MOTORBIKES

Maintaining the over 450 ccs.
The over 450 ccs motorbikes will be allowed to take part in the 2006 Dakar.

Fuel range
Fuel range will change from 350 kms to 250 kms. The advantage of this reduction is that competitors will no longer be forced to fit a large tank. Since machines will be around 20 kgs lighter, bikes will be all the more manoeuvrable. In addition, more frequent refuelling halts, where 15-minute breaks will be respected, will enable longer recovery time.

Protections
Wearing back and front protections is now mandatory.



 CARS

For 2-wheel drives:
     • Wheel diameter is limited to 945 mm.
     • Automatic tyre inflation / deflation is authorized.
     • The 37.2 mm restrictor is maintained.



 ASSISTANCE VEHICLES

After redrafting the sporting regulations in 2005, this year the A.S.O. team will be tackling the reshaping of assistance regulations. More information will be released when the new Sporting Regulations get published in September 2005.



 SpeedoCap

This new item to check your speed is highly recommanded to all riders with a bike having a cubic capacity higher than 450 cc. It is essential for your safety on the fast African tracks thanks to an effective system of warning signal. It will enable you to control your progression and not to overpass the speed limit imposed by the regulations.

> SpeedoCap informations (.pdf, 30 Ko)



 What does Sentinel do ?

Sentinel is a safety horn made to help cars overtake motorcycles and slower moving cars in situations where it is difficult to pass without the co-operation of the vehicle in front. Its use began on the Tunisia 2004 rally and was generalized on all the rally-raids.
.
The recent years, a number of accidents have occurred between cars and motorcycles, sometimes with serious consequences - motorcycles have been destroyed in Africa and drivers have been killed in the USA. This situation is mainly caused by the fact that the motorcycle rider usually can’t hear the horn of the car behind them. Consequently, the rider is not conscious of being closely followed, sometimes until it’s too late!
In the same way, a car trying to pass another car in dust is often invisible in the mirrors of the car being overtaken. This tends to result in a jam that can last for a long time, and encourages off-track overtaking manoeuvres that risk a rollover!

Sentinel is linked to the horn of the car that wishes to pass. When the horn is sounded, Sentinel digitally transmits information to the target vehicle, at distances up to 150 meters in flat land. The pilot of the target vehicle is notified of the wish to pass both by sound (buzzer 110dB) and/or light (powerful flash 50 leds).
Cars and trucks can answer the following car by a short push on his own horn button. The driver of the following receives an acknowledgment of receipt (sound and/or light) that allows him to pass. For the motorbike’s driver concentration, no acknowledgment of receipt sending is needed. So the behaviour change of the motorcycle remains the key point to check that he has got the message.

To avoid serial accidents, Sentinel also has a powerful alarm function (that will be received up to 500 meters away in flat land) that warns all traffic that an accident has happened. Sound and/or light warnings will be received in all vehicles that arrive at the scene of the accident. This can be very helpful in case of a crash behind a dune, even though the transmission distance is likely to be reduced by the obstacle.



(Real size – Thickness : 30 mm)
Where can I install my Sentinel ?
All the information and drawings concerning the installation are going to be sent with your parcel. (Mounting bracket with rubber foam: 130 X 80 X 35 mm – Buzzer/Flash: Ø 54 mm X 40 mm)

Car-Truck: Mounting bracket: Roll-cage (top of windshield).		Buzzer and/or flash: Roll-cage or elsewhere..
Moto-Quad Mounting bracket: at front, in the fairing. (accessible to activate the alarm and visible so proper operation can be checked prior to each departure).		Buzzer and/or flash: Attached to the handlebar or the navigation panel

> CAR-TRUCK Order form
> MOTO-QUAD Order form



 Iritrack

IriTrack satellite monitoring is a new system which enables you to benefit from enhanced safety and is a real communication tool. It enables real-time monitoring of positions and tracking of competitors, thereby making it easier to follow the race.

The system responds to most situations which require vehicles or participants to be monitored in all parts of the world, including those not covered by telephone networks as in the desert. Clearing any doubt by voice phone questioning, alert following a violent shock, automatic transmission of alarms to the PC, satellite telephone, etc… a host of options making the system an indispensable tool for the Dakar.

IriTrack will be mandatory for all competitors in the race (included in the vehicle lump sum) and will replace satellite telephone (except for assistance).

IRITRACK and your safety

IriTrack enables you to transmit qualified information to the race PC in real time. If you come up against a problem, you can be pinpointed by the organization whom you can speak with remotely.

Fields of application are as follows:

• Triggering or requesting emergency help in case of a serious incident (you or another competitor).
• Signal a distress situation which might prevent you from continuing / or compromise your health.

With two possible modes:

• Transmission of an alarm and/or telephone contact with the race PC
• Automatic: if a brutal shock or a prolonged halt of the vehicle is detected, the system transmits an alarm message to the race PC indicating the competitor’s GPS position. With the telephone function, the race PC may contact him without any action on his part (automatic receiver pick-up and inbuilt microphone) to establish dialogue.

Your enhanced communication tool

The new system offers you the possibility of sharing your adventure with your close ones, friends and sponsors day by day. The “live race” features two modes.

• On the official race website under the IriTrack section, they can follow your progression in real time (updated every 30 minutes) and even relive your race while comparing it to those of other competitors.
  
  
• MEDIA + OPTION: In the near future, you will be offered a Media + option. This will include transmission of SMS messages, e-mail via Internet indicating your times at CPs, departure and arrival CHs, specials and bivouac. It will also be possible to extend the IriTrack application to your own personal site.