Dakar scrutineering under way in Buenos Aires
For the first day of technical and administrative scrutineering, a considerable portion of the South American riders were received with delight in Buenos Aires by the spectators, already present to encourage the competitors ahead of the two weeks of racing which awaits them.
“A rainy Dakar means a lucky Dakar” was what the most optimistic competitors were saying in the aisles of the Tecnopolis exhibition centre, which is hosting technical and administrative scrutineering for three days. Everybody knows that in and around Buenos Aires and in fact almost everywhere in Argentina, persistent cloudy periods and other showers of varying intensity never last that long during this season. In fact, in several days’ time, the riders and drivers who could be confronted with the furnaces of San Juan or Chilecito may regret the beginning of the year’s freshness in the Argentine capital. Some wearing a warm sweater, others not, the riders, drivers and crews took part in the days’ series of checks with contagious enthusiasm, tinged with excitement about the forthcoming race.
The first day, mainly devoted to the passage of the South American riders and drivers gave Ignacio Casale, for example, the opportunity to provide his views on defending his title in the quad category, whilst enjoying setting guessing games for his listeners to solve: “I haven’t raced much this year, but on the other hand, I’m in great physical form, thanks mainly to a lot of mountain-biking. I’m still here to win, but I’m not the only one. I’m not telling you who, but I’ve got five direct serious rivals who will be hungry to win”.
Apart from the quad category, in which the Latin Americans are well represented, the riders from the host countries and their neighbours have serious roles to play, including in the absence of their usual pack leader, “Chaleco” Lopez, who has announced the end of his career on two wheels. The changing of the guard is effective in the Chilean ranks, with Jeremias Israel who will make his appearance tomorrow with the rest of the Honda HRC riders. However, the Japanese constructor is also present in a team from the continent, with Daniel Gouet (Chile), Javier Pizzolito (Argentina) and Jean De Azevedo (Brazil), all former members of the top 10 and the focus of many watching eyes on their entrance to technical scrutineering. Pablo Quintanilla, winner of the Desafio Inca last September, is also aiming to use his third attempt as a means to finally finishing the Dakar, following two withdrawals.
A high point for the competitors, who start looking ahead to the competition with even more intensity as the start approaches, scrutineering is also an opportunity for the spectators to come and meet their heroes and share in the challenge in which they are about to launch themselves. In addition to the events organised in the Dakar Village, the autograph sessions and the actions put in place by the rally’s partners, the general public now has partial access to behind the scenes of the race. The preparation of the kits that will be used by the bikers registered to take part without assistance, the fine-tuning of the organisers’ vehicles or the deployment of the TV broadcasting facilities will no longer hold any secrets for the natives of Buenos Aires, who were already plentiful in number today.
Australian competitors Toby Price, Simon Pavey, Llewellyn Sullivan-Pavey and Clayton Jacobsen will be filled with a mix of excitement and trepidation as they are now so close to the start of a motorcycling adventure and challenge of epic proportions. Good luck to them all.
