UAE DESERT CHALLENGE 2003

[Noise]

20.10.2003 se je začel dubajski rally UAE DESERT CHALLENGE.

www.uaedesertchallenge.com

Začetek puščavskega izziva v Dubaju 

 

U.A.E. Desert Challenge 2003

20.10. – Prolog

Začetek puščavskega izziva v Dubaju

Na zadnji letošnji preizkušnji v vztrajnostnem rallyju za svetovno prvenstvo, se je s prologom na »palmi« - umetno zgrajenem otoku nedaleč stran od slavnega hotela v obliki jadra, začel puščavski izziv. Rally bo v štirih etapah in 1.800 kilometrih prevozil arabsko puščavo, pohvali pa se lahko z izredno močno udeležbo tovarniških voznikov in ekip.

Sedmič zapored se v boj s sipinami podaja tudi »puščavski lisjak« Miran Stanovnik, ki je ravno okreval po poškodbi ramenskih in kolenskih vezi. »To je zame test pred Dakarjem, zavedam se, da moja forma zaradi poškodb, ki so me letos pestile ni najboljša, vsekakor pa bom pritisnil kolikor se da. Najpomebneje bo najti pravo mero med hitrostjo in varno vožnjo. Naš gostitelj Mohammed Ben Sulayem, ki je pred leti dirkal tudi na rallyju Saturnus s Toyoto, me je še posebno opozoril na nevarnost dehidracije. Zaradi bližajočega Ramadana, so organizatorji namreč prestavili dirko v oktober namesto v november, posledica pa je peklenska vročina. Obljubljajo nam tja do 50 stopinj °C«, še dodaja Miran, ki je prolog odpeljal taktično in je po predvidevanjih končal med 15 in 20 mestom (uradni rezultati v tem trenutku še niso bili na voljo), kar je za jutrišnjo etapo odlično izhodišče za napad. Ni skrivnost, da ob udeležbi praktično vseh tovarniških voznikov KTM cilja na prvo mesto v kategoriji maraton.

Na prologu sta se oba glavna kandidata za zmago na rallyju in s tem tudi v končni razvrstitvi prvenstva poigrala drug z drugim. Juan Roma je tik pred ciljem ustavil, češ da ima težave z motorjem, Cyril Despres, ki je štartal za njim, pa je »počakal« nekaj ovinkov za njim. Tudi on je s prikritim nasmeškom potožil nad čudnimi zvoki v motorju. Resnica je seveda ta, da bosta jutri štartala povsem zadnja, kar jima omogoča slepo sledenje kolesnic, Despres pa bo nekajsekundni zaostanek nadoknadil v prvih kilometrih. Igra mačke z mišjo se je torej začela še preden je šlo zares.

Peter kavčič

Neuradni rezultati prolga:

Motorji: 1. Koizumi Mitsuru (Jap, KTM), 2. Taligot Greaten (Fra, KTM), 3. Martezollo Giovanni (Ita, Yamaha),…15. Miran Stanovnik (Slo, KTM)

Avtomobili: 1. De Villiers/Jordan (JAR, Nissan), 2. Biasion/Siviero (Ita, Mitsubishi), 3. Masuoka/Picard (Jap, Mitsubishi),…

Vir: stanovnik.com

(Foto: desertchallenge.com)

[Noise]

