More Monday Morning Moto News - Dakar Rememberances

The 2010 Rally Dakar is over and the scores, times and names are in the books. However, it was a huge event and there was at least one story for each competitor - if not more. So, let's take a look at some of the interesting news which came from the event and look back on the incredible race that it was.

First comes a story about the fourth Canadian to ever finish a Dakar event - Patrick Trahan. This was his third trip to the event, but first time to go all the way to the finish. That is not uncommon due to the harsh conditions and the ever-increasing risks associated with riding at this level. What a story...

http://tinyurl.com/ybl96p5

Next, of course, comes the story from the Italian Aprilia team, Team Aprilia Giofil. They had a very tough road and competed in a few other rallies before venturing to Dakar. They also put on one hell of a show at the event by winning stages and having one rider, Francisco Lopez, finish overall third. And, to make it even more interesting, this was the first Dakar ever for the Aprilia RXV 4.5 Africa.

http://tinyurl.com/ybjuhbl

A final overall race report - and it is long: http://tinyurl.com/ydmodfm

Next is the expected report on the winner of the motorcycle event, Cyril Despres: http://tinyurl.com/y9ava5c

Some great and colorful photos: http://tinyurl.com/ybewv5g

Sunday Morning Moto News - Dakar Stories for All

Well, the Rally Dakar is over now and we all know that Cyril Despres and his KTM won the event in convincing style. But, what we may not know are all of the stories around the event which ended several hours ago. First up are some stories on the victor, then there is a story about the American rider, Jonah Street. The rest of these come from various sources and will give you full coverage of the event. So, since it is Sunday, sit back and click on some links!

http://tinyurl.com/ye67crb

http://tinyurl.com/y96hycw

http://tinyurl.com/ycqhnxv

Jonah Street: http://tinyurl.com/yel8srb

Team Aprilia Giofil report: http://tinyurl.com/ye2d3cy

Saturday Morning Moto News - Dakar Winner!

This will have to be a Stage 13 and Stage 14 report as all of the news now is about the winner. Stage 13 saw the KTM 690 machines take the advantage over the Aprilia machines, with KTM's Pal-Anders Ullevalseter taking the S13 win, Cyril Despres in second and Marc Coma finishing in that order. The Aprilia team did manage a high position of fourth in S13. Lopez sat in third overall by the end of S13. In Stage 14, Despres took the stage victory, Ullevalseter took second and Francisco Lopez rounded out the podium.

These results give the overall victory to the constant leader Cyril Despres! He now has his third Dakar victory and looks to still be a threat for the next running of this historic event. It's an impressive career so far, and it only looks to be getting better. This means that Francisco Lopez has taken victory in the 450 class, but he ended up third overall in the Rally Dakar - and it was his first. Look for Lopez to be a real threat in all such rallies in the future; his Aprilia team is very capable of winning any of these events.

Stage 13 Results: http://tinyurl.com/ygzx3vh

Stage 13 Aprilia Report: http://tinyurl.com/y92o6v5

Stage 13 Video: http://tinyurl.com/yaztz6s

Stage 14 Article: http://tinyurl.com/y8qmbvb

More on the Despres victory: http://tinyurl.com/y8u8tld

Friday Morning Moto Racing News - Dakar and WSBK

Well, we finally get updates on Stage 11's issues and the corrected times of everyone who was sent the wrong way by incorrect course markers. So, yesterday's results may have changed, though I did post the 'fixed' list yesterday. So, on to Stage 12 and we hear that, indeed, Francisco Lopez took the stage victory, with Yamaha's French rider David Fretigne in second and KTM mounted Norseman Pal-Anders Ullevalseter rounding out the podium. Stage 12's route really favored the 450 machines and the results demonstrate that. Of course, Cyril Despres is still in the overall lead, but Aprilia's Lopez is now firmly in second.

