "The Long Way Round was one of the hardest and most satisfying big trips that I think every biker would like to achieve at some point in their lives. However, competing in the Dakar is really going to take me to another level." Charley will team up with experienced Dakar competitor Simon Pavey and the team will ride BMW F650 GS Dakar machines. Starting on 31 December for the first time in Lisbon, the riders are scheduled to arrive in Dakar, Senegal 16 days later. Charley, Simon and their (as yet) unnamed team-mate's main objective will be to simply finish the 6,000-mile event, a feat considered to be a challenge in itself. Out of 230 motorcyclists that started the 2004 Telefonica Dakar Rally only 104 bikes finished and the riding conditions were so uncompromisingly bad that the 2004 Rally is now regarded as one of the toughest ever. Time Warner will publish a book of the Dakar project and a TV series of Charley's adventure will be broadcast on Sky One in 2006. John Boorman made the 1980 film Excalibur about King Arthur and the knights of the round table. It looks like Charley Boorman now is ready to try his own knight skills in Africa. Desert rally has claimed two of the best ever rally riders the last few years in Fabrizio Meoni and Richard Sainct plus countless competitors. We wish Pavey and Boorman the best of luck, they will need it. Here at R&R we will report every little thing that happens in Dakar as we really love that place. We might be able to follow some backmarkers from BMW as well. TS
Cyril Despres (1st overall) : "The result is very positive. Last year Richard Sainct and myself promised to race this event as we liked Ren?#146;s attitude. I really enjoyed myself - the tracks, the navigation and the atmosphere were all that is best in rallye-raid. I am also very satisfied with my prototype KTM. Thanks to better fuel distribution, and the fact that it consumes less, it is much easier to throw around that the 660. Although it is 10 kph slower I think it is a good compromise." David Casteu (winner of the last special) : "The navigation was tricky today but I didn’t make any mistakes. I knew that I had a little margin in relation to the third place overall and so I decided to enjoy myself. In Morocco I finished 3rd, here I finish 2nd, at the moment lady luck is shining on me. Now I am going to concentrate on preparing for the Dakar ."
Double kiwi again in Grand Prix of Sweden.
But not Townley this time. Honda rider Josh Coppins outsmarted Townley and won his first ever double victory. The New Zealander challenged countryman and eventual double moto winner Josh Coppins in the first race but was unable to overtake the Honda rider despite a close finale that saw the pair separated by 0.4 of a second at the finish line. The second heat was slightly more complicated as a less than ideal start meant that the MX2 World Champion had to pick his way through from a first lap position of twelfth to eventually reach third, quite some distance adrift of Coppins and Joel Smets in second. The track was not easy today and the fast layout was dangerous in sections with the dust and hard stony ground proving to be quite slippery. Coppins won in front of 28,000 spectators (weekend figure) at Uddevalla for the Grand Prix of Sweden on his Honda CRF450R.
Honda CRF450R
Yamaha MX2 double in Sweden
Antonio Cairoli (Team Yamaha De Carli) sampled a perfect tonic after his disqualification last week in France by winning both motos in comprehensive fashion at Uddevalla today for the Grand Prix of Sweden, round ten of seventeen in the FIM MX2 World Championship. Cairoli has moved up to second in the standings thanks to his 50 point haul and now lies a 'moto' (25 points) behind McFarlane (Ricci Racing). He has won eight motos compared to McFarlane's two and the Swedish round represented the eighth win from ten for Yamaha in the class. Antonio Cairoli (Team Yamaha De Carli) - overall winner "For sure this GP is the best of the year for me. I did not have that much confidence coming here because I did not race at all last weekend. My hand is still bothering me after Matchams Park and I couldn't do any decent training this week. The track was not that difficult because there are not many jumps and I could win here easily. I started both races in first place and I could control McFarlane. I had a lot of motivation for today after last week and I really wanted to win."
Cairoli from Sicily did the double for Yamaha in Sweden.
