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2010 Dakar Documentary Preview: Freedom Racer (Showing Dec 09)

Freedom Racer

More than the deep uncertainties about participating in the famous Dakar Rally, Christophe provides and challenges anyone with a dream to make it come true.

This documentary -- that will make you think twice about your own life -- is curently being filmed and will be released in Dec 09. You will see great action footage from Christophe's training methods (not for the faint hearted), video diaries, plenty of 2-wheel actions, and a lot more we can't reveal just yet!

Stay abreast of all updates by joining us on Facebook at www.Team Rally Australia.com

For products placement or sponsorship partnering please contact us at www.FreedomRacer.com

Christophe Barriere-Varju on 2SER Radio

To listen to Christophe's latest radio interview

http://www.2ser.com/podcasts/monday-breakfast-1/Being_Christopher_Barriere-Varju__29_June_2009_.mp3/

To follow Christophe progress, please join the Team Rally Australia community.

2010 Dakar: New Schedule For Bikes Regulation

Issy-les-Moulineaux, 8th of July 2009.

Further to the numerous discussions that have taken place with the different actors of the motorcycles’ competition (amateurs competitors, professional competitors, preparators, manufacturers and International Motorcycle Federation) and facing the real interest shown by all the interlocutors, the goal of a maximum cubic capacity of 450 cc is maintained.

Nevertheless, so that the competitors can have more time, a new schedule has been set up.

For the Dakar 2010, the ASO Elite pilots must ride with a restrictor reducing the power of their bike, if its cubic capacity is over 450 cc. Or they may use a bike of a cubic capacity under or equal to 450 cc.
The other pilots are free to choose their bike with no restriction.

For the Dakar 2011, the ASO Elite pilots must imperatively ride a bike of a cubic capacity under or equal to 450 cc.
The other pilots must ride a bike of a cubic capacity under or equal to 450 cc, or a restrictor, if the cubic capacity is over 450 cc.

At last, for the Dakar 2012, all the pilots will ride 450 cc’s.

The restrictor is currently being developed and it will be delivered to the Elite pilots from mid July. This restrictor has been designed in order to have a similar weight / power ratio between the different cubic capacities.

The list of ASO Elite pilots who have to compete on 450 cc or more than 450 cc with a restrictor :

BERGLUND THOMAS
BETHYS THIERRY
CAMPBELL JOHNNY
CASTEU DAVID
CHILDRESS MIKE
CODY QUINN
COMA MARC
CZACHOR JACEK
DABROWSKI MAREK
DE AZEVEDO JEAN
DESPRES CYRIL
DUCLOS ALAIN
FARIA RUBEN
FARRES GUELL GERA
FRETIGNE DAVID
GONCALVEZ PAULO
GRAZIANI MATTEO
HENGEVELD STEVE
KENDALL NORMAN
KNUIMAN HENK
LOPEZ FRANCISCO
MACEK MARTIN
MARCHINI MICHEL
PAIN OLIVIER
PLANET FABIEN
ROBBY BELL
RODRIGUES FILHO JOSE HELIO
RODRIGUES HELDER
STANOVNIK MIRAN
STREET JONAH
ULLEVALSETER PAL ANDERS
VERHOEVEN FRANS
VILADOMS JORDI
VINTERS EINARS
VINTERS JANIS

ASO has the right to change that list according to the results on FIM competitions

____________________
Team Rally Australia

Sertoes 2009

Photos from Natal, finish town of the 2009 Sertoes Rally in Brasil

Tough Enough?

Monday Breakfast with Alexis Roitman. Monday June 29, 6:00am - 9:00am

Monday Brekkie hangs tough this week. OUT: poets and the chi cycle.
IN: busting bellies and motorcycle racing across the Sahara. First up, 10 year old Imogen joins Alexis for a chat on schoolyard hassles and generally being a kid. Then at 7:30am it's all about voodoo, what it's like to be a competitor in the Dakar Rally and finding life's '7th gear' in Being...Christophe Barriere-Varju.

www.2ser.com

Listen to Christophe's previous radio interview

Will the Africa Race replace the Dakar Rally in 2010? The rising mutiny against the ASO says yes.

Article from CycleNews.com

A recent announcement from Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO), promoters of the Dakar Rally, stated that they will enforce a limit of 450cc for single-cylinder motorcycles effective in 2010. Following the announcement, KTM declared complete withdrawal from the race, slated to take place in South America in January of 2010. KTM Austria’s race team manager and rally coordinator Alex Doringer talked more about KTM’s decision to withdrawal from the Dakar Rally – a decision they felt was the only realistic option given the circumstances by Dakar Rally promoters – and what the manufacturer with such a heavy investment in rally racing plans to do next.