Stanovniku zaribal motor, Roma končal s tekmovanjem

U.A.E. Desert Challenge 2003

1. etapa, Dubaj – oaza Liwa

V vročini zmaga Despresu in Devillersu, Stanovniku »zaribal« motor

Na prvi etapi letošnjega puščavskega izziva, so visoke temperature (55 stopinj na soncu) krojile usodo 72. motoristov in 54. avtomobilistov. Žal je med žrtvami vročine tudi pogonski agregat Stanovnikovega KTMa. Le ta je »puščavskega lisjaka« pustil na cedilu na treh četrtinah 318 kilometrov dolge hitrostne preizkušnje. Pred četrto kontrolno točko mu je kazalo zelo dobro, saj je vozil na desetem mestu v skupni uvrstitvi in na odličnem tretjem mestu za konkurenotoma Flickom in Ullevalsetrom. »Motor je kar na enkrat ugasnil, slišati je bilo le nekašen »klik«. Takoj sem ga skušal zahnati a ni šlo, saj je vetrnica, ki dodatno hladi motor ves čas obratovala z vso močjo. Tako sem sredi puščave ostal še brez elektrike v akumulatorju. Ko se je pripeljala mimo »metla« - tovornjak, ki ga je organizator priskrbel, da pobira tekmovalce in motocikle, ki ne morejo nadaljevati, so mi prijazni fantje skušali pomagati tako, da so me povlekli na pesku. Po nekaj sto metrih »pluženja« je motor ponovno zaživel, nekaj trenutkov kasneje pa je ob glasnem kovinskem ropotu za vedno ugasnil. Po domače, bi dejali, da je »zaribal«. Seveda sem razočaran, saj mi je v uvodnem delu kazalo zelo dobro«, je še dodal Miran, ki bo v bivak prispel verjetno okrog polnoči. Po dogovoru z organizatorji in ekipo KTM verjetno obstaja možnost, da bo z rallyjem lahko nadaljeval, seveda pa vidnega rezultata zaradi časovnih pribitkov ne bo mogel privoziti. Morda mu lahko uspe le dobra etapna uvrstitev, hkrati pa bo lahko na najboljši možni način treniral za Dakar 2004.

Med motoristi je sicer že prišlo do odstopa prav pri vrhu. Španec Juan Roma, je namreč odstopil zaradi hudih bolečin v zapestju, kar je trenutno vodilnemu Cyrilu Despresu odprlo široko pot do zmage in naslova svetovnega prvaka.

Med avtomobilisti je že po 22 kilometrih s spektakularnim prevračanjem že odstopil Hiroši Masuoka (Mitsubishi Pajero EVO), sicer aktualni zmagovalec Dakarja 2003. Oba s sovoznikom sta ostala nepoškodovana, avto pa je popolnoma uničen. Resen nakok na vrh pa so napovedali pri Nissanu, saj je južnoafričan Giniel De Villiers za minuto in pol ugnal Gregoira De Meviusa z BMWjem X – raid. Tretje mesto je pripadlo Mikiju Bisaionu, ki se je s svojim Mitsubishijem Pajero EVO dvakrat zakopal v pesku.

Najlepše pa je današnji dan opisal Ari Vatanen, ki vozi tovarniški Nissan Pick Up: »Potreben sem pijače! Zelo sem užival, nisem pa milslil, da bo v sipinah tako vroče. Tukaj je malce drugače kot na Finskem, kjer sneži.

Jutri tekmovalce čaka 345 kilometrov dolga etapa s štartom in ciljem v oazi Siwa, kjer ima svojo počitniško rezidenco tukajšnji šejk Zayed Bin Hamdan.

Rezultati moto: 1. Despres (KTM, Fra), Cox (KTM, Jar), 3. Dabrowski (KTM, Pol),…

Rezultati avto: 1. De Villers/Francois (Nissan, Jar), 2. De Mevious/Alan (BMW, Bel), 3. Biasion/Siviero (Mitsubishi, Ita),…

Peter kavčič

Vir: stanovnik.com

UAE 2003 1st stage

22.10.2003

Abu Dhabi - Liwa Oasis / Total 493 km / SS 318 km

DESPRES ON TARGET FOR FIM WORLD TITLE, ROMA OUT

No warm up on this short rallye, the race started with a first special stage of 318 km consisting of sandy tracks and dunes. It is extremely hot with temparatures up to 50°C, so this first day was already very demanding for riders and bikes. After taking it easy at yesterday’s prologue, Cyril Despres and Joan Roma started from the back of the field this morning.

Despres could win the stage with a 5 minute advantage in front of Alfie Cox who had started further in front this morning. Despres takes now an early lead in the FIM section after winning the stage.

"My plan of starting from the back is working," said the defending champion. "It was not a problem passing the other riders. It feels strange when you are ahead of the field and you see no-one. I want to win this race and I am full of confidence."

"I was a little worried about the temperature of my motor when the gauge started flashing," said FIM championship contender Marek Dabrowski, who was first across the stage finish line today and is third overall. "I slowed down for a while to see if everything was okay."

