|
Post by truenorth on Nov 10, 2021 8:38:17 GMT -8
Petrucci confirmed in KTM line-up for the 2022 Dakar after saying goodbye to MotoGP: Danilo will be on the KTM450 for the edition that will start on January 1st. After preparation in Dubai, he’ll embark on a real tour de force to get ready for the raid.
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 15, 2021 12:58:34 GMT -8
Official Website www.dakar.com/en/153 motorbikes and 22 quads are expected to travel to Saudi Arabia for the start in Ha'il on 1 January. Five former winners on two wheels are entering the race, including the Argentinean title holder, Kevin Benavides, who has traded his traditional number 47 and the Honda on which he won the event for number 1 and a KTM.
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 16, 2021 14:28:23 GMT -8
MATHIEU SERRADORI: “IN THE DAKAR RALLY, WE ARE DAVID VERSUS GOLIATH” Mathieu Serradori first experienced the Dakar on a motorcycle during the Latin America edition in 2009 - quite the journey for someone who used to watch programmes about the African Dakar alongside his grandfather. With a love for adventure and the great outdoors, he’s ready to challenge the clock in the Saudi desert once again behind the wheel of an SRT buggy with his teammate and friend Loïc Minadier. Together, they hope to become the best privateer team in the Saudi sand, backed by Motul. We called Mathieu before the buggy is shipped to the desert for the 2022 Dakar Rally. MATHIEU, HOW DID THE PARTNERSHIP WITH MOTUL COME ABOUT? Motul is a brand with a history of passionate Dakar people. I used to ride the Dakar on a motorcycle as a privateer. In the Original by Motul class, I became acquainted with the brand and the support of a team of passionate people who helped private riders like us in every way they could. I am very proud of our partnership. Motul is a general sponsor of the Dakar Rally but didn’t sponsor a factory team in our class. Before we concluded this partnership, we already loved its technical support and in-depth knowledge, but this year we are going all-in together and will collaborate in every way we can. We support each other on all fronts. The Motul brand is linked to the best races and brands worldwide and we are proud to be one of those teams. WHAT ARE THE TECHNICAL BENEFITS OF COLLABORATING WITH MOTUL? Motul’s products are 200% suitable for extreme rally usage. The fact the products are being used by the best racers and teams worldwide is reassuring. The Dakar Rally is the toughest race on the planet, not only for the riders physically and mentally but also technically and mechanically. The gearbox, the engine, the cooling circuits, the shock absorbers and so on suffer a lot from the jumps, holes, sand, dust and extremely hot temperatures of the Saudi desert. We have the constant technical analysis of the Motul Racing Lab and the Motul engineers on our side, which gives us unique insights to prevent possible failures and detect engine stress. This is very helpful in terms of performance and reliability. HOW ARE YOU PREPARING FOR THE DAKAR RALLY? Good question. People often only think about the physical side of the preparation, which of course is extremely important, but the mental side can’t be forgotten if you are aiming for a podium spot. On the physical side, I train all year long. I do triathlons, so I run, swim and cycle a lot, I have a physiotherapist who instructs me with specific training programs for my back to absorb shocks and I participate a lot in Enduro moto racing. But we equally train the mental part: reflexes, brain training… We also train on navigation and strategy. If you want to outperform the best drivers in such a long and physical race, you can’t be prepared enough [laughs]. WHAT IS BENEATH THE IMPRESSIVE DAKAR BUGGY? Our SRT buggy is constructed in South Africa by Century Racing. It is a two-wheel-drive buggy with a strong Chevrolet V8 LS engine, a Sadev racing gearbox and transmission, topped by a Motec engine control unit (who are the references in the worldwide rally market). Specifically developed for our car is the tyre pressure system; on the dashboard we can control each tyre pressure separately depending on the challenge ahead of us. In general, the SRT buggy has proven to be very reliable and powerful. HOW WAS YOUR PARTICIPATION OF THE RALLY DU MAROC? We experienced extremely high temperatures, which would top over 50 degrees Celsius. But the first days were perfect, and we were on track for a high ranking. On the third day, our buggy suffered a breakdown, but that’s motorsport. We were ruled out of the official ranking but were allowed to drive along. Unofficially, we ended fifth in the general ranking, so we are very confident. WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THE 2022 DAKAR RALLY?
