Blazusiak takes the prize at FIM SuperEnduro Rd. 2

Courtesy of KTM

Red Bull KTM’s Taddy Blazusiak was in solid form on Saturday to take his second overall win in the FIM SuperEnduro series in Rd. 2 at Riesa, Germany. The Polish rider led in a three-way KTM podium sweep with David Knight in second and KTM factory rider Jonny Walker of Britain in third. Blazusiak, a Red Bull athlete heavily supported by 10,000 enthusiastic fans also won the Holeshot Award to round off a good night on the track at the SachsenArena in Riesa. He finished with a 1-3-2 result in his three races and now leads the championship by 13 points after two of the six rounds. Taddy was riding the KTM 300 EXC 2-stroke. While British rider David Knight, now back on a KTM, was in consistent form picking up a 2-1-3 result, Walker, after winning the SuperPole early in the evening, got stronger as the evening went on, picking up a win in the final of three races to boost his points for the evening. Walker, also a Red Bull athlete said later: “Another roller coaster night in SuperEnduro but all came good in the last race and I finally took a win. Hopefully this is a turning point.” KTM Enduro Factory Team Manager Fabio Farioli said it had been a good night for his riders. “Taddy and Jonny were a bit unlucky in the second heat, which starts in reverse order. They both got tangled with back markers at the start and Taddy was only able to scramble back to third after he crashed right at the start.” It was also a solid night out for KTM riders from the US with Taylor Robert taking a fourth overall and Cody Webb finishing sixth. Both are adjusting well to the smaller more compact tracks in Europe and can expect to get stronger as the season progresses. KTM riders also took the top three places in the junior category with Andreas Linusson of Sweden topping the podium. American Ty Tremaine was second and young German Manuel Lettenbichler, son of KTM factory rider Andreas Lettenbichler finished third. Overall Results (individual race results) 1, Taddy Blazusiak POL, KTM 54 points (1-3-2) 2, David Knight, GBR, KTM 53 (2-1-3) 3, Jonny Walker, GBR, KTM 46 (6-4-1) 4, Taylor Robert, USA, KTM, 39 (4-2-7) 5, Alfredo Gomez, ESP, Husqvarna 35 (3-9-4) 6, Cody Webb, USA KTM 31 (5-7-5) Other KTM 8, Paul Bolton, GBR, KTM 23 7, Mario Roman, ESP, KTM 22 Overall Standings after Rd. 2 1, Blazusiak 116, KTM 2, Knight 103, KTM 3, Walker 81, KTM 4, Robert 69, KTM 5, Webb 68, KTM 6, Gomez, 67, Husqvarna Superpole 1, Walker, KTM 2, Blazusiak, KTM 3, Knight, KTM 4, Webb, KTM 5, Gomez, Husqvarna Junior Class Final overall 1, Andreas Linusson, SWE, KTM, 57 2, Ty Tremaine, USA, KTM, 54 points 3, Manuel Lettenbichler, GER, KTM, 43 4, Gethin Humphreys, GBR Husqvarna, 39 5, Blake Gutzeit, RSA Husqvarna, 25 Overall points after Rd. 2 1, Tremaine 114 2, Linusson 106 3, Lettenbichler, 79  Round 3 (of 6): Helsinki, Finland Feb. 1, 2015  More at www.enduro-abc.com

Taddy Blazusiak leads points after Rd. 2 Confidence boosting win for Walker in Race 3 US KTM rider Taylor Robert fourth in the points

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Results: FIM SuperEnduro Rd. 2

Courtesy of KTM

FIM SuperEnduro Rd. 2
At Sachsenarean Riesa Germany

Overall Results
1, Taddy Blazusiak POL, KTM 54 points
2, David Knight, GBR, KTM 53
3, Jonny Walker, GBR, KTM 46
4, Taylor Robert, USA, KTM, 39
5, Alfredo Gomez, ESP, Husqvarna 35
6, Cody Webb, USA KTM 31
Other KTM
8, Paul Bolton, GBR, KTM 23
7, Mario Roman, ESP, KTM 22

