Rally Raid BLOG

Finally,the Heroes Legend finished at Lac Rose in Dakar after nearly 8,000 kms and over 2 weeks riding!!!!
Well done to Terry Starrett and Chris Barwick(who also won his class)for completing this epic trek from France to Dakar,and no bike problems at all with their Rally-Raid Products kitted KTM 690′s.
Well done to Bernard on his Yamaha XT660(with over 22,000 miles on the clock)and all the other riders with Team Desert Rose Racing.
Unfortunately,the other Rally-Raid Products rider,Sean Sullivan was airlifted back to the UK after an accident 2 days before the finish,and is now recovering in Addenbrooks hospital,Cambridge,after suffering a broken femur and both arms.This spoiled what would have been a good finish,as this was Sean’s first ever motorcycle event,let alone Rallye.

A 6am start in the bivouac at Foum Zguid on the Heroes Legend meant that Sean only got a couple of hours sleep before they were back on the road for a long 585km trek south towards Dakar.Patsy soon got the tea on before we de-camped all the gear into her truck,and had breakfast in the lovely tent that was there.

After seeing all the riders and cars off safely,I set out cross-country for Zagora and Day 4 of the Rallye Maroc.After only 5km I met 3 Belgian guys who had stopped because one of them had holed a radiator on his DRZ400.Out came the bum bag and a quick bodge-up meant they could follow me on the lovely piste to Zagora.Once there,we used the local trick of putting Tagine Spice Powder into the radiator as a sort of Moroccan Leak Stopper!!

We were all amazed this worked,so the 3 guys treated me to lunch,before we returned to the Parc Ferme and waited for the riders to come in.

Chris Barwick,in the lead on Day 4

Dawn at the Bivouac

Patsy & Crew on the Brew

Terry on the way to Dakar

Because the Heroes Legend Rallye was staying overnight in Foum Zguid,only a 120km trial ride over the mountains from Zagora,where the Rallye Maroc is being run,I decided to ride over after lunch break to meet the 3 Rally Raid Products KTM690 riders that are in the event.

Once I found the beautiful bivouac outside in the desert,I was made very welcome by the organisers,and then Patsy Quick arrived in her truck with Rod and we laid out all the equipment in readiness for the 7 bike riders and 2 cars that she is assisting in this 3 week adventure from Paris to Dakar.

Chris Barwick arrived first,closely followed bt Terry Starrett and his fellow Irish rider Bernard on his trusty 22,000 mile Yamaha 660 Tenere!!!

By the time all the other bikes had arrived the darkness had set in,and it made the bivouac even more tranquil,as people worked under the desert sky.

We had a lovely meal,a few beers,and caught up with the riders and drivers as to their experiences on the trip down through France,Spain and Morocco so far.

Zippy and Sir John,in their Rally prepped Nissan Patrol, took a detour to meet Team Desert Rose 2(Martin & Colin) at Zagora,before arriving for dinner,and Clive and John turned up in the oldest vehicle,a 1970′s Range Rover,and a good night was had by all.Unfortunately,the other KTM 690 rider,Sean Sullivan,had to finish in the sweeper truck due to running out of daylight obout 80km from the end,and arrived at 3,30am!!

The Bivouac at Night

Dinner in the Desert

Terry & Bernard doing their Roadbooks

We will have 3 riders competing in Heroes legend this year with our new Rally Kits fitted to KTM 690 Enduro’s.

These are Terry Starrett (Northern Ireland), Sean Sullivan and Chris Barwick (England).

Good luck to them all, and safe riding!!

They will be supported by Patsy Quick and her Team Desert Rose crew,all experienced rally people.

www.desertroseracing.com