Dakar: Stage 9 Tidjikja to Nema notes

Stage 9: Tidjikja to Nema Friday, January 9, 2004 Liaison 4 km - Special 345 km - Liaison 561 km - Total 910 km Off we go for an already legendary stage. The ones used to the rally will know this track by heart but bad surprises could prove to ...

Stage 9: Tidjikja to Nema
Friday, January 9, 2004

Liaison 4 km - Special 345 km - Liaison 561 km - Total 910 km

Off we go for an already legendary stage. The ones used to the rally will know this track by heart but bad surprises could prove to be lethal. Especially because this year the special will be very long (736km) and full of traps added to the fact that there will be less GPS points than in the past.

Despite all this, the competitors will certainly be keeping an eye out to watch the "Elephant rock" or the Enji passage. A vision that will give the newcomers the desire to come back for the next edition.

Stage 9: 2004-01-09, Tidjikja to Nema.

Photo by A.S.O.

After hours of driving and riding, fast tracks to head up to the Dhar, the competitors will finally get to Nema, a traditional town, capital of Hodh ech-Chergui, in the middle of the desert, surrounded by red soil and tiger bushes.

Bike

12:36 LEADING BIKES AT CP1
The leading bikes went through CP1 at km 236. Leading the pack was Nani Roma (KTM n°4) alongside Sainct (KTM n°1), Meoni (KTM n°3), Esteve (KTM n°19) and Brucy (KTM n°9). That means that Sainct has gained 4min on Roma, after leaving in 3rd spot this morning. Best time so far for Meoni.

13:54 COX FASTEST AT CP1
Alfie Cox (KTM n°10) has set the fastest time at CP1 (km 236). Second is Despres (KTM n°2) at 13sec, followed by Meoni (KTM n°3) at 7min36. Sainct (KTM n°1) is at 11min34, Brucy (KTM n°9) at 13min44 and Roma (KTM n°4) at 15min31.

Car

13:55 MASUOKA FASTEST AT CP1
Hiroshi Masuoka (Mitsubishi n°201) has set the fastest time at CP1 (km 236). Second is Peterhansel (Mitsubishi n°203) at 5min24, followed Schlesser (Schlesser Ford n°200) at 5min50, Kleinschmidt (VW n°204) at 7min28 and De Mevius (BMW n°212) at 7min56.

General

13:56 210 VEHICLES STILL IN THE RACE
Almost half of the competitors have now quit the Dakar. Indeed, 210 were authorised to start this morning's special (400 on the start in Clermont) : 92 bike, 75 cars and 43 trucks.

Bike

13:57 BIKES : DID NOT START
Pellicer (n°21), Gilbert (n°53), Puren (n°78), Quick (n°100), Town (n°101), Puertas Herrera (n°102), Rauseo (n°115), Lundin (n°119), Beckers (n°141), Sommers (n°144), Esclassans (n°150), Schoonderbeek (n°157), Aspeling (n°168) and Hattori (n°174).

Car

14:00 PUNCTURE FOR ALPHAND
Before CP1, Luc Alphand (BMW n°207) suffered a puncture, repaired and is back on track. Meanwhile Peterhansel (Mitsubishi n°203) has gone through km 145 alone.

14:07 CARS : DID NOT START
Shinozuka (n°215), Orioli (n°221), Henrard (n°222), Tempestini (n°223), Wade (n°240), Bourgnon (n°241), Mitsuhashi (n°253), Wauters (n°257), Raud (n°290), Reedttz-Thott (n°294), Touly (n°299), Hutten (n°311), Courivaud (n°319), Martens (n°320), Liszi (n°327), Leyds (n°329), Pujol (n°349)

Bike

14:26 HARDEN AND VERHOEF QUIT
US rider Scot Harden (KTM n°25) broke a leg at CP1. He was forced to withdraw from the race. Erik Verhoef (KTM n°29) was also forced to quit after falling at k 125.