Dakar 2015 – Starts Sunday Jan. 4 – Rest Day Saturday Jan 10 – finishes Saturday Jan 17
Stages
- 4.1 – Stage 1: Buenos Aires to Villa Carlos Paz – 663 km liaison, 175 km special (838 km)
- 5.1 – Stage 2: Villa Carlos Paz to San Juan – 107 km liaison, 518 km special (625 km)
- 6.1 – Stage 3: San Juan to Chilecito – 437 km liaison, 220 km special (657 km)
- 7.1 – Stage 4: Chilecito to Copiapó – 594 km liaison, 315 km special (909 km)
- 8.1 – Stage 5: Copiapó to Antofagasta – 235 km liaison, 458 km special (697 km)
- 9.1 – Stage 6: Antofagasta to Iquique – 369 km liaison, 319 km special (688 km)
REST DAY IQUIQUE (January 10)
- 11.1 – Stage 7: Iquique to Uyuni – 395 km liaison, 321 km special (717 km)
- 12.1 – Stage 8: Uyuni to Iquique – 24 liaison, 781 km special (805 km)
- 13.1 – Stage 9: Iquique to Calama – 88 km liaison, 451 km special (539 km)
- 14.1 – Stage 10: Calama Marathon Stage – 520 km liaison, 371 km special (891 km)
- 15.1 – Stage 11: Marathon Stage to Termas Rio Honda – 161 km liaison, 351 km special (512 km)
- 16.1 – Stage 12: Termas Rio Honda to Rosario – 725 km liaison, 298 km special (1024 km)
- 17.1 – Stage 13: Rosario to Buenos Aires 219 km liaison, 174 km special (393 km)
- Total liaison distance: 4,543 km; total timed distance: 4,752 km
- Total distance 9,294 km
Dakar 2015 – the numbers
- Dates for start and finish of the 2014 Dakar Rally: January 4-17
- Official ceremonial start in Buenos Aires on January 3
- Rest Day: January 10
- Total route: 9,295 km (5,775.6 miles)
- Total timed specials: 4,752 km (2,952.8 miles)
- Longest distance in a single day: 1024 km – 636.3 miles (Stage 12)
- Longest timed special: 781 km – 485.3 miles (Stage 8)
- Shortest distance in a single day: 393 km – 244.2 miles (Stage 13)
- Average rainfall in the Atacama Desert (Chile): 0 mm
- Total number of competitors (in motorcycle class): 168
Dakar 2015 Motorcycle Entry List
- 1 COMA MARC (ESP) KTM
- 2 BARREDA BORT JOAN (ESP) HONDA
- 3 PAIN OLIVIER (FRA) YAMAHA
- 4 VILADOMS JORDI (ESP) KTM
- 5 RODRIGUES HELDER (PRT) HONDA
- 6 SUNDERLAND SAM (GBR) KTM
- 7 GONCALVES PAULO (PRT) HONDA
- 8 PRZYGONSKI JAKUB (POL) KTM
- 9 CASTEU DAVID (FRA) KTM
- 10 PEDRERO GARCIA JUAN (ESP) YAMAHA
- 11 FARIA RUBEN (PRT) KTM
- 12 ISRAEL ESQUERRE JEREMIAS (CHL) HONDA
- 14 DUCLOS ALAIN (FRA) SHERCO TVS
- 15 VERHOEVEN FRANS (NLD) YAMAHA
- 16 GOUET DANIEL (CHL) HONDA
- 17 METGE MICHAEL (FRA) YAMAHA
- 18 SVITKO STEFAN (SVK) KTM
- 19 BOTTURI ALESSANDRO (ITA) YAMAHA
