US Dakar Team Report
He’s co-founder and president of North American Supermoto (NASMOTO) and the AMA sanctioned Pro/Am Supermoto series. Rally wrap up December 31 Racers embark from Lisbon in Stage One January 1 Still in Spain, Stage Two to Malaga January 2 Riders cross the Mediteranean to Morocco January 3 Chris Blais and Andy Girder hang tough for Red Bull KTM January 4 Bivouac in Tan Tan January 5 Into the desert – heads up for the mine fields January 6 Grider out – Team Red Bull KTM looks to Blais January 7 Sand, sand, sand – lost, found, lost, found January 8 Rest day – time for a little overdue laundry catchup January 9 Dakar loses a champion January 10 Segment cancelled; Dakar looms closer January 11 The terrain changes January 12 Five thousand miles behind them, the riders near the finish January 13 Blais finishes 4th overall January 14 An abreviated Dakar pauses in a final remembrance |
Scott’s a San Diego native and lifelong MC enthusiast. His advertising agency, January 9, 2006
STAGE 9 Nouakchott > Kiffa
Total distance: 874 km
30 km transfer
599 special test
245 km liaison
DAKAR'S DARKEST DAY
Chris Blais and the entire Red Bull KTM US Dakar team would like to extend their condolences to the family of Andy Caldecott #10, who tragically lost his life today during Stage 9 of the 2006 Dakar Rally. The 41-year-old Australian was a talented member of the Repsol Junior team as well as a friend and staunch ally to Chris and the American team.
"I last saw and spoke with Andy at a gas stop just 20km from where he crashed," said Blais. "He was a tremendous rider and a big help to me during earlier stages in the rally. This is a huge loss and all of us are stunned by his passing."
STAGE 9 RESULTS
Blais finished 9th overall for Stage 9, he is now in 6th position overall. Today's was a long and trying stage with very high-speeds, dust and challenging obstacles. By 10pm, more than half of the field had still not arrived in the bivouac.