We managed to grab some time with the guys before they all flew out to Buenos Aires below is a pre-Dakar Q&A. Once the rally starts we hope to bring you daily updates from the guys in the bivouac, subscribe to the YouTube channel for updates.
The Dakar Rally, held every January, is the longest and toughest motorsport event in the world, where bikes, cars and trucks race for 15 days covering over 9000km across south America, through some of the harshest environments on earth.
Out of three hundred entrants for the 2012 Dakar only three British riders were accepted to compete; Toby Younger (No. 187) and Jago Pickering(No. 180) with Team Desert Rose Racing and Stan Watt (No. 60) Team Frontrow GB)
Even though the Dakar is the third most publicised sporting event in the world after the Olympic Games and the Football World Cup, there is little coverage or awareness of it in the UK.
Dakar Team GB is the combined force of these two British Dakar teams and aims to promote the Dakar Rally within Great Britain and raise funds and awareness for the teams’ selected charities.
We hope that the Dakar Team GB baton will be carried over by future GB Dakar entrants, whether on bikes or quads, in cars, trucks or buggies, to build on the momentum and presence generated so far this year.
Follow the riders and the teams here with updates through out the Rally in January 2012 and watch their progress live as they race 9000km across South America from the Atlantic to the Pacific coast at www.dakar.com
Nice one guys, I’d checked through the competitor list and didn’t see any British riders this year. Wishing the pair of you a fantastic trip, stay safe and stay onnit boys!
Andy
http://www.scunnybikers.com
Check out Sam Sunderland no. 36 – a 22 year old Dorset lad riding for Team Honda Europe.
Sam Sunderland is a Brit who lives in Dubai… VERY quick rider… if i remember correctly he kicked some serious ass at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge last year.. Cant wait to see how you all get on guys! Good luck
Yes, his first full ralley back in April – won 2 stages against Coma, Faria, Ullevalseter and Fretigne on a stock 450 ralley, but started with a dickie cooling issue which resulted in a blown head, so it put him out of the overall comp.
Raced again in the Oz safari in Sept for Husaberg, but got hit by a kangaroo on the first stage and the medics stopped him from riding for a day and a half – after that got back in, worked his way through the field and finished with 3 stage wins!
If he avoids the bad luck he could be one to watch?
Good luck to all though, it looks like its going to be tough!
Yes, let’s hope Sam has ALL good luck this time in the Dakar and NO bad luck. Gotta come right one of these days for him I am sure – go Sam – and best of luck to all the other brits competing
Are the tickets for the charity bash all sold? I cant seem to find the link to buy them.
Stephen
Not yet – the link is on the Dakar GB Launch event page – the Brown Paper Tickets logo – to go directly to the ticket site.
Right chaps – turns out I’m in London on business on the first so have bought a couple of tickets and look forward to catching up with you there. Keep the heads down in the gym.
PC
Paul Mac and Kike Bonafonte did the Dakar 2006 as Team Braveheart. They crashed after Stage 11 and Mac got a fractured skull, broken jaw, 3 busted ribs and 44 stitches to put his face and head together. I remembering him telling some epic stories about it and he later described the motorbike guys as “the toughest bastards I have ever met”. Quite a statement!
Good luck guys!
Hi Jago & Toby
Heartbroken to hear of the robbery.
Hope you both stay focused – its just a set-back – you’ve already found the humour.
Great story after the finishing line though…
Keep strong.
Just show them.
Massive load of good luck from here on Guys.
Sheila [Ma].
Hey Toby and Jago,
Thinking of you both.
Stay safe and have fun.
Looking forward to seeing you when you return.
Good luck and lots of love.
Courtney x