It's January. It's Dakar season.

[cantunamunch]

Never mind the South American extravaganza clinging to the D. name beyond all reason - anyone watching the Africa Eco Race?

PARCOURS 2020 | Africa Eco Race

PARCOURS 2020 12ème EDITION

www.africarace.com

 

[cantunamunch]

Thib Chatelier's photos (yes that thing is 2WD) :

 

[Tom K.]

Ricky Brabec FTW!

First time the Dakar was won by a USA rider.

 

[Dakine]

1994 Cagiva Elephant.
A heavily modded one of these won in 1994.
Only about 200 imported into the US.
This one belonged to Ray Bricker, a famous LA drummer before I found it in a barn.
Great ADV bike, a lot lighter than current ones and no stupid electronics to take the fun out.

 

[cantunamunch]

Ricky Brabec FTW!

He looked like he was having fun on Stage 4.

Seriously, watching Benavides, Howes and de Soultrait today, it is completely proven that we cannot tell sand texture just by looking at drone/heli shots.

I mean seriously, I can't even spot a dust pond on the flats (Howes avoids one during a pass and you wonder wtf?) let alone tell which dune will have a soft backside or which one of the tables will have hard front and hard back with feet-deep talcum powder on top.

 

[cantunamunch]

When 10 ton trucks go in circles you know there are massive navigation problems.

(Seriously awesome terrain today)

 

[Tom K.]

Brabec came so close. Bad luck in the early going is all that kept him from repeating IMO.

But Skyler in 5th?! Scheiss, that qualifies as a flat out victory for a privateer from St. George UT.

Congrats!

 

[Tom K.]

When 10 ton trucks go in circles you know there are massive navigation problems.

(Seriously awesome terrain today)

This video reminds me of my youth in Northern Minnesota open pit iron ore mines....

Except on crank!

 

[cantunamunch]

Bump. It's that time again.

FWIW I laughed hard seeing that Audi decal on stage 1B - irony works.

 

[cantunamunch]

Bump. It's that time again.

Anyone else freaked out that FloBikes will be doing live coverage - in Canada only?