20th January 2009
The remainder of Front Row GB have today returned to the UK after the 2009 Dakar Rally in Argentina and Chile.
With two primary riders starting the rally, Jon Stamper unfortunately crashed heavily on Day 5 causing substantial damage to a recent injury sustained in Spain 8 weeks prior to the start of Dakar. Jon was unable to continue due to his injuries and would return early to the UK after assisting the remainder of the team to the rest day in Chile.
Stan Watt continued on his KTM690 maintaining a consistent pace but struggled with confidence in the bike for a few days after also crashing heavily on Day 5, injuring ligaments to his left knee. Towards the end of the rally, Stan started to pick up his normal pace pushing through a few days where luck wasn’t on his side and minor issues lost time throughout some stages.
Day 10 saw Stan pick up a 4 hour penalty on the final section to the bivouac where a number of riders missed a concealed waypoint. Stan’s situation differed to that of some riders who actually missed the waypoint. Stan’s bike took a 900ft drop over a sandy/rocky drop, damaging his GPS and Iritrack (amongst other items) locking the system some 100 metres from the concealed waypoint. In theory and in relation to official regulations, this is within the allocated radius to access the waypoint, the penalty was withdrawn by the motorcycle jury after 36hrs, but due to reasons yet to be confirmed was put back in place at the end of the rally, when the Team where unable to find the motorcycle officials to put in place an official protest.
There are a number of rumours why the penalty has been reinstated by the organisors but the Team are unable to confirm anything officially and are currently struggling to make contact with the official representatives now the Dakar has been completed. Stan finished 38th overall with the penalty in place and would be 21st overall if the penalty can be reversed. In addition on Day 11 Stan stopped to assist Francis Gadioux for 1hr who had sunk his KTM690 in the only ‘bog’ in Argentina. Again, with a reprieve, Stan would eventually have made it to 18th overall. All in all a disappointing state of affairs to finish the rally in 38th.
A great learning rally for the Team, we hope to get something together for Dakar 2010, which will be completely dependent on financial assistance.
We would like to apologise for the lack of communication from the Team throughout the rally due to sporadic internet access and would like to thank all those who have supported the team throughout and the fantastic messages put on the ‘blog’ , on our website and by email.
Many thanks to Jo Allen at Savvy and Victor for updating the blog throughout and all the support from sponsors and well-wishers and to Dave Marton, Gordon MacDonald and Stuart Walker who without, the bikes would never have got started never mind getting to the finish.
Commiserations to Jon but he will be back with a finish on the cards.
We will be back in action soon and maybe have some information with what will be happening in the next year. If anyone requires further information on Dakar 2009 or for that matter Front Row GB then just ask!
Best regards
Jon, Stan, Dave, Gordon and Stuart
The remainder of Front Row GB have today returned to the UK after the 2009 Dakar Rally in Argentina and Chile.
With two primary riders starting the rally, Jon Stamper unfortunately crashed heavily on Day 5 causing substantial damage to a recent injury sustained in Spain 8 weeks prior to the start of Dakar. Jon was unable to continue due to his injuries and would return early to the UK after assisting the remainder of the team to the rest day in Chile.
Stan Watt continued on his KTM690 maintaining a consistent pace but struggled with confidence in the bike for a few days after also crashing heavily on Day 5, injuring ligaments to his left knee. Towards the end of the rally, Stan started to pick up his normal pace pushing through a few days where luck wasn’t on his side and minor issues lost time throughout some stages.
Day 10 saw Stan pick up a 4 hour penalty on the final section to the bivouac where a number of riders missed a concealed waypoint. Stan’s situation differed to that of some riders who actually missed the waypoint. Stan’s bike took a 900ft drop over a sandy/rocky drop, damaging his GPS and Iritrack (amongst other items) locking the system some 100 metres from the concealed waypoint. In theory and in relation to official regulations, this is within the allocated radius to access the waypoint, the penalty was withdrawn by the motorcycle jury after 36hrs, but due to reasons yet to be confirmed was put back in place at the end of the rally, when the Team where unable to find the motorcycle officials to put in place an official protest.
There are a number of rumours why the penalty has been reinstated by the organisors but the Team are unable to confirm anything officially and are currently struggling to make contact with the official representatives now the Dakar has been completed. Stan finished 38th overall with the penalty in place and would be 21st overall if the penalty can be reversed. In addition on Day 11 Stan stopped to assist Francis Gadioux for 1hr who had sunk his KTM690 in the only ‘bog’ in Argentina. Again, with a reprieve, Stan would eventually have made it to 18th overall. All in all a disappointing state of affairs to finish the rally in 38th.
A great learning rally for the Team, we hope to get something together for Dakar 2010, which will be completely dependent on financial assistance.
We would like to apologise for the lack of communication from the Team throughout the rally due to sporadic internet access and would like to thank all those who have supported the team throughout and the fantastic messages put on the ‘blog’ , on our website and by email.
Many thanks to Jo Allen at Savvy and Victor for updating the blog throughout and all the support from sponsors and well-wishers and to Dave Marton, Gordon MacDonald and Stuart Walker who without, the bikes would never have got started never mind getting to the finish.
Commiserations to Jon but he will be back with a finish on the cards.
We will be back in action soon and maybe have some information with what will be happening in the next year. If anyone requires further information on Dakar 2009 or for that matter Front Row GB then just ask!
Best regards
Jon, Stan, Dave, Gordon and Stuart
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