Nani Roma who came here to fight for the World Championship has to bury his hopes after the first day. He was struggeling with an old hand injury already in Egypt, but hoped that he could last these four days in Dubai even if he has to ride in pain. Today he hit a stone and got a hard shock on his arm which braught the tendinitis in his right arm back worse than ever. He finished the stage in 8th position which shows that he wasn’t able to push anymore. Under these circumstances Nani reluctantly decided not to continue but to concentrate on getting fit again for Dakar instead.

Tomorrow the first bike will start at 06.00 a.m. for the second 467 km stage.

(Foto: desertchallenge.com)

[Noise]

PS: Med tekmovalci ni Meonija... :BUA:

[D.J.]

stanovniku zaribal.... :o , me prov zanima točna okvara

še slikca organizatorja, ujet na baji Italia

[gidl]

A da KTM tud lahko zariba....to pa nism vedu... :devil:

[-pero-]

Vir: stanovnik.com

...zelo lepo stran ma tale stanovnik, ...poleg tega da ma grafično dobr narjeno, je tud ful velik materjala gor o veliko ralleyih in v galeriji ma zelo veliko hi-res lepih fotk (za wallpaper :D )

[Noise]

Dabrowski res ful dober fura... Če se bo odločil za fabriško ekipo, se ga bodo morali vsi paziti...

Škoda tudi, da Miran noče "v fabriko"... :(

[-pero-]

...zakaj pa noče :hmm:

[D.J.]

verjetno je težko po toliko letih spremeniti življenjski stil, pustiti službo, motociklizem kot hobby (čeprav pri njemu zelo resen)

verjetno tudi sam ve, da je bolje kot privatnik skakati v zelje profijem, kot biti med profiji na njihovem repu

mislim pa, da bo Stanovnikov sodobnik segel tudi v te vode, če bo volja

Miran je naredil veliko in še več, njegovi uspehi so za platinasto ploščo in upam, da bomo še kdaj kako skupno furo užgali, tut če nam bo bolj v avspuhe gledu - ane gidl :D

(smo vsaj bol atraktivni, ko na kako bencinsko uletimo)

[gidl]

Škoda tudi, da Miran noče "v fabriko"...

Ma dej nehi no....kter voznik pa noče no, jaz po desetih letih šreufanja v različnih moto športih še nism sreču enga pilota ki nebi šu če se mu to ponudi....NEMORE...če se mene vpraša.

[Filip111]

Kaj če dirkaš za fabriko pol moreš izpolnjevat določene obveznosti (kot v u.s.a.) kot so npr. da se ne smeš dajat intervjujev, nastopat u reklamah, nastopat v filmih, kupit konkurenčen motor, če ti to ne odobri fabrika?

[Noise]

Ma dej nehi no....kter voznik pa noče no, jaz po desetih letih šreufanja v različnih moto športih še nism sreču enga pilota ki nebi šu če se mu to ponudi....NEMORE...če se mene vpraša.

A bi ti pustil takšno službo, kot jo ima on in se 100% predal le enemu - tovarniški ekipi voznikov. Za vedno. Vložek je, če mene vprašaš, prevelik. Ena sama poškodba te ustavi za vedno, kaj pa potem?

A pustimo to za kakšno drugo temo. :topic: UAE Desert Challenge se nadaljuje... :yea2:

[Noise]

Stanovnik med gledalci, Alfie Cox najhitrejši na "sipinski" etapi, Despres v skupnem vodi

U.A.E. Desert Challenge 2003

22.10. – 2.etapa

Despres in Peterhansel v vodstvu, Stanovnik med gledalci

Miran Stanovnik, je na letošnjem puščavskem izzivu odstopil zaradi uničenega motorja. Potem, ko je reševalna ekipa ob drugi uri zjutraj pripeljala motocikle v tabor, je ob ponovnem pregledu ugotovil, da okvare ne more popraviti, pri KTM-u pa niso imeli na voljo nadomestnega motorja. Puščavski lisjak, se je tako pridružil svojim navijačem, ki ga spremljajo na tem rallyju in opazuje tekmece kot gledalec.

