| Team Dome BMW - Simon & Nick: 14th Jan 2005 |
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Pavey completes penultimate stage
BMW Motorrad Off-Road Skills instructor Simon Pavey is one step closer to achieving his dream
of completing the 27th Telefònica Dakar Rally following today's successful
569km stage from
Tambacounda to Dakar. Australian-born Pavey riding a BMW F650 GS finished
the penultimate
(15th) stage of the rally in a credible 78th position, which is also his
overall placing.
The 2005 Telefònica Dakar Rally has certainly proved to be the toughest and most dangerous
off-road motorsport event in the world. Since day one riders have been
plagued with treacherous
weather, which has caused great technical difficulties and the cancellation
of stages. Today
however, riding conditions were almost perfect. The long smooth roads gave competitors the
reassuring knowledge that they were one step closer to their ultimate destination.
For team DOME BMW rider Simon Pavey, the last two years (in which he didn't complete the
Dakar because of technical difficulties and injury problems) have ruined
his Dakar dream. Today,
Pavey is pleased he has nearly reached the end: "It's amazing how
tense you can be so close to
the finish. Today I found myself riding quite nervously and slowly, despite the perfect conditions.
"Yesterday was quite a negative day due to the sudden crash of my rally pal, Gary Innes. It was
really stressful waiting with him until help arrived, and I felt very down
and anxious about his
situation – knowing it could happen to any one of us. It really does feel
that we're nearly at the
end now, and I have to say, I am glad the event is almost over."
"However, I keep thinking of all the organising I have to do once
the rally has finished. I haven't
got a hotel sorted, or anything," he joked.
Cyril Despres won the special stage today, followed by Alain Duclos and
Andy Caldecott. Despres
remains the overall leader with a nine-minute lead over Marc Coma.
Tomorrow the riders face the last stage of the 2005 Telefònica Dakar Rally with a 37km liaison
followed by a short 31km special stage in Dakar. |
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