[Eric SmithMember]

Sweeeeeeet!~!

[Eric SmithMember]

Ok, final call for anyone interested in this ride!!

Details:

Confirmed starters:
ECKS
Husky
Alan
Stu
Ratchet + 5-ish
Mototrans

Definite maybe’s:
MKB
Other locals?

Time: 8am for 8:30 kick off. Don’t be late, I won’t wait!

Meeting place: On Tomingley Road (Also called Gundong Road) where the road goes in to the National Park. We will be unloading at the picnic area where I believe they have basic facilities (BBQ, pit dunny etc). Approximate GPS Coordinates are: Latitude :-32.632046 Longitude :148.387256

Riding: Generally Grade 3 – As described before, mostly fire trails, some open and fast, more of them in hilly rocky terrain, a little bit here and there are old fire trails overgrown and actually pretty good riding and a bit of single trail. There is one hill in particular that will be a challenge – I plan to go down as part of the loop and have a go at going up just for fun. Anyone else is welcome to try the climb, the descent is mandatory!

General: Please have bikes in good condition – I know you all will but it doesn’t hurt to remind people. Check the obvious like tyres, chain, wheel bearings etc and don’t forget the ignition key! Bring tools – no that is not like “phone a friend”!! Bring lunch and fuel for at least 100km if you are leaving after lunch, 200km if you stick around for the arvo loop. Bring cameras!’

Cornerman: We will be using the corner man system. If you don’t know what the hell that is, look here

Anyone needing more info PM me your phone number and we can talk about it.

See you all there!

[Eric SmithMember]

You’re so right there TB, I suspect this is a gut reaction rather than a set in stone policy. It reeks of “If you change the rules I’ll take my bat and ball and go home!”

There is no reason they couldn’t do exactly as you say, sell of the big bore gear to privateers and get the 450’s happening. A 450 can compete in this race – and win if supported properly.

I’d love to see KTM say “alright you bastards”, tool up for the 450’s and win anyway!

[Eric SmithMember]

Today, the following statement came from KTM…

Following the announcement at a press conference on June 4, 2009 of the French “ASO” – the organisers of the “South American Dakar” that from 2010, only motorcycles with a maximum displacement of 450 cc will be permitted to compete, KTM, after eight consecutive victories, has decided to immediately accept the consequences and announces its withdrawal from the “Dakar.”

The company will no longer be represented at the rally in South America either with an official factory team or a KTM-supported team. At the same time, KTM underlines that the company remains committed to rally sport and will now concentrate its efforts on the world championship and other important rallies.

The organiser’s short term change to the rules, designed to end the dominance of KTM, and which comes without any advance warning, hits the KTM factory hard. Today, just six months before the start – and at a time when not only the factory team but also dozens of private teams are deep in preparations for this extremely complex rally, the immediate withdrawal of the worldwide market leader of offroad sports motorcycle is the only possible consequence.

“Every sport regulation needs changes and adjustments to new developments to retain an interest in it, but this also require the appropriate lead times. We have the entire material for the 690 Rally motorcycles for our factory team as well as that for 50 customers’ motorcycles in our storage facility ready to be constructed in June. Riders’ contracts have been finalised and all the team members have been engaged. The financial consequences that results from this decision are enormous. Quite apart from this, we are shocked by the organiser’s lack of loyalty, above all because of the huge efforts we made following the cancellation of the Dakar in 2008 by contributing to the new edition – even during a period of extreme economic crisis,” said KTM Motor Sport Advisor and “Rally Legend” Heinz Kinigadner in a first statement.

Following the decision for the deployment of 450cc motorcycles, which are unthinkably unsuitable for use in long distance rallies, KTM can no longer economically justify a commitment to be engaged in the Dakar in the future. KTM Motor Sport Director Winfried Kerschhaggl: “Rally sport serves to prove the efficiency and stability of our large volume series single cylinder. There is no question that we will remain active in rally sport! Having said that, for KTM, the rally in South America is now history. We will now fully concentrate on the Rally World Championship and we will seek out alternatives. Maybe we will soon again see full KTM Rally engagement on African soil – back to the roots!”