Svoj prost dan je komentiral takole: »Zame je to nekaj povsem novega, saj sem rally v Združenih Arabskih Emiratih do sedaj vedno končal. V življenju je vsaka stvar za nekaj dobra in če mi je bilo usojeno, da odstopim, moram to pač sprejeti. Ta rally je zame le trening, najpomebnejši je Dakar, ki se bo začel prvega januarja 2004. Pomembno je, da sem videl kje so moji konkurenti in kako hitro se lahko peljejo po puščavi. Zavedam se, da je na dakarju rezultat okrog 10 mesta uresničljiv, z nekaj sreče pa lahko priplezam še višje. Danes smo se s Toyotami Land Cruiser navozili po sipinah in iz neposredne bližine spremljali rally. Saj ni slabo, čeprav bi veliko raje dirkal«.

Na vrhu med motoristi sicer poteka ogorčan boj med Cyrilom Despressom in Alfijem Coxom (oba vozita tovarniški Gauloises KTM 660). Slednji je priznal, da lahko zmaga le, če Despresa, ki se s Poljakom Marekom Dabrowskim bori za naslov svetovnega prvaka, ustavi okvara motorja, hud padec ali navigacijska napaka.

Med avtomobili je današnji dan prinesel odstop treh favoritov. De Villiers in Vatanen (oba vozita tovarniški Nissan Pick-Up) sta obtičala z uničenim menjalnikom, lokalni dirkač Khalifa El Moutawi, pa je pri skoku čez sipino uničil tovarniški BMW X5 raid. Nekdanji svetovni prvak v rallyju, Miki Biasion se je na hitrostni preizkušnji s Pajerom EVO prevrnil, a je lahko nadaljeval, saj je avto le kozmetično preoblikoval. Luc Alphand, nekdanji smukač se je po včerajšnjih težavah s sklopko (vozi tovarniški BMW X5 Raid) ponovno ubadal s tehničnimi težavami in ostaja na dirki le zaradi testnih namenov za Dakar 2004.

Z etapno zmago je Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi Pajero EVO) prevzel vodstvo. V dvoboju Med Carlosom Souso (Mitsubishi Pick-Up) in Jean-Louis Schlesserjem (Ford buggy) za naslov svetovnega prvaka, pa zaenkrat kaže bolje Sousi, ki v umirjenem tempu nič ne tvega.

Jutri bo na vrsti najtežja, 359,6 kilometrov dolga tretja etapa z velikimi sipinami in zahrbtnimi peščenimi pastmi.

Rezutlati po drugi etapi

Moto: 1. Despres (Fra, KTM), 2. Cox (JAR, KTM), 3. Dabrowski (Pol, KTM),….

Avto: 1. Peterhansel/Cottret (Fra, Mitsubishi), 2. De Mevious/Geuhennec (Bel, BMW), 3. Sousa/Magne (Por, Mitsubishi),…

Peter Kavčič

Vir: stanovnik.com

UAE 2003 2nd stage

22.10.2003

Liwa - Liwa / Total 467 km / SS 388,50 km

COX CATCHES UP, DESPRES DEFENDS OVERALL LEAD

Today’s special could carry the name "Ride through a million and one dunes". Cyril Despres was the first to take off at 6.30 this morning on this very challenging sand stage. He had a hard job opening the pist but did excellent losing not too much time. "It’ s really hot out there and the sun is very hard also on my eyes. I have suffered the whole day from a headache and it’s tough riding. I’m happy I did not lose more time today."

Alfie Cox was starting second and could catch up fast on Despres. He won the stage and could shorten his time difference on Cyril. Tomorrow he will have to start first which normally is no advantage, but we will see what he can make out of it.

Marek Dabrowski tried hard today but made some navigation error, otherwise he could probably have won the special stage. His team mate Jacek Czachor found a good way through the dunes and passed Andy Caldecott who made his first experience in this terrain and was struggling a bit in the deep sand. The Norvegian Pal Anders Ullevalseter is back again after the injury he suffered from the Tunesia Rallye in April this year. He seems to be in good shape and was the only one complaining today that there were not enough dunes...

