Dakar Rally 2021

LungButter
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LungButter
Edited Date/Time 1/15/2021 3:00pm
Starts in 10 days. Gotta be some guys around here who want to talk about it.....

Biggest motorsports event in the world and we FINALLY have an American running the #1 plate! Well, 2 if you count Casey Currie and his golf cart. Tongue

I for one am pumped! Anybody got some intel, photos etc. etc.

It's Dakar time!
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RichieW13
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RichieW13 12/23/2020 9:24am
12/23/2020 9:24am
I was just thinking about this the other day and wondering if the event was happening this year. I guess it is!

Looks like 3 American bikes entered: Ricky Brabec, Andrew Short and Skyler Howes.

https://www.dakar.com/en/competitors

Looks like Casey Currie isn't entered in the "Lightweight Vehicle" class. But there are three other teams with Americans.
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gt80rider
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gt80rider 12/23/2020 9:26am
12/23/2020 9:26am
Best of luck to Shorty!!! dude keeps on hauling!
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Titan1
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Titan1 12/23/2020 9:30am
12/23/2020 9:30am
I follow it every year. I love the race.

Skyler Howes is a local boy...so having him racing makes it that much more interesting and fun to follow for me. I really hope he can improve on last years 9th overall...I don't know what it takes to get factory support at that race...but if he doesn't deserve it I don't know who does....
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robotsfrom
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robotsfrom 12/23/2020 9:31am
12/23/2020 9:31am
I'm excited to see how Shorty does on the Yamaha.

Also ready for Ricky to repeat! The guy is an animal and the new video Monster just put out on him is must watch.
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LungButter
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LungButter 12/23/2020 9:49am
12/23/2020 9:49am
Titan1 wrote:
I follow it every year. I love the race. Skyler Howes is a local boy...so having him racing makes it that much more interesting and fun...
I follow it every year. I love the race.

Skyler Howes is a local boy...so having him racing makes it that much more interesting and fun to follow for me. I really hope he can improve on last years 9th overall...I don't know what it takes to get factory support at that race...but if he doesn't deserve it I don't know who does....
I hear ya, seems like it's somewhat of a "good ol' boys club" to get on the big teams, especially the Austrian ones. Maybe someday more of our guys can make that happen, it seems pretty damn clear that guys who grow up racing the Deserts of America are well equipped for Dakar success.....

Jimmy Lewis, Jonah Street, Chris Blais, Kurt Caselli, Ricky Brabec, Skyler Howes.....all of these guys have been able to jump in to Dakar/Rally Racing and put in solid results.

Brabec has talked about it quite a bit, half the battle in doing good in Dakar/Rally is just being able to afford race and have the support to get to the race.

I hope Skyler can top 10 again!

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Xeno
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Xeno 12/23/2020 10:14am
12/23/2020 10:14am
Hey LungButter- don't forget Johnny's 8th place overall in 2001. He raced through Africa on a stock XR650R backed by Franco Acerbis. How stock was the bike? Take a look at the muffler...


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LungButter
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LungButter 12/23/2020 10:20am
12/23/2020 10:20am
Xeno wrote:
Hey LungButter- don't forget Johnny's 8th place overall in 2001. He raced through Africa on a stock XR650R backed by Franco Acerbis. How stock was the...
Hey LungButter- don't forget Johnny's 8th place overall in 2001. He raced through Africa on a stock XR650R backed by Franco Acerbis. How stock was the bike? Take a look at the muffler...


Good call! I actually completely forgot about that!

I just can't help but think that we some focus, training and help from a younger age for some of our Desert Rats that we could see some US dominance in Dakar. Our boys are CLEARLY more than comfy with holding it pinned through the Desert!
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SydAus
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SydAus 12/23/2020 12:06pm
12/23/2020 12:06pm
Being an Aussie it’s exciting to have a fit and healthy Toby Price lining up. Looking forward to seeing how Daniel Sanders goes in his rooky Dakar as well.
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LungButter
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LungButter 12/23/2020 12:20pm
12/23/2020 12:20pm
A few changes this year that could be interesting....