Truck

14:42 DE ROOY FASTEST AT CP1
Gerard De Rooy (DAF n°417) has clocked the fastest time at CP1 (km 236). Second is Kabirov (Kamaz n°410) at 3min17, followed by Tchaguine (Kamaz n°414) at 7min55, De Azevedo (Tartra n°412) at 8min27 and Loprais (Tatra n°415) at 13min04.

Bike

14:54 DESPRES FASTEST AT CP2
Late starter in 24th spot, Cyril Despres (KTM n°2) has the best time at CP2 (km439). Second so far is Cox (KTM n°10) at 1min57. Meoni (KTM n°3) is at 6min38 followed by Sainct (KTM n°1) at 22min58 and Roma (KTM n°4) at 24min27.

Car

16:06 VATANEN AND McRAE in TROUBLE
At km 368, two official Nissan cars were stopped with mechanical problems. Ari Vatanen (Nissan n°205) has clutch worries and McRae (Nissan n°202) has gearbox problems. Both were able to carry on but at a very slow pace.

Bike

16:33 DESPRES FASTEST AT CP3
After clocking the best time at CP2, Cyril Despres (KTM n°2) has the best time at CP3 (km 488). Second so far is Cox (KTM n°10) at 2min29. Meoni (KTM n°3) is at 16min38 followed by Lundmark (KTM n°6) at 18min31, Sainct (KTM n°1) at 20min39 and Roma (KTM n°4) at 24min21. These times are not official.

Car

16:50 MASUOKA FASTEST AT CP2
At CP2 (km 439), Hiroshi Masuoka (Mitsubishi n°201) remains the fastest. Second is Peterhansel (Mitsubishi n°203) at 9min17. Third is De Mevius (BMW n°212) at 21min10 and Kleinschmidt (VW n°204) at 26min12. For the moment, only four cars have made it to CP2.

17:23 MASUOKA FASTEST AT CP3
Again (after CP1 and 2), Hiroshi Masuoka has the fastest time at CP3 (km 488). Second is Peterhansel (Mitsubishi n°203) at 5min55, followed by De Mevius (BMW n°212) at 23min, Kleinschmidt (VW n°204) at 30min18 and Schlesser (Schlesser Ford n°200) at 36min13. These times are not official.

18:42 MECHANICAL PROBLEMS FOR PATISSIER
Isabelle Patissier (Nissan n°245) has serious mechanical problems. It appears the front wheel is damaged. She is trying to repair and eventually waiting for assistance

General

19:44 Modification of the rally route
For security reasons concerning the rally and the competitors, the organisation feels it is necessary to modify the 10th and 11th stages between NEMA and MOPTI and between MOPTI and BOBO DIOULASSO. Both stages have been cancelled and replaced by a liaison all the way to BAMAKO and then to BOBO DIOULASSO. The liaison to BAMAKO will be free for all vehicles except for the bikers who will be flying there by plane. For the liaison to BOBO DIOULASSO, all competitors will have a free liaison. This decision has been taken in accordance with the Mali and French authorities. The rally will therefore stop on Saturday the 10th of January in BAMAKO and will head to BOBO DIOULASSO on Sunday the 11th. A rest day will be staged there as planned. The rally organisation.

Bike

19:48 BRUCY INJURE
After crashing at around km 600, Jean Brucy (KTM n°9) was forced to withdraw from the race with a broken shoulder.

Car

19:49 MASUOKA WINS SPECIAL
On the finish line of the 736km special, Hiroshi Masuoka (Mitsubishi n°201) has clocked the fastest time of the day. Second is Stephane Peterhansel (Mitsubishi n°203) at 18min32.

Truck

23:49 KABIROV WINS SPECIAL
Firdaus Kabirov (Kamaz n°410) clocked the fastest time of stage 9 special between Tidjikja and Nema. Second was his team mate Vladimir Tchaguine(Kamaz n°414) at 4min06. Third was Gerard De Rooy (DAF n°417) at 5min 17. In the overall, Tchaguine keeps the leadership with a 58min41 lead on De Azevedo.