Grand Prix of Sweden, Uddevalla
MX1 Timed Practice 1. Leok, Tanel Kawasaki. 2. Coppins, Joshua Honda. 3. Townley, Ben KTM. 4. de Dijcker, Ken Honda. 5. Everts, Stefan Yamaha. 6. Ramon, Steve KTM. 7. Cooper, Paul Honda. 8. Barragan, Jonathan. KTM 9. Seguy, Luigi Yamaha. 10. Nemeth, Kornel Suzuki. The track was hard and dusty under warm Swedish sunshine.
Enduro WCH: 9th round Most, Czech
Petteri Silvan, Samuli Aro and David Knight took the first places all on KTM machines in the Czech WEC. Photo: D. Agrati
Rallye d`Orient : 6th stage SIVAS / URGUP (02.07.2005)
---------------------------------------- RALLY Rallye d`Orient: 6th stage SIVAS / URGUP (02.07.2005) ---------------------------------------- David Casteu was delighted to win a special, especially after having opened the piste. For his part Cyril Despres admitted to not having wanted to take any risks, logical given that he leads Casteu by nearly 40 minutes! Carlo De Gavardo was hoping to finish second but his plans unravelled: The Chilean crashed and lost another 20 minutes to slip down to fourth place. Michel Gau is now third. In the quads, the Portuguese rider Santos ran out of petrol, which took the pressure of the class leader Christophe Declerck. Cyril Despres (1st): ? I rode like an old man, sitting down the whole time as it still hurts to stand up following my crash. The good news is that I watched my friend Michel Gau catch us and ride as fast as us over the mountains. Unfortunately he made a mistake with the compass heading and got lost.? David Casteu (winner of the special): ? Excellent, I’ve won another special. I navigated well and am happy I was able to stay concentrated for 300 km. There was some amazing scenery and I recognised the spot where I broke my engine last year.? Carlo De Gavardo (4th overall): ?This morning I started really motivated – I wanted to retake my second place. But things started to go wrong on the liaison when I had a small electrical problem, fortunately fixed by my assistance. I went fast right from the start of the special and slide off into a ravine. Fortunately neither myself or the bike were too damaged but it was difficult to get out of. I waited for the other bikes but nobody could see me! ? Lee Palmer (7 overall): ? I suffered today, I couldn’t keep the pace of the others and felt as if I didn’t know how to ride a bike. ? Photographer: H. Peuker
Rallye d`Orient: 1st & 2nd stage ANKARA / ANKARA (27.06.2005)
Cyril Despres won the first stage of the Rallye d`Orient. Liaison : 253 km - special : 141 km - liaison : 157 km. De gavardo came in first after stage 2. 1 DE GAVARDO Carlo KTM SP
Double Townley in France
Ben Townley won both MX1 moto's again in France. he is now starting to be a serious threat to Stefan Everts that leads the championship. Ben Townley: "It is a great weekend for KTM. I'm really happy at the moment that my level of riding and speed is good enough to win. It is nice to race with Josh, Mickael and Stefan all the time and even better to beat them. I used a ‘camelbak’ during the race so that I could drink and that helped me a lot. In the first moto it was so hard to breathe and I found it easier to have a little bit of water. I want to keep on going race-by-race and if I ride like I am now then I will keep on improving. I am training hard and doing a lot of work. In the last few weeks we have made a lot of changes to the bike and since Japan I think we have proved that things are going well. I want to keep being consistent now and I need to fight to try and get second from Josh in the Championship; if Stefan keeps on making mistakes then who knows what could happen." Photographer: R. Archer
MX2 KTM and Yamaha victories in France.