Overall Standings after Rd. 2
1, Blazusiak KTM 116
2, Knight KTM 103
3, Walker KTM, 81
4, Robert KTM, 69
5, Webb 68, KTM
6, Gomez, 67, Husqvarna

Superpole
1, Walker, KTM
2, Blazusiak, KTM
3, Knight, KTM
4, Webb, KTM
5, Gomez, Husqvarna

Race One
1, Blazusiak, KTM
2, Knight KTM
3, Gomez, Husqvarna
4, Robert, KTM
5, Webb, KTM
6, Walker KTM
Other KTM
9, Bolton, KTM
11, Roman, KTM

Race Two
1, Knight, KTM
2, Robert, KTM
3, Blazusiak, KTM
4, Walker, KTM
5, Gibert, Gas Gas
6, Roman, KTM
7, Webb, KTM
8, Bolton, KTM

Race Three
1, Walker, KTM
2, Blazusiak, KTM
3, Knight, KTM
4, Gomez, Husqvarna
5, Webb, KTM

**

Junior Class
Final overall
1, Andreas Linusson, SWE, KTM, 57
2, Ty Tremaine, USA, KTM, 54 points
3, Manuel Lettenbichler, GER, KTM, 43
4, Gethin Humphreys, GBR Husqvarna, 39
5, Blake Gutzeit, RSA Husqvarna, 25
Overall points after Rd. 2
1, Tremaine 114
2, Linusson 106
3, Lettenbichler, 79
Race One
1, Linusson, KTM
2, Tremaine KTM
3, Lettenbichler Manuel KTM
4, Humphreys, Husqvarna
5, Gutzeit, Husqvarna

Race Two
1, Tremaine KTM
2, Linusson, KTM
3, Lettenbichler Manuel KTM
4, Wade Young, KTM
5, Humphreys, Husqvarna

Race Three
1, Linusson, KTM
2, Tremaine, KTM
3, Humphreys Husqvarna
4, Lettenbichler, KTM

Next Round: Helsinki, Finland Feb. 1, 2015

More at:www.enduro-abc.com

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Team HRC set sights on the Dakar 2015

Courtesy of Honda Racing Corporation

Team HRC are all fired up and ready to roll, as the first stage of the Rally Dakar kicks off tomorrow. The two official Honda teams; Team HRC, and HSA Rally Team, set out their intentions today in a press conference in Buenos Aires presided over by HRC vice-chairman Shuhei Nakamoto. The team’s action-hungry riders, after having to sit through yesterday’s tedious administrative and technical checks, were back for a press conference held today, on the eve of the big challenge, where the Honda teams stated their determined intention to pursue final victory in the Rally Dakar 2015. Team HRC riders, Joan Barreda, Paulo Gonçalves, Hélder Rodrigues, Jeremías Israel and Laia Sanz, together with those of Honda South America Rally Team, Javier Pizzolito, Jean Azevedo, Daniel Gouet, Javier Rodríguez and Demian Guiral, all agreed on the reliability, stability and power of the Honda CRF450 RALLY, which will allow the riders to be amongst the front-runners throughout the stages. Mr. Shuei Nakamoto, HRC vice-chairman was in attendance, and wished the Honda team riders every success in their endeavour:“I hope that the team gets great results, and especially, the win, although I don’t want to put pressure on them to do so. Anything can happen in the race, we already know that. The team, made up of all the riders, the team members and the bike, are all ready to take on the challenge. I am also very proud of all the work that has been done on the bike.” In the afternoon, the Dakar 2015 participants took part in the symbolic start from the podium situated in front of the Argentine Parliament building in Casa Rosada. The riders were cheered on by thousands of spectators who lined the Buenos Aires streets. TOMORROW’S STAGESTAGE 1 – Sunday 4th January Buenos Aires (ARG) – Villa Carlos Paz (ARG) Liaison:663 km Special stage:175 km A huge preliminary stage! It will be a very early start for the racing tomorrow, Sunday 4th, as the riders set off at 05:15 to complete a 225 kilometre liaison before the timed 175 km special begins in Baradero, to the northeast of Buenos Aires. The bivouac is set up in Villa Carlos Paz. The competitors will be rapidly plunged into the heart of the Argentinean countryside. The combination of the route’s different features means that there will be something for everyone, while sticking to relatively simple criteria, for the time being. Fast tracks coupled with sharp bends will divide up the vehicles, according to the levels of the drivers, who will be tested in an exciting environment which marks this first special stage, but without singling out any particular category. At the end of this warm-up, the day will finish with a long liaison to the first bivouac.

