Thread: 2015 Dakar

Originally Posted by crash

Thanks for the comments JayboRover.
I take my hat off to you for even attempting the Dakar.
The Dakar is the only motor sport I truly follow, thinking it as one of the ultimate adventure / race. I also think it is one of those races that almost anybody could attempt if they truly wanted to.

Congratulations also go out to Toby Price for his great achievement on his first attempt.
For those that do not know Toby "won" his spot by winning a qualifying spot during his race in the Australasia rally earlier in the year.

Brilliant effort and result by Toby for sure. He has never competed in the Australasian Safari though and his spot was not a "win" in the Dakar Challenge. He rode the Dakar with the Orlen "factory satellite" team as part of his deal with KTM Australia as a team rider. The winner of the Dakar Challenge in 2014 was an American (Ian Blyth) but he didn't manage to come up with the necessary funds to go so the prize went to an Italian bloke (Cesare Zacchetti). Cesare did start the Dakar but was another one of the withdrawals on the high attrition rate of Stage 2 - same as me.

Originally Posted by crash

Thanks for the clarification - my mistake.
What about Walker then? Was he riding for the same team as Toby?

Matthias Walkner was part of the official Red Bull Factory Racing Team, so not the Orlen satellite team that Pricey was on.
Things could get interesting next year with the announcement that there will be a Husqvarna Factory Racing Team, Husky now being owned by KTM. That could become the way to bring riders through an apprenticeship, so to speak, before joining the full factory team.