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| A scene from Dakar 2013. A privateer Polish rider was the first casualty this year, likely from heat exhaustion. |
THE Dakar yesterday claimed its first victim, with Polish rider
Michal Hernik (39) found dead along the third stage of the race between San Juan
and Chilecito, Argentina.
He was one of three friends who had prepared for two years to race
in their first Dakar, riding on a KTM he nicknamed “Baby”.
The scene of Hernik’s death showed no signs of an accident and he
may have succumbed to heat stroke in the 42° Celsius temperatures after spending
close to six hours in the saddle.
Before the race, Hernik told media his team-mates only aimed to
complete the rally. They had prepared for two years for the Dakar, but Hernik
admitted their weakest point would be handling the emotions and stress of the
event.
Dakar racers have to pass check points that are about 30 minutes
apart and when Hernik’s tracking signal was lost yesterday, an ambulance
helicopter was immediately dispatched. His body was found the about 300 metres
from the route.
To date, more than 70 people, more than half of them spectators,
have died in 35 Dakar rallies.
Yesterday’s start saw 76 teams retire from the race, including 31
riders, but for most of the South African top racers competing in the 9 000 km
cross-country race — the world’s longest vehicle event — the rally is going to
plan.
Privateers Johan van Staden and co-driver Mike Lawrenston are
making good time in the Top 40 in their Nissan Navara, while quad rider Willem
Saaijman is in the Top 30 and Riaan van Niekerk in the Top 20 of the bike
riders.
Imperial Toyota’s Giniel de Villiers and co-driver Dirk von
Zitsewitz are pacing themselves just behind the leader to occupy the second
ranking behind the Mini of Qatari driver Nasser al Attiyah.
After a 12th position on the second day, Imperial Toyota’s Leeroy
Poulter and Rob Howie spent 41 minutes replacing a bent steering arm and
yesterday used their desert expertise to claw their way back to the top 20
through the giant dunes of the Atacama desert.
Team boss Glyn Hall said Poulter had it in him to win stages and it
will be interesting to see how high they can climb back up on the leader
board.
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| John Mckendrick of Chile waits for team-mate Paolo Sabbatucci of Italy in the 2013 Dakar to dig out his Yammy from an Atacama dune, |
The drivers yesterday spent 594 km just to get to the 315 km
special stage, at the end of which the Dakar rally makes its legendary dune drop
from Argentina’s 4,8 km-high altitude to the sea level mining town of Copiapo in
Chile. Many of the slower racers faced this plummet at night and say they prefer
not being able to see exactly how steep the drop is.
Today’s race sees just 239 km of liaison stages, during which road
rules must be observed. Then the racers will try to make up time along 458 km of
flat, beach racing.
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| Riaan van Niekers hits a fesh-fesh in the 2013 Dakar. |
But along the way, the fesh-fesh awaits. These are deep holes
filled with powdery sand that can bury a bike or rip off a truck’s chassis.
Fesh-fesh are indistinguishable from firm surfaces and racers who want to
overtake have to gamble they won’t fall into one.
