Dakar stage 10 & 11 report Jan 13, 2011

STAGE 10, Jan 12: Fiambala This was the third time in three years the Dakar passed Fiambala and for the third time most competitors will remember this stage as a very tough day. Soft sand, difficult dunes and high temperatures coming down from the Andes demanded all the skills the competitors could offer. A confused roadbook instruction shortly before the finish caused a lot of trouble for the riders including American Quinn Cody who lost time there.

“The American making a great debut,” had been as high as third at different points throughout the day and was fifth at the final waypoint and in a very good overall position, but ended up in the end dropping to 50th for stage 10, and to 10th overall.

“We started in soft sand and I tried to be smooth and to keep the speed up. In the dunes I had some problems with the bike, it was suffering from vapor lock. Jonah (Street) and some other guys were having the same problem. About ten kilometers before the finish I missed a note, like many did. There was a deep rio with high cliffs, and the waypoint was on the other side.

We lost time looking for the right passage. I had to transfer fuel from the rear tank to the front, by hand, to keep the bike going. I stuck with Jonah, but it didn’t work out. These things happen. I will still try to finish in the top ten, but experience in this race is so important.”

STAGE 11, Jan 13: Chilecito to San Juan. The country remains the same, but the competitors will have the impression of entering a new land. The foothills of the Andes seems to take on a wild west appearance, especially in the fabulous canyons in the first timed sector. In the sandier backdrop of the second portion the competitors navigate between fairy chimneys. The 11th stage is a long ride of 622 km, of which 160 was neutralized, and the terrain will test the riders’ technical skills.

Quinn Cody is proving to be a fast learner in the Dakar Rally as he rebounded from yesterday for sixth place in stage 11. The Honda CRF450X rider missed clipping the top-five by only 14 seconds. Cody is gaining valuable experience running with the big dogs. His result moves the three-time Baja 1000 champion into ninth overall.

Quinn only had 3 days navigation training prior to arriving in Dakar, no roadbook practice and never had ridden his Dakar bike until he arrived in Buenos Aires days before the race began. Despite these obstacles the consensus with Dakar Rally watchers is “the rookie has done amazingly well!”

“I felt really good on this special. The terrain in the mountains was really similar to southern Baja, so it’s comfortable. Every day, I’m getting more comfortable with the navigation and the road-book too. I had a good time today and it was fun. I feel that I can get a good rhythm, read the road-book and ride fast at the same time. It’s taken me this long to get comfortable with it, though.”

FOR TOMORROW’S STAGE 12, on Jan 14: San Juan – Cordoba. Now its the big boys turn
With just 96 starters left of the original 186 riders the final battle for the title gives the trucks a head start as they kick off this stage. This penultimate stage “requires caution, especially over the first sandy 100 kilometers. It can’t be a lot of fun racing with the ‘big boy’ trucks! With two days left there’s still a lot of miles to cover and time for changes in overall scores.