truck
A good way to start the raceWe got a lot of dust on the course because we caught up with the cars, so we had to be patient and sometimes wait for the dust to settle in order to get some visibility. But I hope to be in the Top 5 at the end, so this is a good way to start the race.
truck
I could have posted a better time...In the final part of the special I ran into the dust raised by Nikolaev and Loprais. I actually was right behind them before the final long straight, but I had to let them go because I could not see a thing. I could have posted a far better time, but I am very happy all the same.
truck
I hoped to start this wayI am happy to win the first stage, since I hoped to start the race this way. We will see how things go from here. This is just the first stage, only 60 km long, and the race is obviously still very long. But, because we are a young team, people are not so focused on us as they are on the other big teams, but I think they will keep an eye on us too from now on.
truck
Eduard NikolaevAudio in Russian
truck
The kind of special I likeA wonderful special: quite technical, not only fast, the kind of special I like! But the end of the special was actually quite fast and we caught up with some cars. But this is a new truck with new suspensions, so starting with a good time is very encouraging!
bike / audio
I was very careful...I did not get off to a very fast start this morning, since the first part of the special stage was quite tough, with all the dunes and all those spectators. Moreover, the first special of the Dakar is always more challenging, since you need to find your focus on the race, and the new GPS is somewhat smaller, so I really was very careful. Fortunately, the special's last 20 kilometres were very fast and I was able to drive much more aggressively.
bike / audio
I kept it cool at the beginning!I am happy to start, to ride my motorcycle, to see my roadbook and notes again... I just need to get used to it again... I took this special quite cautiously because there were a lot of potholes, fesh-fesh, dust... and spectators, so I kept it cool at the beginning!
bike / audio
A fantastic warm-up!Happy New Year, everyone! The first special was breathtaking: next to the seaside and with beautiful little dunes. It really was a fantastic warm-up. But we still have a long day ahead of us, with a lengthy liaison.
bike
The time to attack will come...A nice start to the race, with a short special which was quite technical due to the sand and the need to draw upon one's navigational skills. I rode strongly but carefully to make it here. Today is but the first day, the time to attack will come...
bike
A bug bit me again!The start of the special was awesome, with dunes on the seaside. Amazing! The special was beautiful, with technical sections, dunes and a fast finish. A good warm-up... But when I was crossing a river, next to a field, a bug bit me again, just under my cheek! I hope everything will be OK... You will see me deformed again... The first days of the Dakar are definitely not my lucky days!
car
This does not look good...We had an engine oil pressure loss and preferred to wait for Robby to tow us to the finish, since we did not want to damage the engine... We will see, but this does not look good... And, whatever happens, this is not a good way to start the Dakar!
car
A perfect day!Today's special was very short, so we put the pedal on the metal, especially in the sandy sector. We only found another car on the course, but I was able to overtake it without any problems. In short: a good result for a perfect day!
car
An excellent warm-upThe course was nice, with beautiful, large dunes on the seaside. Magnificent... Apart from that, we had a technical, somewhat humpy course with traces of the passing of the motorbikes, which created waves... But it was a great compromise to warm up, with a fast end of the special... All in all, an excellent warm-up!
car
I am concerned about Nasser...We were setting a fast pace until we saw Nasser stopped at the side of the special's course, less than 2 km from here, and I stopped to tow him. This has cost us some time, but I am especially concerned about him. We will make the exact diagnosis at the bivouac, but his car simply refuses to start. Perhaps there is a problem with the oil pressure, the petrol... I do not know.
car
What bliss!Nothing special, we just maintained a fast pace, no problems at all, and our Mini did the rest! This is going to make things easier for us. When approaching the dunes, we asked ourselves: "How is it going to work out?", but the car almost climbs them by itself! What bliss!
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