DAKAR 2013 countdown - rally preview
The Dakar is ready to set off from the Pacific coast in Lima for the first time in its history. For its 35th edition, it will follow the north-south direction which was so typical of its former stomping grounds but has not been used since it came to South America in 2009.
Peru's geography means that the pilots and crews will come up against the dunes from the first days of the race. Chile will set the stage for the first duel in the desert and, after passing the Andes, Argentina will test the contenders' stamina with stages which are as gruelling as they are jaw-dropping.
San Miguel de Tucumán will give riders an opportunity to catch their breath for the rest day, eight days into the race and host the start of the longest stage in the rally, just before a sandy trilogy with the dunes of Fiambalá and Copiapó on the menu. This should be enough to sort the men from the boys and shake up the classification before the heroes are celebrated in Santiago on January 20.
Only a minority of the pilots of the 459 vehicles on the start line (representing a new record of 53 different countries) have a realistic chance of getting their hands on the trophies awarded on the finish podium opposite the Palacio de la Moneda. But the list of favourites has got much longer in all the categories since last January.
Among the motorcycles, the long-running hegemony of the Cyril Despres - Marc Coma duo could be challenged by the new official Honda factory team and its rider Hélder Rodrigues, who finished on the bottom step of the podium in the last two editions. With Paulo Gonçalves and Spaniards Joan Barreda and Jordi Viladoms, Husqvarna is also aiming very high. And then there is Yamaha, which seduced Frans Verhoeven in addition to Olivier Pain and David Casteu, and welcomed back its old leader David Frétigné.
Of the Aussies in the Bike category Matt Fish is arguably in with the best chance of a strong finish, joining experienced campaigners Paulo Goncalves and Joan Barreda in the 'Husqvarna Rallye team by Speedbrain'. Other Aussies signed on include Simon Pavey (Husqvarna), Ben Grabham (KTM), Troy O'Connor (KTM), Rod Faggotter (Yamaha) and Warren Strange (Honda).
Grabham, back from serious injury at the Condo 750 in 2012, is looking forward to the challenge of the Dakar. O'Connor is joining a Polish KTM squad for his debut Dakar appearance. Faggotter will be backed by Yamaha Australia for his second tilt at Dakar, and is expecting a top-20 finish, while Strange is riding under the Aussie-based GHR Honda banner, and returns to Dakar after first competing in 2011.
The 2013 Dakar rally runs from January 5 to 20, 2013, and will take in Argentina, Chile and Peru. Further details can be found at www.dakar.com
Images: copyright A.S.O.