http://tinyurl.com/ylsygyz

http://tinyurl.com/yjvyhsl

http://tinyurl.com/yje6aw4

http://tinyurl.com/yffwhgm

Early Stage 13 results: http://tinyurl.com/ygzx3vh

Speaking of Aprilia, we wonder if the Borciani-Guandalini with Aprilia deal has gone through. It appears to have been decided, though nothing has been officially announced, based on a leaked World Superbike entry list. They have hired Jakub Smrz to ride on the satellite Aprilia team. (There are other little tid-bits here too.)

http://tinyurl.com/yfal6xy

Thursday Morning Moto Race News - Dakar and Aprilia WSBK

Rally Dakar has finished Stage 11 now and the teams are now back into Argentina as of the end of this stage. Cyril Despres still holds a commanding overall lead after taking the win in this stage. Right behind him was the American KTM rider Jonah Street, with third place going to French KTM rider Alain Duclos. At least that is what the article says about Stage 11. According to the actual results, everyone is in a different order with Marc Coma taking the win. At least the overall standings match up right. According to one article, Francisco Lopez is in third overall, but the stat page shows him in a solid second place. Apparently, the confusion arises due to a policeman sending riders down the wrong path and they had to loop back around and join the rest of the race later. So, according to reports, the final/corrected Stage 11 rankings are in the first link.

http://tinyurl.com/ylsq82w - official results

http://tinyurl.com/yzaf6v5 - early report on Stage 11

http://tinyurl.com/yfqtnyn - Team Aprilia Giofil report

Early Stage 12 reports: http://tinyurl.com/yffwhgm - http://tinyurl.com/yzuxacf - Lopez looks to have won another Stage

Staying on the Aprilia theme which is part of the Dakar story, let's have a look at a short piece/interview with Aprilia's World Superbike team manager Luigi Dall’Igna. After 2009, we can all imagine that this team will be on top again in the 2010 season...

http://tinyurl.com/yhxkalh

Tuesday Morning Moto Racing News - Dakar and, uh, James Ellison

Yep, we are getting near the final and important stages in the Rally Dakar. Stage Nine ended yesterday and our former champion (who has little chance of winning this year, unfortunately) KTM's Marc Coma won the stage by only four seconds to take his third stage victory in 2010. Right behind him was current points leader - and likely winner of the 2010 event - Cyril Despres on his KTM. Aprilia's Francisco Lopez ran in third for this stage and remains in third place overall. For more, take one or all of the following links.

http://tinyurl.com/y96uz24

http://tinyurl.com/ycebsnd

http://tinyurl.com/y9bxhq6

http://tinyurl.com/ybze7tm

And, in other racing news, we hear that British Superbike star James Ellison has been in Texas training with Ben Spies for the 2010 season. Given his appearances in the final events of the 2009 season of BSB - with Leon Camier, who took first as Ellison took second - one would think he would also have a ride in 2010. But, that is not the case. However, if someone should pick him up, he will be in great shape to challenge for the championship in any series!

http://tinyurl.com/ye86ewr

Monday Morning Moto Racing News - WERA and Dakar

Suzuki mounted Chris Ulrich managed to take two victories at this past weekend's WERA West Races held at Auto Club Speedway in California. He had to take the victories from Honda CBR1000RR rider Jeremy Toye in both of those events - Formula One and A Superbike. Toye then managed to win the C Superbike race riding a Yamaha R-6. There were several races held all weekend and for the full list of results, please take the link.


http://tinyurl.com/yhxx2hy

Though this may have been better posted at the top, I can only go in order that I dig things up. So, on to Stage 8 of the Rally Dakar in South America - they are in Chile now. Aprilia's Francisco Lopez won yet another stage yesterday and put himself into third overall. But, right behind him was Marc Coma - who has decided to continue despite the penalty he was assessed two days ago. Overall leader Cyril Despres continues in first, but the best he could finish in this Stage was fifth due to tire issues. For more, check the links below.