KTM won overall with David Philippaerts winning Moto1 and a third in Moto2. David Philippaerts: "I cannot believe this! The first heat was very good but in the second race I started badly and was hit by a few riders. I pushed hard to make up the positions but it was very difficult and at the end I almost collapsed because yesterday I was suffering with the flu. It has been a great Grand Prix considering that I was sick. I am finding my speed now with the 250 and everything is coming together." Yamaha's French rider Anthony Boissiere (Yamaha PSM-Casola) - Second overall "This was just a terrific surprise, I only came back from a broken shoulder bone in this very race. I had a little bit of luck on my side today, because things are so much easier with good starts! When I was leading in the second race I did not even think about the overall, I was just pushing and trying to hold on till the end. I was completely knackered by the end, but it felt great to have the support of my home crowd and they pulled me through. I'm very happy with the result, even if I was close to winning the Grand Prix my first race win is not bad either!" Photographer: R. Archer
MX2 Italy
Race classification MX2 Round: 8 - Grand Prix of Italy Circuit: Castiglione del Lago Circuit Length: 1748 Lap Record: 2' 1.161 (Mickael Maschio, 2002) Winner race1: 1 A. Cairoli Yamaha ITA. Winner race2: 1 S. Sword Kawasaki GBR
AMA MX Series: 3rd round Southwick, MA (13.06.2005)
1.Grant Langston. Murrieta, CA Kawasaki 47. Langston came second race 1 and won race 2.
MX3 Mladina, Croatia. Double for Demaria.
Yves Demaria: "It was a difficult race because the circuit was far from easy. It was dusty despite there being a lot of watering so it was very slippery. I have been around a long time to know that you have to be smart at a place like this; you have to know when to take a risk and when to hold back. I really wanted to win this GP and catch up as many points as possible in the Championship. I am very happy at the moment, everything is still open and the title is there to win." Photographer: E. Tempestini
MX1 Everts takes the double, Grand Prix of Great Britain
Reigning World Champion Stefan Everts dominated the seventh round of the FIM MX1 World Championships this afternoon at Matchams Park for the British Grand Prix. Carl Nunn won MX2 in front of his home crowd.
Enduro 1 Spain
Ivan Cervantes and David Knight took the first places to KTM in the Spain WCH on Sunday. Cervantes and Knight both have eight 1st places in a row. KTM is leading all classes. Photographer: D. Agrati
Enduro 2 Spain
Stefan Merriman (UFO Corse Yamaha) Day 1: First, Day 2: First: ?Things went really well this weekend. Now that I have no real chance of winning the championship there's no pressure on me. I just tried to enjoy the race and do as well as I could on the special test. I didn't have any problems with my stomach because the test were pretty smooth. I think that if the race had been in Finland, with lots of whooped out straights, then I would have struggled but they weren't so I was ok. I started to get a little tired towards the end of day one but I felt good on day two. I jumped one of the doubles on the extreme test on day one and got a little out of shape but apart from that everything went well.?
British GP, Matchams Park
