RE: PH2: Despres takes Dakar (just)

[martynr]

jp-speed-triple said:

No excuse for either incident by the competitors...the real taint/shame is with the organisers, with both incidents on record by their own film crews....not to mention the 'technical' breach discovered in Gordon's airbox....despite it being unchanged from previous Dakar or 2012 scrutineering.

I've lost a lot of respect for ASO and the Dakar this year....shame as I've been an addict for as long as I can remember.

This year was all about a double french victory and it blows. You'd think it was an election year over there or something.

Now, where's my baguette?

+1
I am not upset, just disappointed.

[Denorth]

meanwhile, there was a 4th Rally Raid in Africa (some call it 'a proper Dakar').
Top three:

1.Jean-Louis Schlesser (F) / Cyril Esquirol (F) Schlesser Buggy 38.21.35
2.Tomas Tomecek (CZ) / Vojtech Moravek (CZ) TATRA +2.58.00
3.Jacques Loomans (B) / Frits Driesmans (B) Overdrive Amarok +4.02.22

The route: Saint Cyprien (France) - Dakar (who would've guessed)

[HereBeMonsters]

He probably heard about my loss of the 2001 Rally of Nigeria because I stopped to help some Frenchmen who had become stuck.
If I hadn't stopped I literally would have won. As it was I came 4th, and didn't even get a word of thanks from them. The bds.

[Shurv]

I also think that the French run event assisted the French car and bike winner ( funny that) and it was a terrible show of poor sportmanship,the worst I've seen for a long time.Despres asking for assistance from, the other rider stuck in the mud then clearing off before returning the help was nothing short of disgusting. He didn't deserve to win for that alone.On top of that they changed the rules on the hoof and cancelled out his delay, WTF!!!!. Then with Peterhansel knocking over the biker in the river crossing, submerging the bloke's bike and ruining his race was just as bad,but he got NO penalty. Watching the French rugby players in the recent Rugby World Cup "diving" to get penalties was also a poor show of French "cheating".It shows the French have no sporting morals nor any dignity.I actually admire the French populations beligerence, but, in sport, how ever much cash is involved, should still be sport. Winning at all costs, and blatant cheating is demeaning and frankly pathetic.