They’re off!!

Don Hatton, of Canada’s best international motorcycle racers has started the 2010 edition of the Dakar race!

After finishing scrutineering on December 29 Don’s KTM was held in the “Parc Ferme”. Parc Ferme a secured area for all the vehicles so that the competitors cannot make any adjustments or modifications once the vehicle has been through technical inspection. 

This morning as Don is waiting to cross the start line podium the bike beside his, the number 73 bike of Javier Pizzolito of Argentina, caught fire. Don had to run with his bike to escape the area as he feared Pizzolito’s Honda might explode.

The fire department responded and put out the fire. We have no information regarding injuries or if Pizzolito will be able to compete in the rally or not.

The randomness of the fire reminds us of the innumerable risks involved in racing Dakar. On top of racing accidents like Don’s Dakar 2009 crash there are all the regular hazards of riding a motorcycle in a foreign country: animals running out in front of you, pedestrians, drivers not paying attention to where you are, road conditions, etc. And all these risks increase as the race progresses and the riders become more and more fatigued.

For more information and photos check out http://www.destinationdakar.ca

Dakar Racing Factoid – things you might not know or thought of:

The competitors, mostly private entrants with no factory or team support, sleep in tents in the bivouac each night during the rally. They will average only 4 to 6 hours sleep per night in a very noisy, dusty environment. The Dakar is an endurance rally in the truest sense as the competitors become sleep deprived over 14 days of racing.