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 16, 2021 14:33:37 GMT -8
FROM DUST TILL DAWN: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE 2022 DAKAR RALLY What better way to start 2022 than with one of the world’s best-known and most challenging events: the Dakar Rally! Starting on 2nd January in Ha’il, Saudi Arabia, Motul will be again a major partner of The Dakar for the fifth consecutive time and will be working closely with the organisers, competitors and everyone involved to convey the action, drama and excitement we have come to expect. As the cars, bikes and quads are getting their final preparations after the Rally du Maroc before being shipped to Saudi Arabia, we take a deeper look at the facts and figures for 2022 and the challenge that lies ahead. The 44th running of the Dakar will be the third consecutive one held in Saudi Arabia. About 300 entries will run over 12 stages covering approximately 7,500 km (almost 4,000km of which are timed). Introduced in 2021 are the electronic road books (tablets) for elite drivers in cars, SSV, trucks and bikes and mandatory airbag vests plus a slowing of speeds to further improve safety for bike and quad riders. Of special interest to Motul is the second year of the Dakar Classic division for vehicles from before 2000 and a mind-blowing total of 152 entries will follow a shorter route and easier terrain. The ‘Original by Motul’ category will once again be a key part of Motul’s involvement in Dakar, and the courageous and gladiatorial riders who come with no assistance or backup will be supported in the bivouacs with all they need to maintain their bikes as well as themselves. Open to all competitors at the service centre will be the Motul Racing Lab – now a recognised and regular component of the Dakar. STRENGTH IN DEPTH ACROSS ALL SIX CATEGORIES Motul offers its partners specially adapted lubricants and coolants from its motorsport and factory ranges, particularly from the 300V range for the highest performance and maximum protection. Motul will be fully involved with competitors in all six categories – Cars, Bikes, Trucks, Quads, SSVs and Classics. In the Bikes category, Motul will be supporting HRC and its star riders, Pablo Quintanilla, who won the prologue the Rally Du Maroc, Ricky Brabec, and two other factory riders, Joan Barreda and Ignacio Cornejo. Also, strong contenders in the category are the off-road and trials specialists from the Sherco factory team and the Hero Motorsports factory team. Equally, in the hotly contested SSV category, the Polaris factory team will be present for the second time with a very capable team. While the recently crowned Cross Country World Rally champions, South Racing Can-Am factory squad will also be back to defend their 2021 win in the category. In Cars, Motul-backed SRT Racing will be looking to improve on their result from Dakar 2021 and aiming for a top-five spot. Also, the Optimus Evo 4 entries from the MD Rallye team – one of which will be driven by former Dakar champion Christian Lavieille and ex MotoGP and Superbike star Carlos Checa – will be pushing them hard, as will the Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Body factory team. Motul will be represented and supported in Quads by, among others, 2019 winner Nicolas Cavigliasso and 2017 podium finisher Pablo Copetti, both on Yamahas. In Trucks, SSP will lead the Motul charge again, and in the Classic category, Stephan Lamarre in a VW-powered Sunhill Buggy. A NEW AND CHALLENGING ROADMAP LIES AHEAD The Dakar is heading south. The two latest editions, which were focused on a tour of the Saudi deserts, demonstrated the diversity of the country’s landscapes, going from canyons and cliffs in the Neom region to stretches of dunes surrounding Riyadh, passing by the Red Sea coastline which sparkled with infinite shades of blue. To seek out challenges worthy of those who let nothing stop them in their tracks, the 2022 route will venture into the Empty Quarter, which is as sandy as it is mysterious. Surrounded by vast stretches of sand and dunes, the experts in the saddle or behind the wheel will be able to take advantage of the landscape, provided they put their navigation skills to good use.