British GP, Matchams Park MOTOCROSS WCH MX: Rnd 7, British GP, Matchams Park Pole positions for Townley and Nunn (04.06.2005) The factory Red Bull KTM team celebrated a double pole position at Matchams Park this afternoon as Ben Townley and Carl Nunn qualified first in the MX1 and MX2 classes respectively. Townley has ended Mickael Pichon's amazing run of sixteen consecutive pole positions by heading the timing sheets with his very last lap at the British Grand Prix, round seven of seventeen in the 2005 FIM Motocross World Championship. The reigning MX2 World Champ, who won the ?04 British race on the Isle of Wight, notched a lap three tenths of a second quicker than Stefan Everts in the fading seconds of the thirty minute Timed Session and gave the team cause to smile again after the disappointment of the mechanical breakdown last week in Japan. Carl Nunn buried the bad memory of his Japanese non-score by taking his first pole in over a year (Portugal 2004) and winning the first MX2 qualification heat from Andrew McFarlane. The British Championship leader showed his strength on home turf and is now looking for his best result in KTM colours tomorrow. Photographer: R. Archer
Esteve wins Orpi Maroc Rally 2005 (30.05.2005)
On two wheels, Isidre Esteve (KTM LC4) easily won his second victory in two years at this Moroccan event, and his team-mate Marc Coma grabbed the 2nd place in the nick of time. The young Catalan rider finally got ahead of David Casteu (KTM LC4), who had a nasty fall but is all the same particularly happy and moved that his first attempt as an official team rider should lead him to a third place on the Rallye ORPI Maroc's podium. Fourth is Carlo De Gavardo (KTM) who wins in the 450cc category. The Chilean is ahead of the Spaniard Jose Manuel Pellicer (KTM 660), first in the marathon class. For the quads the final duel between Jean-Philippe Caillet (Bombardier) and Christophe Declerck (Yamaha) didn't last for long. Caillet had a heavy fall in a wadi halfway through the special and fractured his collarbone before bravely riding on to the finish, leaving Declerck to once again grab the first place of the Rallye ORPI Maroc. The Frenchman ends in front of the Portuguese Ricardo Santos (Yamaha) and Caillet. (Source: www.npo.fr)
North America SX
AMA SX Series: 16th round Las Vegas, NV (09.05.2005) ---------------------------------------- 125 West / East Shootout 1. Davi Millsaps SUZ 2. Grant Langston KAW 3. Josh Grant HON 4. Andrew Short HON 5. Broc Hepler SUZ 6. Nate Ramsey KTM 7. Jay Marmont KTM 8. Billy Laninovich HON 9. Josh Summey HON 10. Paul Carpenter KAW Next event: Motocross May 22 - Sacramento, CA Photo: A. Hodgkinson
Belgium
---------------------------------------- MOTOCROSS WCH MX: Rnd 4, Namur, L&M Grand Prix of Belgium Townley takes second MX1 podium in Namur (08.05.2005) ---------------------------------------- Ben Townley has scored his second career MX1 podium at Namur this afternoon with third place at the L&M Grand Prix of Belgium, round four of the 2005 FIM World Championship. The New Zealander and current MX2 World Champ placed seventh and second to earn the bottom step behind Yamaha duo Stefan Everts and Brian Jorgensen. The Namur mud was coated with the occasional shower compared to the more frequent and heavy rain that plagued Saturday’s proceedings. The terrain was still slippery and rough, presenting a perilous test for the GP stars of both classes. Passing was difficult and the short start straight largely determined the running order. Townley, using a new four-stroke engine, had a tough opening moto and was languishing in the bottom half of the top ten after struggling to establish a rhythm. His jump was much better in the second race and he started to close a substantial gap to leader Everts in the final minutes of the sprint. A grandstand finale was lined up for the finish as the 450SX rider drew ever closer but a small mistake on the whoops prevented a close run to the line. Steve Ramon, at his home GP, was impressive in the first race, overtaking Mickael Pichon, Joel Smets and Stefan Everts to find third spot behind countryman Marvin Van Daele and runaway leader Brian Jorgensen. Sadly an engine problem while negotiating the flat section on the esplanade caused him to lose positions. In the second moto the former MX2 Champion was lucky not to be injured after getting cross-rutted on the big step-down going into the park. The bike was