2:00 p.m.
8th stage – Gone with the wind

The wind is continuously raging in the Mauritanian desert and the 7th stage
of the Rally Dakar is still going on. Several motorcyclists, cars and trucks
are still trying to reach yesterdays bivouac in Tichit. Therefore, A.S.O.
has decided to cancel the 8th stage from Tichit to Tidjikja. Meanwhile the
drivers out in the Mauritanian desert are supplied with food via
helicopters. Most urgently they need gasoline. A.S.O. has made a crucial
mistake during the preparation for this 660 km special. Claudia Patuzzi,
manager of Team KTM Gauloises explains, “All of the drivers who reached the
finish yesterday were almost out of gasoline and only barely made it. Supply
of gasoline was a major problem. At CP 2 each of the competitors was given
20 liters only. A.S.O. had not warned about it at their briefing the day
before yesterday. Keeping the advantages of a light bike in mind, at CP 1
our motorcyclists refueled just enough to make it to CP 2. Even cars and
trucks ran into problems because of that. Many participants ran out of gas
in the middle of the desert.”

All of the KTM factory riders arrived at last night’s destination. At the
bivouac in Tichit KTM had pitched up a huge, white Berber tent for the
riders. There they all spent the night. Nobody had to pitch up his own tent
during the sandstorm. Both KTM service trucks, which take part in the race
as well, made it safely to the bivouac. Their main function is to provide
rapid assistance to the riders. The truck with Peter Reif, Gunther
Pichlbauer and Stefan Huber came in 7th and the truck with the crew: Karl
Sadlbauer, Franz Maier and Martin Mayer crossed the finish line 11th. A
great success! In the overall both MAN trucks from KTM rank in 8th and 9th
position.

Early this afternoon Park Ferm?© was opened up. The bicyclists were allowed
to repair their bikes. All mechanics are already in Tidjikja, therefore the
teammates had to make repairs themselves. Both, Fabrizio Meoni and Alfie
Cox, changed the air filter on their bikes. Fabrizio was not in such a good
mood. “I suffered two low blows yesterday. At first the officials canceled
the mass start and then I had to navigate myself to allow the others to
follow my tracks. I rode very carefully to be easy on my equipment. This
would allow me to attack the next day, but now they canceled today’s stage!”
Cyril Despres was indifferent about the decision. “It really does not make a
difference if I race the 130 km or none at all. Nothing is going to be
decided on 130 km anyways. Why should I get all upset about it, that’s
racing! Safety is most important! Right now, no helicopter can start and no
medical assistance can leave.”

The American team seemed to be relieved. “Yesterday’s stage was extremely
tough,” said Joe Barker, “That they canceled the second part of this
strenuous stage is good for us. The chances that all three teammates will
arrive in Dakar are rising.”

Right now, the team managers and their motorcyclists work on a new tactic
for the next stages. Jordi Arcarons from Team KTM Repsol-Red Bull explains,
“Today we would have had a great chance to attack. Marc Coma’s time margin
on Cyril Despres is not all that big. Now we need to rethink it.”

Let’s just hope that it will be possible to race tomorrow’s stage from
Tidjikja to Atar. 361 km are going to be judged. The special is
extraordinary fast. Only at the end the dunes of the Erg Chinguetti demand
special riding skills.

At the moment the weather forecast looks bad. A sandstorm raves around
Tidjikja which makes it impossible to land the airplanes of the assistance
crews with the managers and journalists etc. They are going straight on to
Atar. The motorcyclists however are riding the liaison to Tidjikja.