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 16, 2021 14:40:32 GMT -8
Here’s How Audi Will Protect the Dakar RS Q e-tron The electric Audi gets ready for the grueling rally, with just weeks left before the start. Dakar is easily one of the most perilous rally events in the world, with the terrain and the elements meant to test the machines and the crews. The list of DNFs can attest to this, as can the numerous injuries that racers and support crews have sustained over the years. Until recently, the individual teams have only had to worry about protecting gasoline and diesel powertrains, in addition to the pilots, when it came to designing the machines themselves to withstand the grueling race. In a matter of weeks, Audi will have to worry about protecting an EV powertrain and battery as well as it fields the RS Q e-tron prototype in the endurance event. This has required plenty of new hardware and some new approaches to making the vehicle crashworthy and durable. Audi started with a tube frame as the main protective (and load-bearing) element of the RS Q e-tron, using a heat-resistant, alloyed quenched and tempered steel, borrowed from aerospace manufacturing, one that is composed of chromium, molybdenum, and vanadium (CrMoV). The drivers are also protected by composite panels, made of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP), located in the spaces between the frame, helped by additional tear-resistant Zylon that protects against sharp objects from the outside. Audi relied on its experience with DTM and LMP cars dating back to the late 1990s in designing the tube frames. Three layers of underbody protection represent just some of the systems developed for the RS Q e-tron. "The structural design of the frame incorporated methods and findings that we have honed over decades in many disciplines," says Axel Löffler, chief sesigner of the RS Q e-tron. When it comes to protecting the high-voltage battery, Audi relies on CFRP structures and Zylon, with the centrally located battery protected at the lowest layer by an aluminum plate. Above it is energy absorbing foam that distributes impacts to the sandwich structure above it. The CFRP sandwich structure, above the foam, protects the battery and the gasoline tank of the energy converter. The underbody is thus 2.1 inches thick, which is quite substantial, but it's made to be disassembled and replaced in the event of damage. "With these designs, we see a direct transfer of our knowledge from the circuit to cross-country rallying," adds Löffler. "And there are further parallels, for example in the loads for the chassis and underbody. Admittedly, the energies are higher off-road because of the long suspension travel, the duration of the load and the vehicle mass. But the g-forces measured are similar to those of Le Mans prototypes." The battery itself is positioned up front, just ahead of the drivers, but behind the front axle. The body of the RS Q e-tron itself is made of Kevlar, CFPR, or composites, depending on which component we're looking at. There are some off-the-shelf parts to be found as well even in a vehicle as unique as this one: The heated laminated glass windshield, for example, comes from the Audi A4. The seat shells inside are made from CFRP, similar to the ones used by Audi in LMP and DTM vehicles. The crew has a number of other safety systems to rely on, including an on-board fire extinguishing system and an ISO monitor that detects dangerous fault currents. The whole team, as well as the rescue teams of the organizer, have also gone through high-voltage training. Stage I of the Dakar Rally starts January 3.