Riders are limited to 6 sets of tires for the Rally, meaning each set needs to go 2 days.

Limited to 1 piston change for the event without penalty.

Roadbooks will be given out 25 minutes before the start of each special every day.

Riders are required to wear an air bag vest/chest protector.
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Mr. Info
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Mr. Info 12/23/2020 12:34pm
12/23/2020 12:34pm
They leave for the race on Christmas Day. Spoke with Johnny Campbell and he said the team is ready. Talked about the mental side of it and the target on Ricky,s back and what they want to accomplish the first week and around day 8 or 9 where they want to be. Great talk and interesting strategy.
Bike and crew are very important but the mental side just as much. Wishing them all a safe trip and safe race and hope for another victory.
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7I3N
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7I3N 12/23/2020 6:22pm
12/23/2020 6:22pm
Titan1 wrote:
I follow it every year. I love the race. Skyler Howes is a local boy...so having him racing makes it that much more interesting and fun...
I follow it every year. I love the race.

Skyler Howes is a local boy...so having him racing makes it that much more interesting and fun to follow for me. I really hope he can improve on last years 9th overall...I don't know what it takes to get factory support at that race...but if he doesn't deserve it I don't know who does....
Skyler is on much better equipment this year. Expect good things from him.


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Johnny Ringo
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Johnny Ringo 12/23/2020 6:32pm
12/23/2020 6:32pm
Rooting for all the Americans and hope everyone gets through it safely!
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Titan1
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Titan1 12/23/2020 6:38pm
12/23/2020 6:38pm Edited Date/Time 12/23/2020 9:38pm
Titan1 wrote:
I follow it every year. I love the race. Skyler Howes is a local boy...so having him racing makes it that much more interesting and fun...
I follow it every year. I love the race.

Skyler Howes is a local boy...so having him racing makes it that much more interesting and fun to follow for me. I really hope he can improve on last years 9th overall...I don't know what it takes to get factory support at that race...but if he doesn't deserve it I don't know who does....
7I3N wrote:
Skyler is on much better equipment this year. Expect good things from him. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/12/23/467612/s1200_Screenshot_2020_12_23_Skyler_Howes_skylerhowes110_Instagram_photos_and_videos.jpg[/img]
Skyler is on much better equipment this year. Expect good things from him.


That’s good to hear!

And you’re in St George right? He’s really local to you!
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dean122
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dean122 12/23/2020 10:23pm
12/23/2020 10:23pm Edited Date/Time 12/24/2020 8:57am
My brother is friends of friends with Brabec and hangs out at his place occasionally. This is my niece in Brabecs garage with his Dakar 2020 trophy. My bro told me Ricky has been MIA the last month or so most likely going full prep for Dakar. I can't wait to see him and the team rising the bar and hope he can bring it home again!
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timobijnen84 12/24/2020 12:36am
12/24/2020 12:36am
The Bas Dakar team is less then a mile away from my home so i have followed their progress every year. They where racing really good last year with Ross.

My boss is also participating with the trucks. He got 9th last year while this happened in the 8th etappe.

and they built a new truck this year and are hoping to end in the top 5.

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7I3N
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7I3N 12/24/2020 6:48am
12/24/2020 6:48am
Titan1 wrote:
I follow it every year. I love the race. Skyler Howes is a local boy...so having him racing makes it that much more interesting and fun...
I follow it every year. I love the race.

Skyler Howes is a local boy...so having him racing makes it that much more interesting and fun to follow for me. I really hope he can improve on last years 9th overall...I don't know what it takes to get factory support at that race...but if he doesn't deserve it I don't know who does....
7I3N wrote:
Skyler is on much better equipment this year. Expect good things from him. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/12/23/467612/s1200_Screenshot_2020_12_23_Skyler_Howes_skylerhowes110_Instagram_photos_and_videos.jpg[/img]
Skyler is on much better equipment this year. Expect good things from him.


Titan1 wrote:
That’s good to hear!

