Dakar Argentina Chile Peru

This year, once again, the Dakar is full: 433 racing vehicles will take the start. 178 bikes and 30 quads among them! Nevertheless, there are important novelties for this 2012 edition. The Dakar starts in Mar del Plata, the famous and beloved beach of the Porteños – about 500 km South from Buenos Aires – before reaching the finish line in Peru´s capital city, Lima! So, today is Dakar´s huge party in Mar del Plata. The administrative and technical checks took place in the naval base for the last three days, right next to the beach; while about 210 000 people visited the Dakar Village. For this last day of 2011, the crowd received a singular present: a gigantic parade with all competitors crossing the podium located downtown. On bikes, outsiders are ready to go for the best place in the standings that Marc Coma and Cyril Despres have shared by turns for the last six years. Third of last year, Helder Rodrigues, and Cross Country Rally World Champion with Yamaha, is certainly the rider who will put constant pressure over the two KTM riders. David Casteu, now part of Yamaha France team will also give his best to take a position among the best, just as Olivier Pain, who had a fall in the last edition of the race. As Casteu freed his place at Sherco, Frans Verhoeven will take the handlebars of the brand. Chaleco Lopez, who shows an outstanding recovery after his accident in Tunisia´s Rally last year, will use all acquired wisdom in his Aprilia bike that has a new look with smaller fuel tanks that promise to be more performing. Husqvarna also shows up with a beautiful team with Paolo Conçalves and José Manuel Pellicer who replaces Frétigné that is still recovering from his accident in Brazil. Other stars from different two wheels´ disciplines will take part of the Dakar like Johnny Aubert and Mathieu Lagrive, who discovers this kind of race for the very first time! Tomorrow, January 1st 2012, the start of the first stage will be given at 5h45 a.m. for a… 820 km stage to reach Santa Rosa de la Pampa!