Joan Barreda Everything is great after a whole year of hard work. The hour of truth is upon us, and everything is all set. We’ll start off taking it easy in the first, short stage, but in the second we will have to start pushing for positions and try and stay ahead. From then on, we’ll take it day by day, see how the race plays out, and try and stay as focused as possible and avoid messing up. The aim is to establish positions for the second week which give us race-winning options.

Paulo Goncalves We are all ready for the start of the new Dakar 2015 and let’s hope that it goes really well. Team HRC have worked really hard for this race, and we are very motivated. Everyone is eager to start the race, so hopefully it will go really well and bring into fruition all the work that we’ve put in. We have a highly-evolved bike which will give us guarantees, and a lot of confidence to face the race.

Helder Rodrigues This will be my third Dakar with Honda, on a project that has continually evolved since the first day. My aim will be to win, and that Honda finishes as high as possible on the final podium. The team has worked so hard, and the objective is very clear; that Honda has to win. I’m here to fight for the victory.

Jeremias Israel I’m really pleased to be back in my third participation in the Dakar. It has been a very tough year for me, to recuperate and be ready for the start of the race. It is a tremendous opportunity, especially to be part of the Honda team with HRC behind us, who have given us the chance to get back on the track with an even better bike that has every chance of winning.

Laia Sanz I can’t wait to get onto the Honda CRF450 RALLY after all the endless preparation that we’ve done. I think I’ve arrived here in better shape than ever and I have to thank Honda and HRC for giving me such a great opportunity. It’s a fine team and a great bike. I will try and return all the faith that HRC has placed in me. I’m really looking forward to this project.

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Team Peugeot-Total shift into race mode