“I think it’s easy to explain after the decision [ASO] made to reduce the capacity on the engines down to 450,” Doringer said. “We don’t agree with the decision. The points they gave us as to why they made the decision; we don’t confirm them. They’re talking about safety, they’re talking about money for private riders and this isn’t true that it’s safe or cheaper.”

Realizing that it’s late notice for many, ASO has proposed an allowance for larger displacements in the 2010 Dakar Rally, such as KTM’s 690cc single-cylinder bike, provided they run a restrictor plate which limits top speed. KTM also feels that this option is unreasonable.

“For rally racing, a restrictor is not good because six months before, we don’t have the possibility to test so we don’t know how it will affect the tires, the engine, nothing,” Doringer said. “To race with a restrictor in a rally where you need power, it’s a stupid thing.”

KTM feels that the decision was particularly discourteous to them, considering the manufacturer’s total support of the ASO’s decision to cancel the Dakar in 2008.

“We supported them,” Doringer said. “We told our riders they are not allowed to go to Africa. [For ASO] to work out the things with us in this way is not fair and not friendly. I think that’s the logical answer KTM gave to them and as well to our customers. We told them and also to our customers that we are not going [to South America] with the race team and not with the support team at all.”

So what does this mean for the most famous rally race in the world? Along with a number of other die-hards, KTM is still hell bent on keeping the tradition alive and going rally racing in Africa. Enter the “Race of Africa.”



Dakar Rally originator Jean Louis Schlesser and former ASO race director Hubert Auriol worked with Rene Metge and Jose Maria Servia in creating the Race of Africa which took place – much to the ASO’s chagrin – at the same time and in the same place last year as the Dakar Rally traditionally runs. With one successful year under their belt, Auriol and Schlesser are now in talks with KTM about bringing the factory teams back to Africa in 2010.

The official website (www.AfricaRace.com) has a video featuring Sporting Director, Rene Metge. The video opens with the Frenchman stating, “I am fed up with all this! I can’t wait to be in Africa...” and he goes on to name three reasons why.

“The first and most important reason: Africa is irreplaceable. And I know what I am talking about, having traveled and worked in all corners of the world. But Africa is such a different continent. The second reason is the price. It is much, much cheaper. The third, we are not far from Europe. And the total time between leaving and returning is about three weeks.”

In more information on the race website, Metge promises an original course starting in Barcelona and ending in Dakar, Senegal which will take place from December 27, 2009 to January 10, 2010. Of the second annual Race of Africa, Metge said, “It will not be easy, but those who decide to trust us will not regret it.”

KTM is admittedly a little more than enticed by the opportunity to return to traditional rally racing in Africa.

“We put one and one together and we agree with them that it’s a good idea to go back to Africa,” Doringer said. “Not saying that South America was a bad experience... I think it was a good experience and a great success, but at the moment, it’s a good idea to work out something with [the Race of Africa], and possibility that KTM is coming and that maybe we bring customers with us, as we will also bring the service team. It’s not confirmed and we’re still working on a plan, but it looks pretty good and I think it could be a good adventure and I know most of the customers will for sure follow us.”

While KTM is in meetings with the Race of Africa promoters, they are also in meetings with the ASO to try to reach a middle ground. But Doringer did not seem optimistic about the talks thus far with the Dakar promoters.

“I went on Tuesday to Geneva for a meeting with the FIM and of course, this was a big point of discussion,” Doringer said. “There was someone from ASO as well. The idea behind this that they will open it for different manufacturers and for different smaller teams, but to be honest, I know, and I think everybody knows, that there will not be more companies coming to race Dakar because it’s not a cheap race. Nobody has an enduro bike which is ready for rally and they don’t have a rally bike which they can put a restrictor so I don’t think the big companies will come. Maybe smaller teams will come, small teams with their own sponsors. And this is the idea that they have.

“They also think this will change the competition; they think it’s more open for other riders. They think they can maybe be faster with a smaller bike, or with our top guys on a reduced capacity engine, but I don’t believe that. Marc [Coma] and Cyril [Despres] are the biggest talents on rally bikes and even if they go with the 450 – which we will not do – they’ll still be the guys to fight against.”

Details and entries for the Race of Africa are currently available on the official website, www.AfricaRace.com.

The Origin of the Dakar Rally

Contrary to public belief, cross-country rallies did not begin with the Paris-Dakar organised in 1978 by the charismatic Thierry Sabine. No, the first ever rally raid began in 1976, from a visionary today forgotten: Jean Claude Bertrand.

