Dakar chiefs consider 2008 alternative

[Kartman]

Dakar chiefs consider 2008 alternative

6 hours ago

PRAGUE (AFP) — Dakar Rally organisers are considering a race through central Europe this spring to replace the event that was cancelled due to security concerns, the head of the Czech KM Racing Team told AFP on Monday.

"According to the information I received from my friends and Hungarian colleagues, ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation), are considering organising a competition in May to run through Hungary and Romania," said Pavel Kubicek.

"It would be a nice gesture to those who sacrificed a year of their lives in preparation for the 2008 Dakar," said the KM Racing chief, who added that Hungarian Balazs Szalay, the representative of ASO for central Europe had been pushing for several years for Budapest to host the start of the Dakar one day.

"In any case, it is impossible to compensate for the cancellation of the Dakar. It truly is a phenomenon, much more than just a rally."

KM Racing boasts three motorbike riders, David Pabiska, Dusan Randysek and Ivan Figura and Josef Machacek, four-time Dakar winner in the quad bike category.

The 2008 Dakar Rally had been due to start on Saturday in Lisbon, but the murder of four French tourists in Mauritania on December 24 led to the French government advising against any travel to the country and race organisers cancelling the 30th edition of the event.

[FlyHiFlyLo]

Little late for that now that they sent everyone home... That sucks...

[RGFan]

I understand there are major logistics involved, but everybody was already assembled, why not have something like that prepared before the race......Have a two or 3 week postponement to regroup and start the race somewhere else. Maybe have two or 3 routes leaving the starting point to help speed up the process, route a,b and c. Nice gesture, but seems a little late. How would that effect RGM/TDUSA. I wonder if at least Ronn's team would do it or if RG and Ronn/team are over it for this year. Kind of sounds like a way out of paying back massive refunds that the ASO owes to the teams. I would think this would piss off the teams at this point rather then smooth things over. There argument is going to be Robby's, why couldn't they do this from the start.

[PMAZ7]

Sounds like some type of cheap consolation door prize for anyone in the US to attend. Too little too late, but I realize it isn't the ASO trying to organize it either. To bad there isn't another sanctioning body that could step in and organize large scale rallies like this in the future. They (ASO) have proven to be quite a disappointment this time around.

[Big Hock]

Gee, you think this is a response to RG being so vocal about the cancellation over the last few days? Methinks so.

[spalind]

Sounds like a good way to subsidize the transport industry in Europe..."Hey everybody, bring your thousands of people and equipment here to Portuagal for our race...Ooops...its cancelled, now ship all your crap back home cause we won't be having a race....Oooops...we might be having a race now in a few months, why don't you put all your equipment on boats and trucks again and ship it to Eastern Europe..." Gimme a break...If the ASO wants to pay for the extra transport costs, fine...if not...

[randy s]

yessir. hungary and romania. just thinking about racing there conjures up visions of all the epic desert races of the past. please. i would'nt go there even if they had a desert to race in. too far, too cold, too little, too late,too bad. betcha the ASO is over. at this point, all i would want is my f--ckin' money back. those guys are makng a killing with everyones money just sitting somewhere on the interest alone. this might be turning into a crime in my mind. and there's nothing that can be done about it. wonder how long it'll take to get a check from those guys. i would'nt count on rolling entry fees over for next year. plus,what's to stop those dozen or so so-called terrorist from heading on up there?

[partybarge_pilot]

Sounds like a good way to subsidize the transport industry in Europe..."Hey everybody, bring your thousands of people and equipment here to Portuagal for our race...Ooops...its cancelled, now ship all your crap back home cause we won't be having a race....Oooops...we might be having a race now in a few months, why don't you put all your equipment on boats and trucks again and ship it to Eastern Europe..." Gimme a break...If the ASO wants to pay for the extra transport costs, fine...if not...

Due to the time and planning involved, I doubt anything is on a ship back home yet.

[spalind]

Due to the time and planning involved, I doubt anything is on a ship back home yet.

Maybe RG's...seeing as how they may never have gotten OFF the boat to begin with!!:D

[Kartman]

yessir. hungary and romania. just thinking about racing there conjures up visions of all the epic desert races of the past. please. i would'nt go there even if they had a desert to race in. too far, too cold, too little, too late,too bad.

Actually in may its about 80, great weather and gorgeous countries.