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 29, 2021 10:19:52 GMT -8
Dakar 2022: stages, kilometers and route Motosan by Raquel Jiménez Rodríguez 29 Nov. 21 | 17:15 At the beginning of January the 2022 edition of the Dakar starts. Here is the complete route and the main characteristics of the 12 stages of the program. 2022 will start with the legendary Dakar Rally , on stage from January 1-14, including the prologue (Jeddah-Ha'il). After the first details announced in May , here is the complete path for the protagonists of this challenging competition. Starting with reigning champion Kevin Benavides , who went from Honda to KTM, to open the list of 149 riders ready to challenge themselves and their rivals on the dunes. Twelve stages, 8,375 km of which 4,258 are special, starting in Ha'il on January 2 and ending in Jeddah on January 14. The entire route and the main characteristics of the stages of the program. Foreword and first six stages It starts from Jeddah : 636 km, 19 km of special scheduled by the prologue of January 1, with destination Ha'il . A "gateway" to decide the starting order. From here on January 2 the real Dakar will begin, beginning and ending in this same city. A round stage of 546 km, 334 km of special, in which the pilots will already find the first difficulties of navigation between the sandy mountains of the north. Then the pilots will continue towards Al Artawiyah , for a total of 585 km, 339 km of special with the start of the marathon and the encounter with the first dunes. Third stage of 368 km (554 km in total) to Al Qaisumah , a smoother path between the initial sand and the more technical secondary part, and then continue south. A total of 707 km, 465 km of special (the longest of this edition) towards Riyadh finding roads, dunes and rocks near the finish line. New round stage, 563 km in total and 348 km of special between rocky sections followed by a long section between dunes. Stage 6 again in circles: from Riyadh to Riyadh this time it is 421 km (635 km in total), moving west through the dunes. Another trait that can make a significant difference. Pause and part two After six very tough stages, the day of rest arrives, to recharge batteries before the second part of Dakar 2022. On the way to Al Dawadimi , a 700 km section, special 401: a long test in the dunes (100 km) and a gentler stretch. Then they will continue 394 km (828 km, the longest total section) to Wadi Ad Dawasir : lots of sand and winding sections await the Dakar boys. The landscape changes for stage 9 in circles, 287 km of special of the 490 km planned in total. Much less sand, but mountain roads that will put the navigation skills and durability of the vehicles to the test. Essential characteristics also for the total of 757 km and 374 km of special high-speed route to Bisha . There will be duels between the last dunes for the penultimate stage, 345 km of special over 500 km in circles before the grand final. The closure foresees 676 km in total, of which 163 km of special along the Red Sea and with Jeddah as the arrival point. Finally, let's not forget a piece of news about the value of this Dakar. The 2022 edition becomes the starting point for the FIA and FIM World Rally Championships , the first of five events scheduled for next calendar year.
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Nov 30, 2021 8:01:43 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Dec 21, 2021 11:56:45 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Dec 27, 2021 12:14:06 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Dec 28, 2021 12:20:15 GMT -8
Petrucci at the Dakar: "Today at school ... to repair any damage!" "On Wednesday I will ride the KTM to perform the shakedown and I will understand how the ankle is"
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Dec 28, 2021 14:13:59 GMT -8
The spectre of Covid on the Dakar: Landman and De Villiers positive: Measures to prevent the virus from spreading in the bivouac are having their first effects, with the hope of not losing any more pilots before the start of the desert marathon
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Dec 30, 2021 8:45:10 GMT -8
CLAMOROSO ALLA DAKAR - Danilo Petrucci is positive in Covid: The rider from Terni will make a second swab during the day to get feedback. If the positivity was confirmed, his dream would end here
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Dec 31, 2021 9:25:04 GMT -8
Danilo Petrucci receives the green light and will compete in the Dakar
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Jan 1, 2022 9:18:28 GMT -8
Sanders conquers the prologue of the Dakar, Petrucci 23rd: The GasGas rider finished in the lead on Saturday followed by Quintanilla's Honda, in the top positions four different
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Jan 1, 2022 10:21:04 GMT -8
Toby Price Prologue 8th Made a couple of little mistakes with the rolling hills where I thought there was a little bit of a drop but they were quite smooth. All in all, it’s the first day and there’s a long way to go… looking forward to what the week will bring!
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Jan 1, 2022 11:19:53 GMT -8
144 motorbikes at the start of the Dakar, among them the legend Picco and the rookie Petrux: At the start two motorcyclists at the opposite in terms of experience: the legendary Franco Picco, on his 28th start and the rookie Petrucci
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Jan 1, 2022 12:06:28 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by Pistola on Jan 1, 2022 14:24:16 GMT -8
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Jan 2, 2022 6:41:46 GMT -8
Sanders shines in the 1st stage, Petrucci in front of the champion Benavides: The Australian from GasGas drops an encore after the affirmation in the New Year's prologue, while Danilo closes on Sunday with the 13th time in front of the reigning champion, delayed by more than half an hour.
|
|
|
Post by truenorth on Jan 2, 2022 7:07:34 GMT -8
|
|