- 20 VAN NIEKERK RIAAN (ZAF) KTM
- 21 JAKES IVAN (SVK) KTM
- 22 PIZZOLITO JAVIER (ARG) HONDA
- 23 FARRES GUELL GERARD (ESP) GASGAS
- 24 DE AZEVEDO JEAN (BRA) HONDA
- 25 PLANET FABIEN (FRA) SHERCO TVS
- 26 PRICE TOBY (AUS) KTM
- 27 WALKNER MATTHIAS (AUT) KTM
- 28 SALVATIERRA JUAN CARLOS (BOL) KTM
- 29 SANZ PLA-GIRIBERT LAIA (ESP) HONDA
- 30 GUASCH MARC (ESP) YAMAHA
- 31 QUINTANILLA PABLO (CHL) KTM
- 32 CECI PAOLO (ITA) KTM
- 33 RODRIGUEZ CLAUDIO (CHL) KTM
- 34 PABISKA DAVID (CZE) KTM
- 35 STANOVNIK MIRAN (SVN) KTM
- 36 PIATEK JAKUB (POL) KTM
- 37 VOGELS HANS (NLD) KTM
- 38 BERGLUND THOMAS (SWE) KTM
- 39 VAN PELT ROBERT (NLD) YAMAHA
- 40 PATRAO MARIO (PRT) SUZUKI
- 42 RODRIGUEZ PABLO (ARG) HONDA
- 44 DE SOULTRAIT XAVIER (FRA) YAMAHA
- 45 DA COSTA BRUNO (FRA) YAMAHA
- 46 GOMEZ MAURICIO JAVIER (ARG) YAMAHA
- 47 OLIVERAS CARRERAS DANIEL (ESP) GASGAS
- 48 RIOS FELIPE (PER) KTM
- 49 GYENES EMANUEL (ROU) KTM
- 50 BUTUZA MARCEL (ROU) KTM
- 51 MEERU MART (EST) HONDA
- 52 DEMELCHORI DIEGO (ARG) KAWASAKI
- 53 PISANO MICHAEL (FRA) KTM
- 54 ARREDONDO FRANCISCO (GTM) KTM
- 55 HEINRICH EDUARDO (PER) SUZUKI
- 56 MENARD JEAN-CHRISTOPHE (FRA) KTM
- 57 LAZARD LAURENT (URY) KTM
- 58 PUERTAS MIGUEL (ESP) KTM
- 59 CHUNCHUNGUPPE SHIVASHANKAR SANTOSH (IND) KTM
- 60 CABRERA PATRICIO (CHL) KAWASAKI
- 61 ONTIVEROS ALBERTO SANTIAGO (ARG) BETA
- 62 SOUVIGNET ROMAIN (FRA) KTM
- 63 CARILLON PATRICE (FRA) KTM
- 64 NIJEN TWILHAAR JAN BASTIAAN (NLD) KTM
- 65 VAN DEN GOORBERGH JURGEN (NLD) KTM
- 66 SAGHMEISTER GABOR (SRB) KTM
- 67 DESI JANOS (HUN) KTM
- 68 VESELY JAN (CZE) KTM
- 69 PAYEN HUGO (FRA) YAMAHA
- 70 STASIACZEK PAWEL (POL) KTM
- 71 VAYSSADE FLORENT (FRA) SHERCO
- 72 CAVELIUS PHILIPPE (FRA) KTM
- 73 ERRAZURIZ FRANCISCO (CHL) HUQSVARNA
- 74 FERNANDEZ GERMAN (URY) KAWASAKI
- 75 SULLIVAN-PAVEY LLEWELLYN (AUS) KTM
- 76 PAVEY SIMON (AUS) KTM
- 77 GUIRAL DEMIAN (ARG) HONDA
- 78 PASCUAL PABLO OSCAR (ARG) KTM
- 79 ARANA COBEAGA TXOMIN (ESP) YAMAHA
- 80 SARMIENTO CERON JUAN ESTEBAN (COL) YAMAHA
- 81 FUENTES FABRICIO (BOL) KTM
- 82 HERNIK MICHAL (POL) KTM
- 83 DAMDINKHORLOO BOLDBAATAR (MNG) KTM
- 84 MARTENS SJAAK (NLD) KTM
- 85 KAZMIERSKI MARIANO (PER) KTM
- 86 GRACIDA GARZA CARLOS (MEX) KTM
- 87 REINIKE MARCO (CHL) KTM
- 88 VERHOESTRAETE FRANCK (COG) SHERCO
- 89 THEURIOT HERVE (FRA) KTM
- 90 GUZMAN ENRIQUE (CHL) KTM
- 91 HEILENKOTTER AXEL (CHL) HUQSVARNA
- 92 TORO JUAN SEBASTIAN (COL) KAWASAKI
- 93 MILLET FREDERIC (FRA) KTM
