| Team Dome BMW - Simon & Nick: 31st Dec 2004 |
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Holiday Brits roar on Dakar riders
The 27th incarnation of the world's most torturous motorsport event got
underway in Barcelona at
10am local time. But the first day of the infamous event, and the last
day of 2004, was only a
prologue – a simple case of warming up the bikes and blowing the cobwebs away.
The riders faced a day that consisted of two 'liaisons' and a special beach
riding stage. This meant
a leisurely cruise along the autopista to Castellfeds, 27km south of Barcelona. However, the
six-kilometre special stage was no Spanish siesta. The clogging sand caused
more than a few
riders to dump their machines, climb back on... and then dump them again.
But if they thought this
stage was tough, the desert stages of the 17-day event will be burning
hell – with no high water.
Eventually though, everyone finished in one piece. Many of the riders cruising
comfortably through
the stage determined to save themselves and their machines for the real
test that awaits them in
the new year.
Among the handful of British competitors is the two-man, BMW F650 GS (Dakar) team of Team
DOME BMW, comprised of rally regulars Simon Pavey (number 102) and Nick
Plumb (103).
Both are BMW Motorrad off-road skills instructors and both have previously
and proudly finished
Dakar rallies – massive achievements (just ask them). After surviving the beach curtain raiser,
the two riders are desperate to get to the real thing.
Simon Pavey, who suffered a pre-Dakar wrist injury, was relieved to have
come through
unscathed: ''Normally I like this kind of riding but I was really worried
about my hand,” he said.
''Still, it's great to be doing the Dakar again and an amazing feeling
to be riding with the best
enduro riders in the world. Here in Barcelona the British support has been
superb. There seemed
to be someone yelling my name at every corner.”
Nick Plumb had mixed feeling about his introduction to this year's event:
''I felt really positive at
the start,” he said. ''The bike is much improved and inspires real confidence.
Although the special
stage hasn't changed in two years, I found I tired fairly quickly and crashed
a few times. Other
than that, I really happy to be back.”
At this early stage, provisional results place David Fratigne (France)
in the lead. Fellow
countryman Cyril Despres is second and Netherlands' rider Eric Verhoef
is third.
New Year's day will see the rally leave Barcelona and move 920 kilometres to Grenada. There
will be no special stage. |
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