dakarteamgb

well hopefully you've seen the press release by now for dakarteamgb?


we've created dakar team gb to represent the uk riders entering the dakar this year, in order to raise the profile of the third most publicised sporting event outside the olympics and football world cup, the dakar! outside the uk, the rally is broadcast to 2 billion people, not forgetting to mention the 5 million who physically come out to support it.


in addition, due to the extreme nature of this event and its huge appeal, we are using it to generate awareness and funding for a number of charities that i have mentioned before; nelson mandela children's fund, royal marsden cancer research, shelterbox and absolute return for kids.


not trying to ram it home, but every penny helps ......  : ))

so next friday, 18th december, we have organised a convoy of rally vehicles and any riders who want to join in, to ride out from twickers to canada square via all the main, busy sites through london. it is going to be a lot of fun and we now have a lot of press and tv interest which is exciting. then on 1st december, we're having a party, a fund raising event at the tabernacle near westbourne grove. ross noble is going to do some light entertainment, there'll be a short dakar presentation and an auction, plus music and booze, so it should be fun.


but i have to say that none of this would have been possible if rory the 'ginger piston' hadn't taken this with both hands, legs, feet and ears!!! rory must have shares in one of the mobile phone companies as he's been working hard contacting sponsors, venues, press, organisers, djs, officials etc etc - quote funny when you know this idea was born from a drunken night in a dodgy fulham club ; ) ....hic!!


arrived back from a week training morocco on saturday night - it was the first break since may and i spent it racing across the desert, awesome! on the last day we rode from merzouga to ouarzazate, 525km, of which 450km was off-road, taking just over 10 hours: an average dakar day!!


it was a brilliant week of mixed training; getting used to the new 450 with its' very smooth engine, heavier weight due to the 30 litre fuel capacity and 3 litre water tank; the new ohlins suspension set up; bar risers and new nav equipment. the bike was awesome. it needs some work on the suspension set up, but apart from that and a little smartening up, it was better than i had hoped for.

in short the week comprised of


day 1 - run engine in; ride from errachidia to merzouga, plus 1 lap around erg chebbi
day 2 - 260km road book to zagora
day 3 - 260km gps back to merzouga in the morning, mechanical work in avo, evening in the dunes
day 4 - early morning dunes, 200km roadbook in the afternoon, dunes at night
day 5 - 0600-1700hrs from merzouga to ouarzazate 525km



well with only 51 days to go until the start of the dakar, i'm starting to get excited! i have some idea of what is in store from the 2 desert rallies and stories from numerous dakar riders, so i'm sure the pre-race nerves will start to kick in closer to the time.


i've been preparing for this since early 2008 and bar a few items of kit and bit more training, i feel quite prepared. however, there is an endless amount of training i could have done and could be doing if i had the time; more bike mechanics and electrics, more riding, more time in the desert, but then i need to work and earn the money to pay for such pleasures.


i fly out to buenos aires on dec 24th, so have a few days to relax and soak up the atmosphere before the pre-race admin checks or scrutineering begin on dec 29th and the sunday jan 1st 2012, the race kicks off.


for me dakar is about a journey rather than a destination and everyone i have met and the experiences i have had and will have are what this dream has been about.