Tomorrow, another loop with a lot of sand again will bring the riders back to the Liwa Oasis one more time, before the rallye will be heading back to Dubai on Friday.

(Foto: stanovnik.com)

[Noise]

Despres se bliža naslovu svetovnega prvaka

UAE 2003 3rd stage

23.10.2003

Liwa - Liwa / Total 435 km / SS 360 km

ONE STEP TO VICTORY LEFT FOR DESPRES

If it was a million and one dunes yesterday, then it was a million and two today. An extremely tough stage for the competitors with tricky navigation, endless dune crossings and soft sand. These features plus the heat made it difficult for the riders, and even the fittest like Cyril Despres admitted that this stage was extremely hard on the body.

Alfie Cox did a good job today opening the pist, but it was clear that once he goes into the dunes the following riders will catch up fast following his tracks. Cyril Despres, Marek Dabrowski and Jacek Czachor had caught Cox after 200 km and they rode more or less together until the finish. Despres started 6 Minutes behind Cox, and catching up those 6 Minutes gives him now a comfortable 10 Minute overall lead in front of Cox.

The men of the day were Marek Dabrowski and Pal Anders Ullevalseter, who both gave a fantastic performance through this difficult stage and proved their skills with a second and third position today. Andy Caldecott had another learning session in the dunes, and Francois Flick lost some time after having a crash over a dune hurting his nose. The local hero Dave McBride was doing well on his modified 525 EXC, but suffered from some technical problems in the last section which forced him to slow down.

Tomorrow’s last stage will take the competitors back to Dubai, and Cyril Despres is hoping to finish this race as a winner and World Champion.

(Foto: H. Peuker // KTM Press)

[Noise]

Despres svetovni prvak!

UAE 2003 4th stage

Liwa - Dubai / Total 532 km / SS 393 km

RALLYE VICTORY AND WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE FOR DESPRES

As souvereign as he did on the last days, Cyril Despres rode also on the last day and finalised his victory in the UAE Desert Challenge 2003. This title is even more important to him as it makes him also Cross Country Rallye World Champion. "It is fantastic for me to win the World Championship. I did not think that would be possible after breaking my collarbone. It was the best Desert Challenge ever for me. A great route and quality competition, who pushed me all the way" said Despres who couldn’t hide tears of relief and happiness at the finish line.

Alfie Cox didn’t stop trying until the end, but Cyril Despres had a too big time advantage which was impossible to make up on the last day. Alfie says "I took about four minutes from Cyril today, but it was not enough. He is a great rider and I take my hat off to him. It was only my second race after breaking my shoulder on the Dakar and a good test for me."

A great performance of the privateers of the Polish Orlen Team Marek Dabrowski and Jacek Czachor. They had ridden constantly throughout the race and showed what is possible with a KTM Rally Replica bike. Especially Marek Dabrowski had a great rallye season and is more than happy. "I started crying two kilometers from the end of the stage, because I knew I had finished second in the World Championship. My dream was a top six position. I’m so happy!"

Pal Anders Ullevalseter was lucky and unlucky at the same time. His bike stopped 100 yards in front of the finish and he had to push it over the finish line. He was given an ovation by the crowd for his determination to reach the finish.

Andy Caldecott had mixed emotions after arriving at the finish. "It is nice to reach the finish, but I wish I could have ridden a bit quicker in the dunes. It was great experience for me for my first Dakar. Now I need to attract some more support, because Dakar is not so well known in Australia."

As a resume there is to say that the UAE Desert is a well organised event with challenging routes through marvellous desert landscapes, a great pleasure for all rallye riders. And: The Desert is orange - also in the UAE!

[Max]

U.A.E. Desert Challenge 2003

...»Zame je to nekaj povsem novega, ...«.

...

Jah, ne cist neki novega, ce gledamo, kako mu je na Dakarju ze motocikel :blink: zgorel :ph34r:

[Noise]

U.A.E. Desert Challenge 2003

...»Zame je to nekaj povsem novega, ...«.

...

Jah, ne cist neki novega, ce gledamo, kako mu je na Dakarju ze motocikel :blink: zgorel :ph34r:

Tisto je bila Husa in ni bilo na prvi etapi... :(