| Team Dome BMW - Simon & Nick: 4th Jan 2005 |
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Dakar rally back on track after heavy fog
After yesterday's disappointment when the special stage of the 2005 Telefónica
Dakar Rally was
cancelled for motorcyclists due to heavy fog, today's stage has taken the competitors from Agadir
to Smara in Africa. Team DOME BMW rider Simon Pavey rode his BMW F650 GS
654kms to
finish the fifth stage of the rally in 101st position and is 95th overall
in the event – with over 200
riders competing.
Australian-born Pavey said: "Today's special stage was quite technical
– it was very twisty and
rocky, with plenty of first and second gear corners – so I rode carefully
because if I fell today, it
could have ended my rally."
"I had a really good night's sleep last night and after an early start
[5:30am] I feel that I have made
good progress today. I am quite tired now and my wrist is hurting from a pre-Dakar incident, so I
am looking forward to getting to the Bivouac to get ready for another early
start tomorrow."
"There is a 120km liaison stage tomorrow and then we head into the
dunes. I've considered today
as a warm-up, as the rally will start to get a lot more difficult from tomorrow."
Simon's team-mate and fellow BMW Off-Road Skills instructor, Nick Plumb
has withdrawn from
the 2005 Telefónica Dakar Rally due to a technical problem.
Fellow Australian Andy Cadelott won the special stage today, followed by Marc Coma,
Frenchman Cyril Depres was third and then South African Alfie Cox was fourth.
In the car
special, Colin McRae clinched his second special on the rally to capture
overall leadership. In a
dramatic truck race, Tchaguine took advantage of Gerard de Rooy's crash to comfort his lead.
Tomorrow the competitors will face even more challenges that will test
their riding ability and the
performance of their race machines, as well as their luck. During the day competitors will race
from Smara to Zouerat, which will include 121km liaison stage, followed
by a 492km special and
then a 9km liaison.
Highlights of the 2005 Telefónica Dakar Rally can be seen on Eurosport.
See your local guide for
details |
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