Courtesy of Red Bull Desert Wings

Stéphane Peterhansel © Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool Buenos Aires, Argentina Saturday, January 3, 2015 The new year is off to a flying start with the engineered acoustics of the PEUGEOT 2008 DKR ready to echo through South America. A successful shakedown exercise was completed following transportation of the cars to Argentina and all pre-race technical scrutineering checks have been passed. Now Team Peugeot-Total sit on the start-line of the 2015 Dakar Rally ready to race the 9,000km of perilous terrain that comprises the world’s toughest rally. After months of hard work including December’s rigorous testing in Morocco the three race cars were placed on a boat and shipped to Argentina. As the team were reunited with the vehicles in Buenos Aires the tireless efforts recommenced as they set about configuring the cars into race mode. The objective of the latest test was to finalise the settings on the cars belonging to Stéphane Peterhansel/Jean-Paul Cottret, Carlos Sainz/Lucas Cruz and Cyril Despres/Gilles Picard ahead of the first special stage of the Dakar on Sunday, January 4. As an early introduction to the unpredictable nature of this two-week rally the team’s initial plans for a final test were hampered by torrential rainfall in the Argentinian capital. The original site for the shakedown had been an offroad track 30km outside Buenos Aires, but when the team arrived to find the location flooded an alternative was quickly sourced. “This has been the first time at the Dakar that I have done a shakedown on tarmac, but that was the only option we had because of recent rainfall,” admitted former champion Carlos Sainz. “We were able to come up with a solution that allowed us to test the car and I’m happy that everything was working fine.” Stéphane Peterhansel has successfully risen to the occasion to win the Dakar 11 times and he once again demonstrated coolness under pressure to put his car through its paces before passing it over to the race authorities for pre-race scrutineering checks. “We have such a great team dedicated to looking after our car,” said Stéphane. “And it’s awesome to see the excitement everyone is feeling for this new challenge.” The enthusiasm of car race newcomer Cyril Despres has been infectious since the team’s arrival in South America as he continues he take onboard advice about getting the maximum out of his machine. “The next time I will be in the car will be in Buenos Aires for the podium presentation,” said Cyril. “And then we race the first special stage.” Team principal Bruno Famin was encouraged to see his entire crew of drivers, co-drivers, mechanics and engineers step up to the challenge and complete all assignments scheduled for the days before the first stage. “That’s it, here we are. The entire team has made huge efforts in these last weeks to be ready for this day. I’m proud of what the team has accomplished till now,” said Bruno. “We now face the first stage. And we will consider the others stage after stage.” With all three PEUGEOT 2008 DKRs tuned up to race the first special stage between Buenos Aires and Villa Carlos Paz on Sunday the team’s preparations are complete. The opening stage will see the cars depart at 7:42am local time to travel a total of 833km, of which 170km will be the timed special stage. Stay up-to-date with the latest news from the team at redbull.com/Peugeot-returns and peugeotofficial.tumblr.com.

Stéphane Peterhansel at shakedown © Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool

Team Peugeot-Total workshop © Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool

Cyril Despres at shakedown © Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool

C. Sainz & L. Cruz in Technopolis © Flavien Duhamel/Red Bull Content Pool

Scrutineering in Technopolis © Marcelo Maragni/Red Bull Content Pool

Carlos Sainz & Cyril Despres © Flavien Duhamel/Red Bull Content Pool

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#Dakar2015 – The Odyssey

Courtesy of A.S.O./Dakar Media

The 37th edition of the Dakar Rally will start in Buenos Aires on January 4th in Argentina for 2 weeks of race, and will end on January 17th. This year, vehicles will also cross Chile and Bolivia for even more breathtaking feelings! Follow in live the odyssey of competitors wherever you are thanks to the official mobile application, the social networks and the official website with live news and rankings, best pictures and daily videos. Enjoy the official teaser of Dakar 2015! Have a nice Dakar! To follow live every moment of the 2015 Dakar Rally edition, download the new mobile application on your smartphone: details of the route, maps and stage profiles, rankings, latest videos and photos… Available on Android smartphones and iPhone. My Dakar is the Dakar community platform with all pictures, tweets and videos sent by fans and competitors. To participate, post your pictures on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook with the hashtag #Dakar2015. From now on, more than a million fans follow the Dakar on social networks : Facebook, Twitter , Instagram, and also Google +. Join the community @dakar and discover what goes on behind the race and bivouac’s scenes! Would you love to visit Argentina, Chile and Bolivia. Check out the official website of the Argentina Chile and Bolivia, to find all the necessary information to visit the host countries of the Dakar 2015’s departure. The official Dakar 2015’s shop is now open with numerous products: t-shirts, polos, shirts… Find the various ranges (Adventure, Trendy and Organization) and order all the official products of the Dakar Rally 2015.