still running when Ramon remounted but he could only take eighth after some discomfort with his back. In MX2 Carl Nunn gained two top ten results and seventh overall but should have been higher placed in the second moto if he hadn’t fallen and damaged the clutch while in touch with the top five. The current British Championship leader was the Champ team’s sole representative after Tyla Rattray injured his knee during qualification on Saturday. The current MX1 Championship standings show that Townley maintains fifth place, twenty-one points in front of his team-mate in sixth. Carl Nunn holds ninth in the MX2 table while Tyla Rattray has slipped to sixth because of his absence. Rattray will have a scan on his right knee tomorrow to determine the extent of any damage to the ACL ligament. The lateral ligaments had been stretched and if this condition represents the worst of the injury there is a chance the South African could be back in action for the Japanese Grand Prix. Further news will be issued on Monday. Marc De Reuver was back in the Grand Prix paddock for the first time since Zolder at the start of April. The Dutchman was looking fit and admitted he had been extensively working out over the last month. He expects to be on two wheels again sometime in July. The fifth round of the World Championships takes place next weekend at Teutshcenthal for the Grand Prix of Germany. Ben Townley: “I am not happy with today. In the first race I had a bad start but then I struggled so much. I did not ride a good race and could not come through at all. I guess I was too cautious. I wanted to win here today and in the second race I proved that I am good enough to run at the front and with Stefan. My starts are a problem and this is something we will have to continue to work on. I am losing too many points at the moment because of the starts. I had been working on them almost everyday this week and I don’t think it is entirely my fault. We need to work harder. Maybe I am being hard on myself because we did take a podium but I know it can be better.” Steve Ramon: “The first moto was pretty good for me. I was looking to pass Van Daele for third in the last few laps but coming past the pits the bike almost died and the power wasn’t there. It took me a while to get going and some riders passed me. I was mad to finish ninth because the rest of the race had been good. It was difficult to pass and I was satisfied with my riding. At the moment every time I am riding well something bad happens; I hope one day it will turn around and for sure I will be on the podium again.” Carl Nunn: “I was riding a lot better in the second race. I have had a weak wrist for most of the season and sometimes when I hit a bump it pops off the bars. I couldn’t ride one-handed down the hill and crashed and the handlebars dug into my leg. I kept the bike running but something had happened to the clutch and I couldn’t use it. It was so difficult to ride around there without a clutch and trying not to stall the engine. It did cut out once going down the big hill and I thought ‘Oh no!’ but as I got to the bottom it caught traction and bumped up again and I was away. It is frustrating because I was in sixth at the time and I could see the others in front of me and they were tiring. For once I could see the top guys right there and it gave me a second wind to push; it was a shame I made the mistake, I guess I went for it too hard.” MX2 Moto1 1. Cairoli, Antonio ITA Yamaha 2. Philippaerts, David ITA KTM 3. McFarlane, Andrew AUS Yamaha 4. Melotte, Cedric BEL Yamaha 5. Sword, Stephen GBR Kawasaki 6. Maschio, Mickael FRA Yamaha 7. Chiodi, Alessio ITA Yamaha 8. Caps, Patrick BEL Honda 9. Nunn, Carl GBR KTM 10. Nagl, Maximilian GER KTM MX2 Moto2 1. Sword, Stephen GBR Kawasaki 2. McFarlane, Andrew AUS Yamaha 3. Melotte, Cedric BEL Yamaha 4. Chiodi, Alessio ITA Yamaha 5. Caps, Patrick