Born from the legendary Bandama rally where in one year no paticipants were able to cross the finish line, the rally, Cote d'Ivoire-Cote d'Azur or, Abidjan-Nice, or also named "Cote-Cote" begins on 25 December 1976. The race is 8,600 kms long and 38 motorbikes start the adventure that must last until the 11th of January. The first special, Abidjan-Niamey is 1,725 kms long and must be completed in a maximum time of 31 hours. But this is not the longest stage. Tamanrasset to Fez is 2,700 kms long. All of which without practically any assistance.

Navigation is done with a manual compass!

The dreams for Jean-Claude Bertrand was to create a 10,000 to 15,000 kms race where most of it was through compass navigation, this was The Adventure.

Thierry Sabine participated in one of these races, got lost, and began to understand and appreciate Africa. In 1978 the Paris-Dakar was created.

Dakar Rally - KTM Withdraws

04.06.2009
“Rally Dakar” – KTM withdraws!
The limiting of motorcycles with a displacement of 450 cc forces the long term dominator of the Dakar Rally to withdraw.

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.
Heinz Kinigadner - KTM Motor Sport advisor

Winfried Kerschhaggl - KTM Motor Sport Director

ASO Limits Bikes to 450cc for 2010 Dakar

This year, the organisers of the Dakar have decided to balance the sporting aspect by changing the technical regulations in the car and bike classes. Some petrol vehicles will benefit from an aid that will allow them to reduce the gap that grew with the diesel technologies that have been dominating the debates. On two wheels, the decision to build for the 2011 horizon a field only for bikes of maximum 450cc will allow to level all bikers. This measure will partly be effective for 2010.

Bikes: on equal terms

For several years, more and more of the top bikers have won specials or finished in the leading ten overall positions using under 450cc bikes. At the same time, the smaller capacity machines have been more and more present, representing 40% of the registered riders at the start of the 2009 Dakar. Financially more accessible and more reliable than the older bikes of the previous generations and now more adapted to the demands of off-road rallies, the 450cc still have a deficit in performance that prevent them from reaching even higher ambitions. This difference will be totally erased for the 2011 Dakar during which only bikes with engines under 450cc will be accepted.

A bridle in 2010 for the amateurs over 450cc

In order to reach this objective of levelness between competitors that will open the number of potential victory contenders, a transition measure has been taken for the 2010 Dakar. Aware of the important number of competitors already having bikes of over 450cc, the organisers have decided to accept them for this edition with the obligation to set up a bridle reducing the power of the engine. This bridle, conceived to limit the performance to the level of the 450cc, will be provided by the rally organisation.

The champions on 450cc in 2010

This modification aiming to support the amateur riders that want to line up at the start of the rally will not be applicable to a certain number of professionals and semi-professionals for which a list will be established later. The possible winners will therefore be forced to use as soon as 2010 a bike of under 450cc. On equal terms, they will battle it out using the qualities that define champions in the discipline: physical endurance, piloting, navigation.

Autos: A helping hand for the "petrols"

The vehicles propelled by a turbo diesel engine have taken an advantage over their rivals, and have notably built an important gap on most of the amateur crews that take on the rally. In order to reduce this margin and allow the most competitive of the lot to be part of the battle in front, the crews that have an atmospheric petrol engine (over 2 air valve/cylinder) will be authorised to increase the size of the air arrival bridle, from 32mm to 34mm.

The regulation for the turbo diesel engines remains unchanged. The professional teams registered or supported by a constructor will be submitted to the current T1 regulation (art 6P3).

The tracks discovered in Argentina and Chile during the 2009 edition represent for the teams of the rally an invitation to continue the exploration. On a sports point of view, the potential of these territories offers exalting perspectives: by exploring new areas, the 2010 Dakar will offer and intense and renewed challenge. The experience of the first edition in South America having shown some restraints in terms of terrain, several changes have been planned in order to ensure security and equity between the competitors.

More sand

The dune crossings and off-piste navigation are part of the essential elements of rally raid. It is in these key domains that are evaluated the technical capacities of the competitors: in the sand, the performance is also a story of finesse and strategy. During the 2009 edition, the drivers and riders were already able to test themselves on different types of sand. They will have even more dune crossings in 2010.

On equal terms

The two countries that welcome the Dakar present complementary characteristics with enough variety to authorise different types of piloting to be expressed. The course planned for the 2010 race was designed with the will to spread equally the stages and difficulties between Argentina and Chile. The mileage, both in special and liaison, will be more or less the same from one side to the other of the Andes.

An adapted format

The selection of bikers

Like each year, the registration files will be very carefully examined. Several new measures will be introduced in the selection for the 2010 edition. Indeed, the riders will for example have to have taken part in a rally of the FIM World championship or to a Dakar Series event of the last three years.