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FALDAS CORTAS Y DIENTES LARGOS / MINI-SKIRTS BUT MAXIMUM AMBITIONS

Courtesy of A.S.O./Dakar Media

Buenos Aires, el 02 de Enero 2015

D-2: FALDAS CORTAS Y DIENTES LARGOS La segunda jornada de verificaciones técnicas y administrativas ha visto desfilar a parte de los aspirantes a la victoria. Las Honda de Barreda, Rodrigues y Gonçalves han optado por mantener un perfil bajo, mientras que los pilotos de los tres Peugeot prefieren esperar los primeros veredictos sobre la pista para manifestarse. El león aún no ha dado un zarpazo, de hecho ¡ni siquiera ha mostrado sus garras! El sol ha vuelto a hacer acto de presencia en la capital argentina. Y aquí, como en todas partes, la cantidad de ropa que se luce es inversamente proporcional a la temperatura ambiental. Aunque se considere en ocasiones un mundo aparte, el Dakar no es ajeno a esta realidad y el Village levantado para los próximos días en el parque ferial de Tecnópolis aún menos. Por sus pasillos, los pantalones largos han dado paso a los shorts, las camisas a las camisetas y el público ha vuelto a desplazarse en masa, más si cabe que ayer, para disfrutar de la segunda jornada de verificaciones. Y no solo para echar un ojo a las minúsculas minifaldas de las azafatas que custodian los muchos stands de los patrocinadores… Los argentinos son, por encima de todo, grandes conocedores de los deportes de motor: por ello, han sido los pilotos y sus bólidos quienes han acaparado la mayoría de los flashes de las cámaras de fotos y smartphones, de manera particular los competidores que se han presentado hoy con la ambición de subirse a lo más alto del podio en poco más de dos semanas en Buenos Aires. Los más madrugadores han podido cruzarse con uno de los protagonistas que se ha ganado por méritos propios un puesto entre los candidatos a coronarse en la categoría de camiones: Gerard De Rooy (ganador en 2012), así como uno de sus rivales, Ales Loprais, que se sentará este año en la cabina de un MAN y está decidido, “como poco, a hacer podio”. A modo de respuesta e incluso de motivación, el plusmarquista de victorias reconvertido en manager de Kamaz, Vladimir Chagin, considera que “podemos ganar, pero nada es seguro… En la salida habrá entre 10 y 15 camiones con opciones”. En lo que respecta a los motoristas, los puestos de rivales oficiales del defensor del título Marc Coma se han repartido en su mayor parte en el seno del Team HRC. Sin embargo, sus líderes, ya escaldados por las experiencias pasadas, prefieren no creerse nada y jugar la baza de la humildad, empezando por Joan Barreda, el principal coleccionista de etapas en la edición pasada, que sin embargo finalizó 7º en la general. “Estamos listos. Ahora solo queremos que arranque la carrera”, declara el líder, mientras que Helder Rodrigues (5º el año pasado) se muestra también un tanto enigmático: “hemos trabajado estupendamente y llegamos muy preparados”. Desde hace varios meses, y de hecho es el tema que trae de cabeza a los observadores, se habla de las opciones de la casa Peugeot para imponerse en su vuelta al Dakar después de 25 años de ausencia. Tal y como adelantamos, las tres DKR 2008 alineadas este año y encomendadas a un trío de campeones difícilmente igualable, han causado sensación en Tecnópolis. En lo que respecta a sus pilotos, pese a su ardiente deseo por dar la campanada y superar de largo a los Mini, todos ellos han querido huir del triunfalismo y mostrarse prudentes. Stéphane Peterhansel, que destaca ante todo su experiencia, explica que “la presión no la sentimos nosotros, los pilotos, que conocemos el Dakar, sino más bien el resto del equipo”. Aunque confíe en una reconversión que demuestre ser tan exitosa como su carrera en motos, Cyril Despres también opta por relativizar al afirmar que “la presión la sentía cuando salía solo, en mi moto, y me enfrentaba al frío y, a veces, a la incertidumbre. Aquí, en cambio, vengo a disfrutar, a construir algo.” Un punto en el que también ha querido insistir el ganador de 2010, Carlos Sainz, cuya modestia es equiparable a su ambición, si bien trata de disimularla: “Este es un Dakar para poner a prueba el coche y trabajar”. Lo cual no impide, eso sí, que nos den una buena sorpresa, siente uno ganas de añadir…

