Face to face
bike
The perennial outsider?
NUMBER 6: KTM – REPSOL REDBULL
Giovanni Sala (ITA)
For the small family formed by the close-knit Dakar elite, Giovanni Sala is simultaneously a good pal and “elder brother”. But the Italian does not instil fear in the hearts of the most competitive riders in the field. Due to the fact that he has not reproduced over the dunes the talent that made him so utterly dominant on the cross tracks, the four-time endurance world champion still numbers among the group of eternal outsiders. That said, the consistency he has displayed since first participating in 1998 still places him among the candidates for a place on the podium, perhaps even the top one…
On his second day of competition in the world’s biggest raid rally, Sala won his second special in Almeria. In 1999, it was at the end of the route, in Nouakchott, that he produced his best performance of the year, before finishing 7th in the overall ranking. In 2000, his January adventure ended with a fall during the fifth stage, but “Gio” keeps on making the trip in search of a place in the Top 10 (6th in 2002) or a couple of stage victories. Only at the 2004 event, out of which Sala limped with two broken ribs, has he failed to add a new entry to his list of honours.
Recruited in 2005 as official driver for KTM – Repsol, Sala will share the leadership of the team for the Dakar with Marc Coma and Carlo De Gavardo. The division of roles within the group will no doubt be fine-tuned over the first few days of the race. He is then likely to be designated as water-bearer deluxe, but that won’t prevent him from grabbing the odd stage victory or trying his luck in the overall ranking.
Giovanni Sala’s “Dakar” honours
1993 17th in overall ranking, Grenada – Dakar (1 special).
1994 7th in overall ranking, Grenada – Dakar (1 special).
1995 Abandoned on Stage 5, Dakar – Cairo
1996 14th in overall ranking, Paris – Dakar (2 specials)
1997 6th in overall ranking, Arras-Madrid-Dakar (2 specials)
1998 14th in overall ranking, Marseilles - Sharm-el-Sheikh (2 specials).
1999 Abandoned on Stage 6, Clermont-Ferrand – Dakar
2000 8th in overall ranking, Barcelona - Dakar
car
Giovanni Sala (ITA)
For the small family formed by the close-knit Dakar elite, Giovanni Sala is simultaneously a good pal and “elder brother”. But the Italian does not instil fear in the hearts of the most competitive riders in the field. Due to the fact that he has not reproduced over the dunes the talent that made him so utterly dominant on the cross tracks, the four-time endurance world champion still numbers among the group of eternal outsiders. That said, the consistency he has displayed since first participating in 1998 still places him among the candidates for a place on the podium, perhaps even the top one…
On his second day of competition in the world’s biggest raid rally, Sala won his second special in Almeria. In 1999, it was at the end of the route, in Nouakchott, that he produced his best performance of the year, before finishing 7th in the overall ranking. In 2000, his January adventure ended with a fall during the fifth stage, but “Gio” keeps on making the trip in search of a place in the Top 10 (6th in 2002) or a couple of stage victories. Only at the 2004 event, out of which Sala limped with two broken ribs, has he failed to add a new entry to his list of honours.
Recruited in 2005 as official driver for KTM – Repsol, Sala will share the leadership of the team for the Dakar with Marc Coma and Carlo De Gavardo. The division of roles within the group will no doubt be fine-tuned over the first few days of the race. He is then likely to be designated as water-bearer deluxe, but that won’t prevent him from grabbing the odd stage victory or trying his luck in the overall ranking.
Giovanni Sala’s “Dakar” honours
1993 17th in overall ranking, Grenada – Dakar (1 special).
1994 7th in overall ranking, Grenada – Dakar (1 special).
1995 Abandoned on Stage 5, Dakar – Cairo
1996 14th in overall ranking, Paris – Dakar (2 specials)
1997 6th in overall ranking, Arras-Madrid-Dakar (2 specials)
1998 14th in overall ranking, Marseilles - Sharm-el-Sheikh (2 specials).
1999 Abandoned on Stage 6, Clermont-Ferrand – Dakar
2000 8th in overall ranking, Barcelona - Dakar
Masuoka looking to bounce back
NUMBER 306 – MITSUBISHI
Hiroshi Masuoka (JAP) – Pascal Maimon (FRA)
As a driver, Hiroshi Masuoka is simultaneously discreet and spectacular. Renowned for his inexhaustible attacking temperament, he handles this paradox as assuredly as he does the steering wheel. For in spite of a certain kamikaze inclination that is rarely suited to the endurance disciplines, his is one of the most consistent personalities on the Dakar. This emblematic figure from the Mitsubishi company in Japan took part in his first all-terrain race in 1979 and made his Dakar debut in 1987… almost twenty years ago.