- 94 DE GROOT RICHARD (NLD) HONDA
- 95 VELLUTINO CARLO (PER) KTM
- 96 ROMERO FONT ROSA (ESP) KTM
- 97 GIMENO GARCÍA ANTONIO (ESP) KTM
- 98 GULDMAN GONZALEZ CRISTOBAL ANDRES (CHL) KAWASAKI
- 99 CHERPIN PIERRE (FRA) KTM
- 100 CROQUELOIS ERIC (FRA) KTM
- 101 BOUWKNEGT JAN ROELF (NZL) KTM
- 102 URQUIA SEBASTIAN ALBERTO (ARG) YAMAHA
- 103 REEVE DAVID GREGORY (ZMB) KTM
- 104 CORK CHRISTOPHER (GBR) HUSQVARNA
- 105 CATANESE FRANCESCO (ITA) YAMAHA
- 106 SEMINARA CARLO (ITA) KTM
- 107 TOIA DIOCLEZIANO (ITA) KTM
- 108 MONIER CHARLES (FRA) KTM
- 109 LACUNZA JORGE (ARG) KTM
- 110 MOULIN LAURENT (FRA) YAMAHA
- 111 CUYPERS CHARLES (FRA) KTM
- 112 ECHEVESTE KEVIN (ARG) HONDA
- 113 BRIOSCHI MARCO (ITA) KTM
- 114 BRIOSCHI ALBERTO (ITA) KTM
- 115 LECONTE EDOUARD (FRA) YAMAHA
- 116 FOURNY DIDIER (BEL) YAMAHA
- 117 CHINBATAAR ANAR (MNG) KTM
- 118 AMESPIL LEON (ARG) YAMAHA
- 119 GERA TONY (USA) KTM
- 120 BASSI GUSTAVO (ARG) YAMAHA
- 121 SENNVANBASEL HUMPHREY (NLD) KTM
- 123 DELAUNAY ALAIN (FRA) HONDA
- 124 REYNAUD YVAN (FRA) HONDA
- 125 HINTENAUS ALBERT (ZAF) KTM
- 126 VAN HEERTUM MELCHIOR (NLD) KTM
- 127 FERNANDEZ CARLOS (ESP) KTM
- 128 FERNANDEZ MENDEZ DOMINGO (ESP) KTM
- 129 VAN GERVEN JAN (NLD) KTM
- 131 BEKTAS SELCUK (TUR) KTM
- 132 VAN HEERTUM CASPAR (NLD) KTM
- 133 DOMENACH THIERRY (FRA) KTM
- 134 JACOBSEN CLAYTON (AUS) KTM
- 135 VAN DAELE JEROEN (NLD) HONDA
- 136 PENALVA DIEGO MARTIN (ARG) YAMAHA
- 137 ZACCHETTI CESARE (ITA) KTM
- 138 SCHELLEKENS CASPAR (NLD) KTM
- 139 VAN BERGEIJK HENNO (NLD) HUSABERG
- 140 GOTTVALD ZDENĚK (CZE) HUSQVARNA
- 141 KLOMP ERIK (NLD) HONDA
- 143 BOSMAN WESSEL (ZAF) KTM
- 144 UDRY DAMIEN (CHE) KTM
- 145 GARCIA MANUEL (ESP) YAMAHA
- 146 AYESA MAURO (ARG) BETA
- 147 BERDYSZ MACIEJ (POL) HONDA
- 148 BERGLUND MIKAEL (SWE) KTM
- 149 BERGLUND ANDERS (SWE) HUSABERG
- 150 CASUCCIO MATTEO (ITA) GASGAS
- 151 ENGEL MILAN (CZE) KTM
- 152 GAJDOSECH ROBERTO (ARG) YAMAHA
- 153 PETRONE SERGIO MIGUEL (ARG) YAMAHA
- 154 PEDROLA MARC (ESP) YAMAHA
- 155 SUAREZ ZAPATA JUAN (ARG) KAWASAKI
- 156 SENKALAYCI SAKIR (TUR) KTM
- 157 SABBATUCCI PAOLO (ITA) YAMAHA
- 158 MARTENS GUILLAUME (NLD) KTM
- 159 HAGENBLAD CARL (SWE) KTM
- 160 KLYMCIW ONDREJ (CZE) KTM
- 161 LOPEZ JOVE ESTEBAN ARIEL (ARG) KAWASAKI
- 162 MARTINELLI GUIDO (ARG) KAWASAKI
- 163 MOLANDER RALF (FIN) KTM
- 164 NARINO ANTONIO (USA) HUSQVARNA
- 165 OZDEMIR SERKAN (TUR) KTM
- 166 OZKAPLAN KORAY (TUR) KTM
- 167 RIEZEBOS JASPER (NLD) KTM
- 168 MORENO KRISTIANSEN MATEO (COL) KTM