Más información en www.dakar.com

Buenos Aires, January 02nd, 2015

D-2: MINI-SKIRTS BUT MAXIMUM AMBITIONS   The second day of technical and administrative scrutineering witnessed the visit of a portion of the pretenders to the title. The Honda riders Barreda, Rodrigues and Gonçalves remain vague for the moment. Furthermore, the drivers of the three Peugeots prefer to wait for the first verdicts on the tracks to see how they will be set. The ‘Lion’ has not even bared its teeth yet, no matter starting to roar!   The sun returned to the Argentine capital today. Here and elsewhere, the amount of fabric worn by those who came to stroll past scrutineering was inversely proportional to the air temperature. Although it is sometimes considered as a world apart, the Dakar is no exception to the rule, even less so its village set up for several days in the Tecnópolis exhibition centre. In its aisles, trousers were swapped for shorts, jackets were packed away and t-shirts brought out. The general public were in attendance in even greater numbers for this second day of scrutineering, and not just to chatter about the size of the mini-skirts worn by the hostesses found at the many stands set up by the race’s partners. The Argentineans are first and foremost motorsports aficionados: it was therefore the riders, drivers and their machines that were the most popular in the lenses of the cameras and on screens of smartphones, especially the pretenders to the crown who have arrived with the ambition of winning the trophy in a little more than two weeks’ time in Buenos Aires.   The earliest arrivals were able to meet one of the competitors who genuinely belongs in the category of ambitious pretenders in the truck race, Gerard De Rooy (the winner in 2012), as well as one his rivals, Ales Loprais, now behind the wheel of a MAN truck and focused on, “aiming for the podium, at the least”. By way of a response, and even a form of encouragement, the record holder for victories in the category who is now the team boss at Kamaz, Vladimir Chagin believes that, “we are capable of winning, but it’s by no means a sure thing… The same can be said for 10 to 15 trucks at the start”. In the bike race, the roles of designated rivals to title holder Marc Coma have mainly been distributed within the Honda HRC team. However, its leaders, already having seen their ambitions go up in flames in the past, preferred to play it humble rather than brash, starting with Joan Barreda, the leading stage winner last year but only 7th at the finish. “We’re ready. Now we want to get started,” said the team leader, whilst Helder Rodrigues (5th last year) preferred to praise their preparation: “We’ve worked really well and prepared our strategy”.   It has been the talk of the town for several months now and has even been the question on most observers’ lips: the capabilities of Peugeot to win on its return to the Dakar after a 25-year absence. As promised, the three DKR 2008s taking part this year and entrusted to a trio of virtually unequalled champions caused a sensation at Tecnópolis. However, the burning desire of their drivers to create a surprise and beat the Minis on the team’s first time out did not lead to any throwing down of the gauntlet. Stéphane Peterhansel, who emphasised his experience, explained that, “we drivers have the experience of the Dakar, so we don’t feel the pressure, but maybe the rest of the team do”. Although he is counting on a reconversion that he hopes is as fruitful as his career on a bike, Cyril Despres also put things into perspective, stating, “I’ve had pressure setting off alone on a bike in the cold, the rain, the night and sometimes under the shadow of doubt. This time, the focus will be on pleasure and on building something”. This was precisely the point emphasised by the winner in 2010, Carlos Sainz, whose modesty was only equalled by his ambition, which he did well to hide: “This is a Dakar for testing and working”. Although that does not exclude some surprises in store, one might be tempted to add…

More information on www.dakar.com

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2015 Dakar Rally Preparation #TeamSPEED

Courtesy of PlanetRobby

Robby Gordon, Johnny Campbell and the #TeamSPEED crew during the first few days in Argentina, prepping for the 2015 Dakar Rally.