http://tinyurl.com/ygbtp3h

http://tinyurl.com/yg92ouk

http://tinyurl.com/yfzajhm

Video: http://tinyurl.com/yentbow

Sunday Morning Rally Dakar Update - Rest Day News

So, yesterday was the rest day at the Rally Dakar, thus we only have some news from the event in South America. The usual suspects are in the lead at the half-way point, so nothing new there. Well, except for Marc Coma's penalty, which may have dropped him from the competition altogether (he will certainly not win now). And, Cyril Despres is in a commanding lead while all the other riders are now fighting for second and third behind him.

http://tinyurl.com/ydfguxr - Some truck and car news as well.

http://tinyurl.com/yeb8dpu

http://tinyurl.com/yb8syh4 - The President of the Republic of Chile, Michelle Bachelet, visited the bivouac during the rest day.

Rally Dakar Update from Stage 7 in Chile - Marc Coma Penalized

KTM rider Coma was assessed a 6 hour penalty by the organizers for what they say was an illegal tire change during Stage 7. Moto course director Marc Ducrocq has stated that they have photos of him changing his wheel behind a house along the route. Coma is claiming innocence and says that the organizers cannot prove anything at this point. Either way, he will suffer for the 6 hour addition to his time and that leaves KTM rider Cyril Despres more likely to take victory.

http://tinyurl.com/ylovxj6

Saturday Morning Moto News from Dakar

Out of Rally Dakar we now have Stage 7 results. KTM's Cyril Despres and Marc Coma took the 1 -2 positions on the day and proved why they are racing in this event. Despres now has a commanding lead on all the motorcycle racers, with Coma right behind him in the overall points. Aprilia's Francisco Lopez has now fallen back to 5th place overall. Take the links to learn more...

http://tinyurl.com/y9ef82l

http://tinyurl.com/yb7mhsg

http://tinyurl.com/yeaw3xa

Friday Moto News - Dakar Edition

Wow, another busy news day around here. First, on to Rally Dakar...

First of all comes news that rider Luca Manca of Sardinia crashed hard and was evacuated to a hospital for serious cranial trauma - no work on how he is doing now, though. It appears that Francisco Chaleco Lopez managed a fourth place finish in Stage 6 and remains in second place overall with Cyril Despres still at the top of the leader board. For more, please see the numerous links below.

http://tinyurl.com/y95euwb

http://tinyurl.com/yfnov5n

Day to day run down of victors for most classes: http://tinyurl.com/ybzay9k

Some photos and videos of the Dakar action in Stage 6: http://tinyurl.com/y928s3j

More photos from Stage 6 (all classes): http://tinyurl.com/ybafhpn

Rally Dakar Update from Day 1 in Argentina

Day one is finished in the Rally Dakar and we have an interesting finish on our hands. David Casteu, who is running the Rally with his own Sherco-based team, took victory in the first race of the two week event. Behind him were the KTMs of Frenchman Cyril Despres and Spaniard - and 2009 champion - Marc Coma. So far, the event has had no major problems and it all seems to be going smoothly, at least from the spectator side of things. We will see more results throughout the Dakar and I will post all I see.

http://tinyurl.com/y9cwv8t

Better Update from Egyptian Pharaons Rally

From a series of press releases comes some solid news about the Pharaons Rally running currently in Egypt. We hear more about Francisco Lopez and his troubles with his bike. Also, there is news of Alessandro Zanotti, leader Cyril Despres, Paolo Ceci and more! This is the latest news that I have found on the rally as press coverage is oddly missing from many front-line moto news sites.

http://tinyurl.com/yeaxrza

Update from Pharaons Rally in Egypt

This article is not the best as far as grammar and spelling - I think it was just translated using software - but it at least gives us an update of the Egyptian Pharaons Rally. It seems that Cyril Despres is making up time lost early in the rally and is closing on leader Francisco Lopez. For more info, just click the link and see if you can understand it...

http://tinyurl.com/ydu4j76