Dakar Rally, Jan 2nd - 15th, 2021 **SPOILERS!!**

WoodsChick

WoodsChick

I Don't Do GPS
Laia Sanz... 11 Dakars started, 11 Dakars finished. That is a mind-blowing statistic for such a long and difficult race. Of those finishes, 4 have been in the Top 20 overall, 3 have been Top 15, and 1 was Top 10. After a year in which she recovered from torn ligaments in both hands and a nasty bout of Lyme Disease which she is still struggling with, she finishes this 2021 edition of the Dakar Rally in 17th Position overall, and earning her 11th straight win in the Women's Class. There will never be another like her...


https://fb.watch/31lAGqrfQ7/

Laia's first 3 Dakars saw her finish 39th in 2011, 39th in 2012, and 93rd in 2013. There were 200 starters in 2011, 189 in 2012, and 183 in 2013. Laia spent 400 miles of the 2013 race being towed due to a mechanical problem, suffering numerous falls in the process. After getting 1.5 hours of sleep and a new engine (plus the attendant penalties) she charged to the finish and could only manage 93rd position. I remember being so relieved when she finished, and thinking how incredible it was that she finished 3 straight Dakars! The following year, 2014, she would finish 16th, and in 2015 an astonishing 9th overall. The 2015 Dakar had 161 starters and only 79 finishers. It's been an incredible 11 years following this gal. I won't be surprised if we see her on 4 wheels next year. As disappointed as I'd be, I'm ok with it. She has nothing left to prove.


0FE7B972-D666-452B-808E-CEB694A06B02-L.jpg
 
m0t0_ryder

m0t0_ryder

RYD!
And another Dakar Legend wins his 14'th Dakar!

Stephane Peterhansel

He made his Paris to Dakar Rally debut in 1988 in the motorcycle category for Yamaha, later winning the event in 1991, 1992, 1993, 1995, 1997, and 1998. He switched to the car category for 1999, joining the works Mitsubishi in 2003. He went on to win the event for the Japanese marque in 2004, 2005 and 2007, and took his 11th victory in 2013 driving an X-Raid prepared Mini Countryman – making him the most successful competitor in the history of the Dakar Rally.
In 2015 he joined Peugeot as the manufacturer returned to compete in the Dakar for the first time since 1990. He took his 12th and 13th Dakar victory in 2016 and 2017
Click to expand...


youtu.be/sgih7fiFrCI
 
1962siia

1962siia

Well-known member
Congrats to KB, RB and Honda for their excellent race!! Congrats to Skylar Howes for another fantastic finish! Give this guy a ride HONDA! He could be practicing with Brabec all year long. He could win!!

Also wanted to note Matthias Walkner for his steady riding climbing back from 69th place after stage 2 to 9th place finish!!

Also wanted to say :rip to Pierre Charpin and send condolences to his family and friends. :cry

Heal up quick all you other with injuries!
 
OaklandF4i

OaklandF4i

Darwin's exception
1962siia said:
Congrats to Skylar Howes for another fantastic finish! Give this guy a ride HONDA! He could be practicing with Brabec all year long. He could win!!
Click to expand...

Wow... what a final day, what a Dakar. So many stories. Congrats to Benavides and Honda. Who knew watching little triangles on a map into the wee hours could be so addicting!

And give Howes a ride! He can ride with Ricky and Nacho (who also does a lot of training in the US with Jimmy Lewis and Ricky.) All Americas team of Brabec, Howes, Benavides, and Nacho!

Hope this isn't Honda's last year and they recommit to another 5 years.

Supercross starts tomorrow, you can actually see those riders and the all the races. :laughing
 
budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
Laia is amazing. Such an awesome run.

KB congrats. Ricky solid as hell.. the prolog hurt him bad. Who would think a win would hurt.

Skylar.. just wowsers..!! And yeah sure want to see him get a solid ride. Not sure he has anything left to sell. :laughing

So many stories we will never get to share.

Mr Dakar... none better. Probably never will be.

Gonna miss my triangles. :(
 
Leo_jb

Leo_jb

City boy
WoodsChick said:
Laia Sanz... 11 Dakars started, 11 Dakars finished. That is a mind-blowing statistic for such a long and difficult race. Of those finishes, 4 have been in the Top 20 overall, 3 have been Top 15, and 1 was Top 10. After a year in which she recovered from torn ligaments in both hands and a nasty bout of Lyme Disease which she is still struggling with, she finishes this 2021 edition of the Dakar Rally in 17th Position overall, and earning her 11th straight win in the Women's Class. There will never be another like her...
Click to expand...

Totally agree. What a badass
Bummer that its over.
 
SFMCjohn

SFMCjohn

13
go Mr Howes ... :flag

are you going to put a roadbook holder on your bike and join the Sonora Rally as a competitor?

really enjoyed following the Dakar Rally with fellow BARFers this year ... :ride

if you like following triangles and think sailboats are cool, I'm tapering off my Dakar addiction here:

Vendee Globe

god bless the French ... it's a non-stop circumnavigation bad-a@# sailboat race, held every four years ... the top 9 boats are within about 250 nautical miles, and the top three within 40 nm, after having raced 24,000 nm ... it's a 3500 nm sprint to the finish! :laughing

anyway, know we have a couple sailors here ... it's fun to click on just to compare the Vendee Globe triangles to the cool Dakar moto triangles we were treated to this year, even if you're mostly a motorcycle person.
 
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1962siia

1962siia

Well-known member
I’m not going to enter a rally. I’m too slow and don’t bounce well anymore, but I would sign up to volunteer at the SoNora Rally. I signed up on the website but when you get to the volunteer part it doesn’t seem to go anywhere so maybe they aren’t taking anymore. Plus mrs1962 might not be too thrilled with the idea of me going to Mexico for a few weeks this year. But I’ve put the word out to my slacker friends about doing this. I’d be happy to man a table or check point or help with food or dishes or whatever. :thumbup
 
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budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
I just watched the last NBC broadcast. I will keep them until next year and watch again for a warm up like I did this year.

I want to see Dakar The Movie.
 
Eric B

Eric B

Know-it-none
Fun times. Thanks for all the videos, pictures, stories and comments. It’s more fun to check in here, with folks I’ve seen & ridden with, that strangers on adv rider.
 
budman

budman

General Menace
Staff member
Watched the entire podium ceromony while working. Pretty cool seeing so many adventurous people living it. It was long... damn. :laughing

Got a new woman for Woodschick to follow?? :dunno
But Sara Garcia from Spain was 12th in Malle Moto (44th overall). Impressive! :thumbup


Really enjoyed it this year. More than ever. Probably a lockdown thing, but I expect the fan passion for this will remain.
 

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