Dakar 2007: 240 Motorcycle Riders - who can overthrow Marc C
Posted: Tue Jan 02, 2007 7:35 am
Dakar 2007: 240 Motorcycle Riders - who can overthrow Marc Coma?
Tuesday, January 2, 2007 - Marathonrally - news.marathonrally.com
The 240 motorcycle riders entered in the 29th Euromilhoes Dakar will all face their private challenge between the 6th and the 21st January 2007. For most of the amateurs, the pleasure at arriving classified at Lac Rose after more than 8000 kilometres of route from Lisbon will amply reward the efforts supplied both in training and on the track. Nevertheless, rivalry amongst fellow riders is always an intense part of this challenge. On the Dakar, to be crowned as the fastest, the required level of excellence is exceptionally high. A handful of riders, who must compromise with the hand of fate, capture the vital combination of energy, talent, consistency and subtlety in navigating skills required to clinch victory.
In 2006, Marc Coma proved to be the most consistent throughout the event. Without winning a single special, he calmly stayed ahead of fellow participants until Dakar. One year later, the second Spanish winner of the rally, after Nani Roma in 2004, has triumphed in the Orpi Maroc Rally, the Pharaons Rally and the UAE Desert Challenge, finishing the year as rally raid world champion. On a KTM modified in relation to his 2006 model, Coma is logically the rider to keep an eye on. Equipped with the same machine, but riding for a different team, Cyril Despres, weakened by a dislocated shoulder in the Moroccan part of the 2006 Dakar, was forced to quit leaving the field to Coma. His four stage victories didn’t make up for his disappointment at not being able to fight to the end in the overall standing. The 2005 winner will hence be back with a vengeance this year. His Spanish teammate, Isidre Esteve, who abandoned the rally after a heavy fall in 2006, is also a big favourite, following his victories in the Optic Tunisia Rally and the Baja Spain.
If the big favourites in this year’s race are easily identifiable, a surprise opponent could be found in the US version of the KTM 660. Chris Blais, 4th in 2006, is definitely the top challenger here. The Austrian team’s supremacy - wins in the last six Dakar rallies - could rapidly be confirmed. In terms of numbers, the Yamaha clan will be present in force, with more than 60 bikers. David Frétigné, representing riders on 450 cm3 machines, will attempt to improve his best score, 5th in the overall ranking in 2005. Stages without assistance should help him make up for his lack of engine power. Honda, following Yamaha’s example, will also sustain the battle within the 450-cm3 category, with Thierry Béthys as lead rider. In total, almost half of motorcycle riders will be participating with « small » machines. The battle within this category promises to be just as intense.
Tuesday, January 2, 2007 - Marathonrally - news.marathonrally.com
The 240 motorcycle riders entered in the 29th Euromilhoes Dakar will all face their private challenge between the 6th and the 21st January 2007. For most of the amateurs, the pleasure at arriving classified at Lac Rose after more than 8000 kilometres of route from Lisbon will amply reward the efforts supplied both in training and on the track. Nevertheless, rivalry amongst fellow riders is always an intense part of this challenge. On the Dakar, to be crowned as the fastest, the required level of excellence is exceptionally high. A handful of riders, who must compromise with the hand of fate, capture the vital combination of energy, talent, consistency and subtlety in navigating skills required to clinch victory.
In 2006, Marc Coma proved to be the most consistent throughout the event. Without winning a single special, he calmly stayed ahead of fellow participants until Dakar. One year later, the second Spanish winner of the rally, after Nani Roma in 2004, has triumphed in the Orpi Maroc Rally, the Pharaons Rally and the UAE Desert Challenge, finishing the year as rally raid world champion. On a KTM modified in relation to his 2006 model, Coma is logically the rider to keep an eye on. Equipped with the same machine, but riding for a different team, Cyril Despres, weakened by a dislocated shoulder in the Moroccan part of the 2006 Dakar, was forced to quit leaving the field to Coma. His four stage victories didn’t make up for his disappointment at not being able to fight to the end in the overall standing. The 2005 winner will hence be back with a vengeance this year. His Spanish teammate, Isidre Esteve, who abandoned the rally after a heavy fall in 2006, is also a big favourite, following his victories in the Optic Tunisia Rally and the Baja Spain.
If the big favourites in this year’s race are easily identifiable, a surprise opponent could be found in the US version of the KTM 660. Chris Blais, 4th in 2006, is definitely the top challenger here. The Austrian team’s supremacy - wins in the last six Dakar rallies - could rapidly be confirmed. In terms of numbers, the Yamaha clan will be present in force, with more than 60 bikers. David Frétigné, representing riders on 450 cm3 machines, will attempt to improve his best score, 5th in the overall ranking in 2005. Stages without assistance should help him make up for his lack of engine power. Honda, following Yamaha’s example, will also sustain the battle within the 450-cm3 category, with Thierry Béthys as lead rider. In total, almost half of motorcycle riders will be participating with « small » machines. The battle within this category promises to be just as intense.