Doubled courses

It sometimes occurs that the race configuration makes it difficult to mix different classes of vehicles. Each time the reconnaissance team judges that it is possible and necessary, different courses will be planned in order to limit risks. These devices will also allow taking bikers in more technical portions where they will be able to show their specific aptitudes.

A race for each

Again with the goal to fluidify the progression of the race vehicles, the starting times will be widened between the different types of vehicles. Thus, the first car will take off long after the last bike and the trucks will systemically take off after the last car.



CBV

Team Rally Australia

Dakar in Australia

“Dakar in Australia”

New South Wales – May 15th 2009.

Campaigning for his 4th participation in the 2010 Dakar, Team Rally Australia and Christophe Barriere-Varju went on the road and traveled more than 1,200kms aboard the incredibly smooth Hyundai iLoad van from NSW to Imbil, Queensland.

The small town of Imbil was hosting the 4th Round of the 2009 FIA Red Devil Energy Drink Rally Queensland on the Sunshine Coast (8-10 May, 2009), round of the Australian Rally Championship. Although a pure rally car round, competitors and spectators gathered around Team Rally Australia stand to talk “Dakar”, take photos, and autographs.

“My goal is to promote the toughest, gruelest, and biggest motorsport event in the world to as many people as possible, even if it means I have to drive more than 3,000kms over a week-end to do so” Christophe jokes. The Dakar Rally captures audiences of more than 300 million viewers worldwide across 187 countries. In Australia, Christophe provides behind the scene views to SBS viewers as well as being a regular host on Fox Sports Television.

“In search of sponsors and partners for my own participation in the 10,000km Dakar Rally, I decided to take this on back in 2005. It is great to see how far people have embraced this event since then. What amazes me is that there is not really an audience group for this event, everyone from young kids to retired people, males and females seem to wait for January and turn on SBS to watch this over two weeks. The feedback we received with SBS says it all” Christophe says.

Alpha Magazine (Mad About Sport!) was also on hand to promote their magazine and joined forces with Team Rally Australia at the Rally Queensland. Promoting their magazine through a fancy caravan trailer with large plasma screens playing Dakar videos, Alpha magazine and Hyundai were keen to replicate the set up for future events from now until the end of the year with another event in Melbourne at the end of May.

Companies and promoters are encouraged to contact us and take advantage of cross-promotional activities and additional exposure. If you are not familiar with the 10,000kms Dakar Rally, follow this link for a short video.

Team Rally Australia is seeking partners to join the “Dakar in Australia” road promotion until December 2009 and become part of this amazing event… to the edge of human limits!

Contact:
Team Rally Australia
Mob. 0403 444 101

KTM 660 Dakar Rallye for Sale

KTM 660 Dakar Rallye for Sale
Engine used on day 4-8 of the 2009 Dakar (3,350 kms only)
Engine was rebuilt prior to event using special piston (+rings, new valves...)
Fully prep Fork (springs, valves) and rear Shock (valves modification) by Tecnik
Will include brand new set of fairing
Bike is Dakar prepared and Ready to race
Available after 12 May due to expo
Contact: Christophe 0403 444 101
Serious inquiries only please
Price: $25,300

Chile and Argentina again in 2010

Chile and Argentina again in 2010
25 Feb 2009, 8:00 AM

Chile and Argentina will once again co-host the 2010 Dakar Rally after the success of the 2009 edition of the race, Francisco Vidal, Chilean government spokesman, announced in Santiago.

Your thoughts?

"The Dakar Rally will be held again in Chile and Argentina," he said.

"It's a good thing for the country because the race serves as a showcase for millions of people around the world.

"The decision will be made official in press conferences held by the organisers, in Buenos Aires on Monday [March 2] and in Santiago on Tuesday [March 3]."

Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), organisers of the race, confirmed the announcement via a statement.

"After the success and excitement generated by Dakar 2009, which took place for the first time in Argentina and Chile, ASO and the two countries decided to keep the 2010 race in South America for its 32nd edition," the statement read.

The official announcement should include proposed dates and routes, with Vidal adding that Chile will get more than the five stages it had this year. Nine stages were held in Argentina.

After 29 years in Africa, Dakar 2009, which took place from January 3-17, was the first time the race took place in South America.

Dakar Photos for Sale

Without any doubt the best photographs on the Rally Circuit, Andre Chaco and his team capture not just photos, but moments. I recommend you visit his website and purchase photos of your favourite rider or team.

http://www.webventure.com.br/dakarphotos

2009 Dakar

The 2009 Dakar Rally is now over... and it is time to think about the 2010 edition. Please visit Team Rally Australia for all the news, photos and videos from Argentina and Chile. CBV