| Team Dome BMW - Simon & Nick: 4th Jan 2004 |
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Media information
4 January 2004
First taste of Africa for Team Dome BMW
Team Dome BMW's Simon Pavey and Nick Plumb had their first full day on
African soil in this
year's 2004 Telefonica Dakar Rally when they contested the 750 km fourth
day stage from Tangier
to Er Rachidia and finished the timed section in 53rd and 64th places respectively.
Today's riding consisted of travelling through a series of changing landscapes. This morning's stage
started off in the cosmopolitan city of Tangier on the doorstep of the African continent, before
heading off through northern Morocco. The day began with a 233 km liaison,
followed by a timed
75 km special stage through sand and gravel tracks through pine forests,
and ending with a
mammoth 444 km liaison due to finish in Er Rachidia later this evening.
One hundred and ninety one bikes started the stage between Tangier and Er Rachidia, so Team
Dome BMW's Simon Pavey was pleased with his and Nick's performance in the
special stage:
"The game plan is certainly working at the moment," said the
36-year-old Australian. "The special
stage was beautiful - fast and flowing with some twisty sand and gravel
sections and a couple of
deep water crossings that caught a few competitors out.
"This morning's 233 km liaison was cold - there were frosty and foggy
conditions to contend with
- and during this afternoon's 444 km liaison we reached the Atlas Mountains
and climbed right up to
the snow line, where we remained for over an hour. Fortunately we're using
BMW heated clothing
and the F650 rally bikes are fitted with heated grips, so we never felt
the cold - unlike some of the
other riders who you could see shivering and being forced to travel slowly
in the conditions.
"So, all in all, we're in good shape, although the bikes were starting
to run a bit rich in the freezing
conditions. Apart from that they've been superb and our only complaint
is that Nick has picked up a
nasty cold so I'm staying clear of him for the next couple of days because
that's the last thing you
need on the Dakar rally. We'll both be glad to reach Er Rachidia this evening and get our heads
down for a while."
For more information call Andy Dukes on 07775 683673, visit www.dakar.com or
www.worldofbmw.com or see edited highlights every day on British Eurosport |
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