| Team Dome BMW - Simon & Nick: 16th Jan 2005 |
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Final countdown for Dakar riders
Following an agonizing 17 days, 16 stages and a total of 9,039km, the 2005 Telefònica Dakar Rally
came to an end as competitors completed the final day of the event on the
Dakar stage to the
finish, also in Dakar. Team DOME BMW rider Simon Pavey has ridden the BMW Motorrad F650
GS through every hazard imaginable and finished the rally in 78th position
overall.
For Pavey, completing this year's event is a dream come true after being
forced to retire at stage
nine from last year's rally because of a broken collarbone. Today however – after hundreds of
racing kilometres that have challenged both the performance of Pavey's
BMW as well as his
mental attitude – it was the only thing that mattered.
"I can't describe what it feels like to complete the 2005 Dakar, everyone who took part and
finished are on a big high – it's such an awesome feeling. The last short
stage today was great fun
to ride. There were thousands of people on the streets and on the beach and it was such a nice
way for the event to end."
"There are a number of people I want to thank who have helped me enormously,
especially Gareth,
my support technician, who has been absolutely fantastic in attending to my BMW bike.
Previously I have always had to fix it myself, so having him on board all
the way has been
amazing. Brian Vincent, my physiotherapist, has helped me exercise my injured
wrist prior to the
event and without him I wouldn't have been fit to enter the rally."
"I'd like to thank my sister Tanya for all her support, and lastly my wife Linley who has been so
supportive – before and during the event. She modified my rally gloves
so that my injured wrist
would be specially supported. I really couldn't have done it without her."
Out of 104 bikes, Simon is only one of two BMW riders to have completed
the 2005 Telefònica
Dakar Rally. The honorary Brit will enjoy the celebrations before making his way back to the UK
in the next couple of days.
Having established himself as a winning contender early on in the rally,
Frenchman Cyril Despres
clinched his first ever title by being crowned the overall winner of the
2005 Telefònica Dakar Rally
(he was second in last year's event). Marc Coma took the podium in second position, with Alfie
Cox in third.
Highlights of the 2005 Telefònica Dakar Rally can be seen on Eurosport.
See your TV guide for
details. |
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