In 1990, he finished first in the T2 category, before taking fourth place in the overall ranking four years later. Between 1995 and 2000, he finished in the Top Ten on six occasions, the high points being two fourth spots in 1997 and 1998. The following season, he obtained good results with a Mitsubishi Pajero, before his hour of glory arrived in 2002, when he became only the second Japanese driver to add his name to the honours list of this prestigious rally, with the Mitsubishi Motors team. Hiroshi Masuoka proceeded to retain his title in 2003, the year when he also prevailed in the Baja Italy. In 2004, Japan’s best-performing Japanese driver completed a remarkable series of ten Dakar Top 10 finishes, including a runner-up spot behind his team-mate Stéphane Peterhansel in 2004.
In last year’s event, the metronome from the three diamonds firm experienced his first abandonment in the Dakar for almost fifteen years, due to engine trouble during Stage 10. It came as proof that even at “Mitsu”, the mechanics are not infallible.
Hiroshi Masuoka’s “Dakar” honours
1987 29th overall, Paris - Dakar
1990 10th overall, Paris - Dakar (1st in the T2 category)
1992 20th overall, Paris - Le Cap
1994 4th overall, Paris - Dakar
1995 10th overall, Grenada - Dakar
1996 6th overall, Grenada - Dakar
1997 4th overall, Dakar - Agades - Dakar
1998 4th overall, Paris - Grenada -Dakar
1999 6th overall, Grenada - Dakar
2000 6th overall, Dakar – Cairo in Mitsubishi Pajero
2001 2nd overall, Dakar in Mitsubishi Pajero
2002 1st overall, Arras - Dakar in Mitsubishi Pajero
2003 1st overall, Marseilles – Sharm-el-Sheikh
2004 2nd overall, Clermont-Ferrand - Dakar
2005 Abandoned on Stage 10, Barcelona - Dakar
Co-pilot: Pascal MAIMON (FRA)
First participation in 1988.
Winner of the Dakar in 2002 with H. Masuoka.
Dakar co-pilot of Bruno Saby (1992), Giniel De Villiers (2004) and Kenjiro Shinozuka (2005).
Hiroshi Masuoka (JAP) – Pascal Maimon (FRA)
As a driver, Hiroshi Masuoka is simultaneously discreet and spectacular. Renowned for his inexhaustible attacking temperament, he handles this paradox as assuredly as he does the steering wheel. For in spite of a certain kamikaze inclination that is rarely suited to the endurance disciplines, his is one of the most consistent personalities on the Dakar. This emblematic figure from the Mitsubishi company in Japan took part in his first all-terrain race in 1979 and made his Dakar debut in 1987… almost twenty years ago.
In 1990, he finished first in the T2 category, before taking fourth place in the overall ranking four years later. Between 1995 and 2000, he finished in the Top Ten on six occasions, the high points being two fourth spots in 1997 and 1998. The following season, he obtained good results with a Mitsubishi Pajero, before his hour of glory arrived in 2002, when he became only the second Japanese driver to add his name to the honours list of this prestigious rally, with the Mitsubishi Motors team. Hiroshi Masuoka proceeded to retain his title in 2003, the year when he also prevailed in the Baja Italy. In 2004, Japan’s best-performing Japanese driver completed a remarkable series of ten Dakar Top 10 finishes, including a runner-up spot behind his team-mate Stéphane Peterhansel in 2004.
In last year’s event, the metronome from the three diamonds firm experienced his first abandonment in the Dakar for almost fifteen years, due to engine trouble during Stage 10. It came as proof that even at “Mitsu”, the mechanics are not infallible.
Hiroshi Masuoka’s “Dakar” honours
1987 29th overall, Paris - Dakar
1990 10th overall, Paris - Dakar (1st in the T2 category)
1992 20th overall, Paris - Le Cap
1994 4th overall, Paris - Dakar
1995 10th overall, Grenada - Dakar
1996 6th overall, Grenada - Dakar
1997 4th overall, Dakar - Agades - Dakar
1998 4th overall, Paris - Grenada -Dakar
1999 6th overall, Grenada - Dakar
2000 6th overall, Dakar – Cairo in Mitsubishi Pajero
2001 2nd overall, Dakar in Mitsubishi Pajero
2002 1st overall, Arras - Dakar in Mitsubishi Pajero
2003 1st overall, Marseilles – Sharm-el-Sheikh
2004 2nd overall, Clermont-Ferrand - Dakar
2005 Abandoned on Stage 10, Barcelona - Dakar
Co-pilot: Pascal MAIMON (FRA)
First participation in 1988.
Winner of the Dakar in 2002 with H. Masuoka.
Dakar co-pilot of Bruno Saby (1992), Giniel De Villiers (2004) and Kenjiro Shinozuka (2005).