BEL Honda 6. Goncalves, Rui POR Yamaha 7. Leok, Aigar EST KTM 8. Boissiere, Anthony FRA Yamaha 9. Pourcel, Christophe FRA Kawasaki 10. Nunn, Carl GBR KTM MX2 overall result 1. McFarlane, Andrew 42 2. Sword, Stephen 41 3. Melotte, Cedric 38 4. Chiodi, Alessio 32 5. Caps, Patrick 29 6. Cairoli, Antonio 25 7. Nunn, Carl 23 8. Philippaerts, David 22 9. Goncalves, Rui 21 10. Monni, Manuel 19 MX2 World Championships standings after four rounds: 1. Cairoli, A. 147 2. Chiodi, Alessio 135 3. Sword, Stephen 121 4. Melotte, Cedric 114 5. McFarlane, A. 110 6. Rattray, Tyla 90 7. Mackenzie, B. 79 8. Caps, Patrick 78 9. Nunn, Carl 77 10. Maschio, M. 76 MX1 Moto1 1. Jorgensen, Brian DEN Yamaha 2. Everts, Stefan BEL Yamaha 3. van Daele, Marvin BEL Honda 4. Pichon, Mickael FRA Honda 5. Smets, Joel BEL Suzuki 6. Coppins, Joshua NZL Honda 7. Townley, Ben NZL KTM 8. Noble, James GBR Honda 9. Ramon, Steve BEL KTM 10. Leok, Tanel EST Kawasaki MX1 Moto2 1. Everts, Stefan BEL Yamaha 2. Townley, Ben NZL KTM 3. Smets, Joel BEL Suzuki 4. Pichon, Mickael FRA Honda 5. Jorgensen, Brian DEN Yamaha 6. Coppins, Joshua NZL Honda 7. Meo, Antoine FRA Husqvarna 8. Ramon, Steve BEL KTM 9. Leok, Tanel EST Kawasaki 10. van Daele, Marvin BEL Honda MX1 Overall result 1. Everts, Stefan 47 2. Jorgensen, Brian 41 3. Townley, Ben 36 4. Smets, Joel 36 5. Pichon, Mickael 36 6. van Daele, Marvin 31 7. Coppins, Joshua 30 8. Ramon, Steve 25 9. Leok, Tanel 23 10. Noble, James 21 MX 1 World Championship standings after four rounds: 1. Everts, Stefan 172 2. Pichon, Mickael 145 3. Smets, Joel 132 4. Coppins, Joshua 131 5. Townley, Ben 121 6. Ramon, Steve 100 7. Cooper, Paul 79 8. Noble, James 76 9. Jorgensen, B. 75 10. de Dijcker, Ken 70
SM
---------------------------------------- SUPERMOTO Supermoto WCH: Race 2nd Round Namur, Belgium (07.05.2005) ---------------------------------------- S2 Race 1 Boris Chambon was highly motivated after the disappointing time practice, but a crash in the first lap of race 1 took all the chances to finish the race in the points. Overlapped, he struggled himself to the 22nd position. S2 Race 1 1. Bartolini, Andrea, ITA/Yamaha, 0:00.000, 25 Pts. 2. Godfroid, Thierry, BEL/Kawasaki, 0:08.465, 22 Pts. 3. Chareyre, Adrien, FRA/Husqvarna, 0:09.547, 20 Pts. 4. Fraikin, Marc, BEL/KTM, 0:10.181, 18 Pts. 5. Verderosa, Massimo, ITA/Honda, 0:18.479, 16 Pts. 6. Winstanley, Matthew, GBR/KTM, 0:19.100, 15 Pts. 7. Seel, Eddy, BEL/Husqvarna, 0:20.394, 14 Pts. 8. Fiorentino, Frederic, BEL/Honda, 0:29.733, 13 Pts. 9. Ravaglia, Christian, ITA/Suzuki, 0:30.724, 12 Pts. 10. Guyot, Fabrice, FRA/Suzuki, 0:31.444, 11 Pts. .. 12. Reiter, Wilfried, AUT/KTM, 0:42.055, 9 Pts. .. 22. Chambon, Boris, FRA/KTM, 1 lap (s) S1 Race 1 The positions of the riders in the starting grid were exactly the positions at the podium at the end of the race. But in the beginning it seemed to be the nobody Gilles DeJong. The situation turned five laps before the race was finished. Gerald Delepine passed Thierry van den Bosch and DeJong and took the victory. VDB stroke back, overtook DeJong in the offroad section, but Delepine was gone. For Bernd Hiemer everything went well. Starting from the ninth position he finished fourth. S1 Race 1 1. Delepine, Gerald, BEL/Husqvarna, 0:00.000, 25 Pts. 2. van den Bosch, Thierry, FRA/KTM, 0:02.463, 22 Pts. 3. Dejong, Gilles, BEL/Husaberg, 0:04.959, 20 Pts. 4. Hiemer, Bernd, GER/KTM, 0:24.372, 18 Pts. 5. Lind, Martin, SWE/Husaberg 0:31.489, 16 Pts. 6. Crosset, Daniel, BEL/Gas-Gas, 0:45.898, 15 Pts. 7. Bertrand, Christophe, BEL/KTM, 0:49.390, 14 Pts. 8. Manzo, Max, ITA/Aprilia, 0:51.739, 13 Pts. 9. Kvasnicka, Jan, CZE/Husqvarna, 0:53.950, 12 Pts. 10. Iddon, Christian, GBR/Husaberg, 0:57.490, 11 Pts. Photo: J. Barte
Team Scandinavia's Guatemalan rider, Francisco Arredondo (57 overall), finished as number 52 on today's stage and according to Solveig 