With its commitment to rally sports, KTM naturally takes the obligations to its long term worldwide customers seriously because it is they who have decided to put their trust in the products and in the unique service of the Austrian company for rally sport by choosing KTM motorcycles.

[Eric SmithMember]

I think I’ll wait for a long-term report on these boots before I go out and invest in one! :laugh:

[Eric SmithMember]

Boony wrote:

Quote:

Hoy admin peoples

New month how about a new picture of the month????????????????????/

There’s a front page? :blink: :blink:

That’s the wonders of the intramanetweb Boony, you can link direct to the bits that you want – my OBT bookmark takes me to the latest posts page!

Ooops, shame about that eh admins! No benefit for the advertisers from me! :blush:

[Eric SmithMember]

Funny, there was one DRZ started Dakar this year, and one finished. Good record!

I think the rule change will make Aprilia RXV450’s the ducks guts on rally’s – assuming they have no reliability issues that is. It will change things in a fairly major way for desert racing. Interesting to see how it all develops over the next few years.

[Eric SmithMember]

Boony wrote:

Quote:

2100
DRZ wins dakar

watch this space ..

They have been experimenting with chads fuel injected rm for about 24 months now

Do not rule them out just yet and god help yous if they do win .lol

Yeah, given enough time they will get there…

Slim chance of a new generation Suzuki enduro bike arriving in time for 2010 though. Even if it did they wouldn’t have the reliability that the current version does.

Still as TB says, it is a nett gain for the sport, and levels the playing field somewhat. The 950’s at Condo this year were scary fast, topping 180km/h (or more?) in some stages. That’s instant death right there!

[Eric SmithMember]

mototrans wrote:

Quote:

Good point, the Hondas kicked ass at Condo, its just a shame they didn’t finish. Its a bit of an old bull young bull thing, you’ll understand one day Grasshopper….:lol:

(maybe the whitewash was a bit tongue in cheek)

Who did what at Condo?? I believe the winning bike was not red… or yellow… or orange… gee what colour was it again? Oh, that’s right! BLUE! :laugh:

I’d love to see Yamaha get into desert racing the same as Honda does/did (whatever) as they certainly have a good package to base a race bike on.

I’d love to see a new generation DRZ as well, but I am not holding my breath waiting for it!:laugh:

[Eric SmithMember]

I’m surprised by that actually, the big bores have been the staple contendors in Dakar and indeed most rally events for a lot of years now. I wonder if the Aus Safari will follow suit? It would seem logical really.

Dunno about the DRZ whitewash, given the success of Honda in so many desert events over the last few years. KTM also build bikes specifically for these events so a poor old stock standard DRZ, even if it has bits bolted on, is unlikely to take line honours any time soon!

[Eric SmithMember]

5000 posts, at an average of, say, 25 words per post… gee your space bar must be getting worn out by now! :laugh:

5000 is a hellava lotta posts in 12 months, you must have a lot of spare time!

Good work TB!

[Eric SmithMember]

This thread lost a little sump’tn in the translation… :blink:

[Eric SmithMember]

Jeffro you disappoint me. I thought you were going to use this thread to get 5000 posts yourself! Its not too late, get cracking mate! :woohoo:

[Eric SmithMember]

Dayum mate, you get paid far too much!! Nice wheels I guess, if you don’t have to drive a utility!

Tell us all about it – does it have a motor? Does it run on sunflower oil? Are the seats sticky?:laugh:

[Eric SmithMember]

Moto wrote:

Quote:

Look, I hate being right as much as you hate me being right so lets just ackowledge the fact that I’m right and move on :laugh:

I hate that!:angry:

Must be a fluke!:laugh:

[Author]

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