Argentina - Chile - Dakar 2009 - rallying
Lopez: 'I wasn't familiar with the terrain'
Friday 09 January 2009
Home favourite Francisco 'Chaleco' Lopez claimed his maiden win as the Dakar rally entered his country, Chile, for the first time Friday. He was welcomed in Valparaiso as a hero.
Special Report Dakar Rally lands in South AmericaFriday 09 January 2009
By Marianne NIOSI (text)The seventh stage, between Mendoza (Argentina) and Valparaiso (Chile), took the bikers through the Andes cordillera. However, local hero Francisco Lopez recognised that he was not familiar with the Chilean terrain.
Click here and read the highlights of the seventh stage
FRANCE 24 - How do you feel about this victory in your country, Chile?
Francisco Lopez - Delighted. Moreover, it's the first time I'm racing the Dakar rally. I'm really happy.
FRANCE 24 - Were you more at ease on the Chilean tracks than on the Argentinean ones ?
Francisco Lopez - I wasn't familiar with the terrain today. What pushed me was the pace of the bikers ahead of me right from the starting line.
FRANCE 24 - What will you be doing on tomorrow's day of rest ?
Francisco Lopez - First, I'm going to stay up a little later than usual. After, I'll get a massage to be well rested for the end of the race.
FRANCE 24 - What our your plans for the last seven stages?
Francisco Lopez - I'll do my best and try to win other stages, or at least, be among the top bikers.
Pour aller plus loin
Pour aller plus loin
15/01/2009 19:04:34 Alert a moderator
95% is better that 100%
By Rob Harris - USA
After today I believe Carlos is wishing he was driving at 95% as well. google planet robby for all the Dakar Rally you can handle.
14/01/2009 08:34:22 Alert a moderator
Concussion in Sport.
By FBN - Ire;land/Dublin
Bikers are different!
They can fall off, go unconscious, get concussed, wake up, shake themselves off, hop back on the machine and finish the stage! Enorme, non? Most other sports demand a mandatory rest period (3 wks in Rugby) when players are concussed. Go DAKAR.
14/01/2009 08:25:40 Alert a moderator
Concussion in sport
By FBN - Ireland, Dublin
Bikers are different! Concussion in sport means an automatic rest period (3 wks in Rugby) but we have riders in DAKAR getting concussed, recovering, waking up, shaking themselves off, hopping back on the bike and finisihing the stage. Enorme, non?