Tuesday, January 4, 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR! HAPPY NEW DAKAR!

It's the start of another new year and it's time for the TRAIL ZONE team to get back to the coal-face and get the next mag down the production line ... well, it is for some of us!

The past two weeks of holidays have roosted by in a blur of roast turkeys, beers, champs, eBay scouring (for Tenere artefacts, of course!) and way, way too little riding. Doh!

But hey, when January ticks over on the calendar it can only mean one thing -- Dakar! And right now Dakar 2011 is clicking top gear and really getting into the thick of the action.

Glenn Hoffmann's full Aussie GHR Honda Dakar team (see photo) is front and centre amongst all the dust and drama in Chile and Argentina, with young gun Safari ace Jacob Smith slowly but surely making his presence felt and climbing toward the top 20 outright placings in the moto division aboard his Honda CRF450X. Team-mates Warren Strange and Mark Davidson are also flying the Aussie flag high and proud -- although fourth GHR Honda team rider Simon Haslett was an early withdrawal after an emergency return home just after the start of the event.

To check out the GHR honda team's Dakar progress, make sure you view their blog page here:


Welsh-based transplanted Aussie Simon Pavey is also giving this year's Dakar a big nudge aboard a BMW G 450 X, and just three days into the race he's already had to deal with his share of minor hiccups. The likeable Aussie though is never without a smile and when things settle down and the going gets tough, look out for Simon to really get going!

To check out Simon's Dakar progress, make sure you view his blog page here:


And if you want a daily blast of more Aussie-oriented Dakar news from each night's bivouac, make sure you check out the blog from SBS TV reporter Jacob Black. Jacob is once again chasing the field and filing stories on the entire Aussie contingent, which also includes Bruce Garland and former moto-heroes Geoff Olholm and Steve Riley in the Auto divisions.

To check out Jacob's Dakar reports, make sure you view his blog page here:


Okay, looks like I better keep typing for the next eight hours or so and get some magazine stories done until the next broadcast of Dakar coverage comes up on SBS TV at 5.30 this arvo. Go the Aussies!

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