2015 Dakar Rally Preparation #TeamSPEED from PlanetRobby on Vimeo.

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La securidad, prioridad absoluta / Safety, the number one priority

Courtesy of A.S.O./Dakar Media

En Argentina, en Chile y en Bolivia, la asistencia de público al Dakar siempre ha sido un éxito rotundo (en 2014 se contabilizaron 3,9 millones de espectadores a lo largo del recorrido), por lo que la seguridad sigue siendo la prioridad más absoluta para los organizadores y los países anfitriones.

El dispositivo de seguridad en cifras:

• 55 zonas de seguridad acondicionadas para que los espectadores de las 13 etapas del rally puedan ver pasar a los pilotos del Dakar en condiciones inmejorables.

La información sobre la ubicación de estas zonas se hará pública en los medios en la jornada D-3.

• 25 000 miembros de distintos cuerpos de policía garantizan la seguridad del público en las 13 etapas del rally.

• 7 helicópteros participan en labores de seguridad y examinan el recorrido con antelación a la carrera para informar de posibles peligros a las autorid ades y la organización.

• 30 vehículos y 60 personas de la Agencia Nacional de Seguridad Vial de Argentina dirigen los pasos del público que desea acceder a las zonas de seguridad para espectadores.

• 30 vehículos de la organización participan diariamente en l

as tareas destinadas a garantizar la seguridad del recorrido y de las zonas para espectadores.

• En los tramos de enlace, la velocidad debe ajustarse a la legislación vigente y se controlará seriamente.

Prevención:

• 2 300 mensajes de seguridad divulgados por 40 emisoras de radio del conjunto de países por los que transcurre el recorrido.

• Una ingente campaña de prensa que hace hincapié en las consignas de seguridad en la prensa importante de los países por los que discurre la competición.

• Un videoclip de pr evención que será emitido por cadenas de televisión y por distintas páginas de internet de varios medios de especial relevancia, entre ellos Fox Sport.

• 500 000 octavillas distribuidas en Argentina por la Agencia Nacional de Seguridad Vial.

• Facebook (facebook.com/dakar), con 1 millón de fans en la cuenta oficial, y la cuenta Twitter de la carrera (twitter.com/dakarofficial), con más de 180.000 seguidores, difunden diariamente mensajes relacionados con la seguridad

________________________________________________________________

In Argentina like in Chile and Bolivia, the Dakar meets with phenomenal popular success (3.9 million spectators counted on the route on 2014). This is why safety is still the number one priority for the organizers and host countries.

The safety measures in figures:

• 55 secure “spectator zones” are set up during the rally’s 13 stages in order to allow people to watch the Dakar’s competitors pass by in the best conditions. The public is informed three days before by the media of where these zones are located.

• 25 000 law enforcement officers ensure public safety throughout the 13 stages of the rally.

• 7 helicopters take part in the safety measures and monitor the route ahead of the race to inform the authorities and organisers of any possible hazards.

• 30 vehicles and 60 people from the Agencia Nacional de Seguridad Vial safety agency in Argentina will be supervising the movement of the crowds who come to the “spectator zones”.

• 30 organisation vehicles take part every day in making the route and the “public areas” safe.

• Speeds on link stages must not exceed the legal limits and any excesses are severely punished.

Prevention:

• 2,300 safety messages are broadcast by 40 radio stations in all of the countries through which the rally travels.

• A massive press campaign insisting on the safety instructions is conducted in collaboration with all the major newspapers and magazines in the

countries through which the rally passes.

• A prevention video has been produced and will be broadcast by the TV channels and web sites of the leading media organisations, including Fox Sport.

• 500,000 flyers will be distributed by the Agencia Nacional de Seguridad Vial in Argentina.

• Facebook (facebook.com/dakar), with 1 million fans on the official page and the race’s Twitter feed(twitter.com/dakarofficial), followed by more than 180,000 followers, display safety related messages every day.

More information on http://www.dakar.com

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