And you’re in St George right? He’s really local to you!
Yeah and it's a small town. I know Skyler well. I ran into his dad at the store yesterday. He's the one that told me how good his bike and team is this year.
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Stuntman949
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Stuntman949 12/24/2020 7:22am
12/24/2020 7:22am
Watching all the videos KTM and Red Bull have been putting out, those guys are eager to get the W back from the wing. I don't care who wins as long as its an American! jk
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mayzo
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mayzo 12/24/2020 5:49pm
12/24/2020 5:49pm
Go Tp87, he’s fit and health this year. No broken wrist to slow him down. Hold it on Tobz, let that mullet flap in the breeze.
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xrmark
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xrmark 12/24/2020 7:51pm
12/24/2020 7:51pm
Was working on the cell tower in dumont and saw brabec testing out in the dunes. Dude was ripping. Hope be brings it home again!
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Titan1
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Titan1 12/24/2020 8:09pm
12/24/2020 8:09pm
7I3N wrote:
Skyler is on much better equipment this year. Expect good things from him. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/12/23/467612/s1200_Screenshot_2020_12_23_Skyler_Howes_skylerhowes110_Instagram_photos_and_videos.jpg[/img]
Skyler is on much better equipment this year. Expect good things from him.


Titan1 wrote:
That’s good to hear!

And you’re in St George right? He’s really local to you!
7I3N wrote:
Yeah and it's a small town. I know Skyler well. I ran into his dad at the store yesterday. He's the one that told me how...
Yeah and it's a small town. I know Skyler well. I ran into his dad at the store yesterday. He's the one that told me how good his bike and team is this year.
I DNF’d the rhino rally back in 2015...and Skyler’s dad cruised up and hung out with me for a hour or so. Great guy!

And I ended up taking a one on one riding school with Skyler out at the Knolls a year or two later...learned a ton! (He is a great teacher)....lined up next to him a time or two on the expert line...I can always hang right with him....until the banner drops...lol. It’s really fun to see him perform so well on the world stage.
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LungButter
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LungButter 12/24/2020 9:43pm
12/24/2020 9:43pm
mayzo wrote:
Go Tp87, he’s fit and health this year. No broken wrist to slow him down. Hold it on Tobz, let that mullet flap in the breeze.
I wanna see Ricky win again but it’s hard not to cheer for TP as well. Seems like as good of a dude as they come and he flat rips a dirt scooter!
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stillwelding
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stillwelding 12/25/2020 9:17am
12/25/2020 9:17am
Hoping to see this Electric bike make some progress this year.


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philG
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philG 12/26/2020 3:33am
12/26/2020 3:33am
I stopped watching when they moved it to Saudi.. The Dakar needs to have some wanderlust, i understand why they moved it from Africa at that time, and the South American events were great, but its sold out IMO.

My mate rode the last one in South America, i didnt miss a minute of it all week, llve timing was edge of your seat stuff.
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Stuntman949
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Stuntman949 12/26/2020 11:34am
12/26/2020 11:34am
philG wrote:
I stopped watching when they moved it to Saudi.. The Dakar needs to have some wanderlust, i understand why they moved it from Africa at that...
I stopped watching when they moved it to Saudi.. The Dakar needs to have some wanderlust, i understand why they moved it from Africa at that time, and the South American events were great, but its sold out IMO.

My mate rode the last one in South America, i didnt miss a minute of it all week, llve timing was edge of your seat stuff.
I understand what you mean buy "sold out," but races like the Africa Eco race just don't have the magic and mystique
LungButter
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LungButter 12/26/2020 2:03pm
12/26/2020 2:03pm
7I3N wrote:
Skyler is on much better equipment this year. Expect good things from him. [img]https://p.vitalmx.com/photos/forums/2020/12/23/467612/s1200_Screenshot_2020_12_23_Skyler_Howes_skylerhowes110_Instagram_photos_and_videos.jpg[/img]
Skyler is on much better equipment this year. Expect good things from him.


He should be able to concentrate a lot more on riding this year rather than worrying about his bike I think.

Ross Branch won Stage 2 last year on a BAS KTM and landed himself a seat on Factory Yamaha this year, hopefully Skyler can do similar!
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