Rally Dakar 2012

How did other BMW Brands Finish Dakar

FYI, in case you did not know, BMW owns Husqvarna Motorcycles. They do not own the Husqvarna Group which is the world's largest producer of outdoor power products including chainsaws, trimmers, lawn mowers and garden tractors.

Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain earns six podium finishes

The Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain offers a positive summary of the recent Rally Dakar. Four out of five riders reached the finish in Lima. This debut result is highly encouraging for the team and the Husqvarna brand, as the new bike proved its worthiness right away - completing the race without a single technical failure.

The highlights were six podium finishes and one stage victory. This was part of the initial objective, which the team had targetted for the Dakar 2012. The team was consistenly fast with two riders regularly up front - even if the aim to put one pilot on the overall podium couldn´t be fulfilled.

The outstanding motivation of the team was tested with the jury decision against Paulo Goncalves. Also, Joan Barreda experienced bad luck during the stages three and four, when the talented Spaniard suffered from a crash and a broken rear wheel, which costed him a lot of valuable time. Barreda couldn´t make up the loss until the race end.

"Joan has the speed to run with the two best riders in the race," says team principal Wolfgang Fischer. "His stage results definitely give proof and he would have deserved to stand on the overall podium". Paulo Goncalves was most likely a top five finisher in Lima, if not for the incompehensible jury decision.

By the way: Joan Barreda was by many considered the revelation of this year´s Dakar. He was matching the speed of the top riders and is regarded as a man of the future.

Jose Manuel Pellicer performed as an excellent team addition. He was always there when needed, i.e. helping Barreda out of his rear wheel problem. Pellicer was a last-minute replacement, but he nevertheless integrated himself seemlessly into the team and earned everybody´s respect right away. Zé Hélio rode a steady race to finish inside the top twenty. His final result shows the depth of the field. Each year the Dakar becomes more and more competitive, especially at the front.

The Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain would like to use the opportunity and thank all sponsors and fans worldwide, who virtually followed the team throughout this spectacular race.

Finally, the team would like to extend the very best wishes to Ike Klaumann, their fifth rider. The Brazilian is on his way to a full recovery, after having to quit the race following a crash. The team returns home on Tuesday after the podium ceremony, where preparations for the new season will go underway.

Final standings
1. Cyril Despres (FRA) KTM 43:28:11 hrs
2. Marc Coma (SPA) KTM, 53:20 min behind
3. Helder Rodrigues (POR) Yamaha, 1:11:17
4. Jordi Viladoms (SPA) KTM, 1:40:56
5. Stefan Svitko (SVK) KTM, 1:47:28
11. Joan Barreda (SPA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 3:37:25
19. Zé Hélio (BRA) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 6:16:35
23. Jose Manuel Pellicer (SPA), Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 7:41:09
26. Paulo Goncalves (POR) Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 8:10:26

Manufacturer´s/Team statistics, podium finishes
1. KTM, 27
2. Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain, 6
3. Yamaha, 2
3. Sherco, 2
5. Aprilia, 1
5. Honda, 1

more information: speedbrain - Offroad Racing

 

As they say may the best man win, well he did.

Stephane Peterhansel & his MINI kicked Robby Gordon's butt.

 

Yep.....clearly against the rules. Sounds like the previous race scrutineers simply didn't catch the infraction, or didn't fully understand the system.

 

And he lost anyway...

 

Robby this one is for you.

 

Thanks for that - emptying the excess air pressure from the tyres after the restrictor does seem like it could be a technical infringement. Though pretty clearly, it isn't an effective way of increasing airflow into the engine, as it has to go via an inflater and the tyres, so all the stuff Gordon said sounds entirely justified.

 

Agreed, as Robby proved by plugging it and winning by 15 minutes.

 

So Robbie got screwed?

 

Let me just say this. It is not the first time by a long shot that the FIA has gone out of its way to favor a french driver.
- Explain Despres getting his time back for being stuck in the mud, AFTER Coma had successfully navigated the same section.
- Anyone see "Senna"?

 

So a lowly American in a now basically defunct American brand, a Hummer, actually outran the best BMW and everyone else had to offer?

Priceless.:cornut:

 

Yes and no. He certainly outran them, but then the two cars are not built to the same rules. However I just cannot work out how the Dakar rules work so I can't give chapter and verse. The Hummer gets in as it complies with SCORE rules, whereas the Mini/BMW was built to Dakar rules.

The 'Hummer' (is that because that's where it's engine came from?) is a naturally-aspirated 6.0 litre petrol/gas V8, while the BMW is a 3.0 litre (twin) turbocharged diesel straight-6. You tell me which of those should be faster - I don't think it's obvious. I think the Hummer has to have a marginally smaller restrictor plate. As a SCORE car, the Hummer is allowed about twice the suspension travel of the BMW and that was obviously a big factor at top speed.

Given the huge technical differences between them, it's surprising they were as close as they were.

 

Do you think it is possible that Peterhansel backed off once he knew Gordon would be disqualified? I sure do, why would he race someone who was sure to lose his appeal?

 

ummmm........NO