Team Front Row GB have returned from Dakar 2012 with Stan Watt completing the event in position 34th overall.The 8,500km South American event started on 1st January, racing through Argentina, Chile and finishng on 15th January in the Peruvian capital - Lima, with 2.5M spectators in the city of an 11M population.
Temperatures soared in the intial stages to over 50 celius causing a number of fueling issues for competitors and as the race moved through to Chile, temperatures plummeted to -5 through the Andes mountain range.
A steady start by Stan on the Crescent KTM 450RR found him dropping back from his 60th start position to as low as 87th on the initial short, day 1 stage.
Minor difficulties plagued the team and slowed any progress for the first half of the rally with fuelling problems in the excessive heat, top-end speed issues, jetting, suspension set-up but nothing that would have been a show stopper and realistically the Team were still trying to get a 'rally set-up' that could not be tested in the UK.
A patient attitiude and an excellent team ethos allowed Stan to improve on stage results in what was deemed to be a physical and technical rally by the half-way point and rest day.
With Stan's riding ability more attuned to long and fast rally racing, the technical capability required would have a lasting effect on the end result.
Stage statisitics proved that most ground was made on fellow competitors during the faster elements of the race and where navigation was paramount, with Stan progressing up to 24th overall and 17th on stage prior to a waypoint 'missed by all but 5 riders' was cancelled after complaints. Politics prevail!
The KTM 450RR proved to be an outstanding replacement for the 'super reliable' KTM 690RR now that full engine restricitions are fully in place, with the Team opting to run the same engine for the complete rally.
The support crew structure operated as planned with the fast response 4x4 backing Stan as close as possible and the primary 4x4 Mercedes truck carrying the big loads to each bivouac.
Although the end result didn't turn out as Stan wanted, there are a huge amount of positives to take away if another attempt was made for 2013.
Stan being 1 of only 9 riders that did not receive any penalties, navigation was superbly accurate, riding ability has improved well since 2009 and the supporting crew comng together, not only assisting Stan as a rider but also Dave Marton the primary technician.
A big thank you to all the support for Stan Watt and Front Row GB from across the globe, sponsors and family, it is all hugely appreciated and extremely important in assisting the Team reach its goal.
As a Team we have lot of people and companies to thank but here goes;
CRESCENT KTM
KTM UK
MOTORCYCLE NEWS
VOLTCOM GROUP
EDMONDSON RACING
MICHELIN
ADVENTURE SPEC
TALON ENGINEERING
MOTOREX
ARAI HELMETS
ALPINESTAR
MOTOTECH AUSTRALIA
MIKE DAVIS TOOLS
LEATT
KLIM CLOTHING
We would also like to thank the support crew for the many hours of hard work and long days driving the two vehicles in support of Stan Watt.;
Ivan Finkelstein
Keaton Allen
David Marton
Mark Wright
Derrick Edmondson
Front Row GB would also like to thanks all friends and family who have suffered quietly to make it all happen again.
Onwards and upwards for the rest of 2012
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