A daily log of Patricia as she competes in the Dakar Rally on a motorbike. Her boyfriend, David, is sending daily updates which I am posting.Photo: Patricia and her bike
FROM DAVID - Wednesday January 03 2007
3 DAYS TO GO
Patricia and the team arrived in Lisbon yesterday. No technical or navigational problems arose during this early Hertford-Lisbon stage of the rally.
The bike also arrived safely in Lisbon yesterday, after being built at the Schek workshop, Wangen during December. It was transported to Lisbon, alongside its sister bike, another KTM, to be ridden by Werner Pfeuffer. Both bikes will be maintained on the Rally by Bernie Wright. Patricia and Werner have promised Bernie that they will be sensible and gentle with the bikes, so he stands at least some chance of getting some sleep during the 2 weeks of the Rally.
Bernie was informed by Werner this morning that his duties as a mechanic included boot-cleaning after each stage - the first dissent amongst the closely knit team was almost visible.
In the last few days, the organisers have changed one stage of the Rally, due to political unrest in Mauritania, knocking 800km off the total Rally distance. Sighs of relief by all competitors were obvious.
Today is a day of general preparation for the technical scrutineering that will occur tomorrow. There is an air of growing anticipation in Lisbon as the streets resound to the roar of the trucks, cars and bikes of the assembling Rally teams. The sun is out and the atmosphere is friendly and exciting. The Russians are winning in the engine decibel stakes and the Australians in the "witty jokes" stakes.
Patricia is maintaining her race preparation of no alcohol or caffine and she led an unprecedented bout of enthusiasm in the RallyRaid team, by taking them out for an early morning run along the waterfront in Lisbon.
Further updates to follow......
David
These updates will be issued daily, once the Rally starts, but if you wish to follow Patricia's progress at anytime on the official Rally website, you can do so at http://www.dakar.com/ ..... Race numbers for Patricia and other members of the RallyRiad team are as follows:
RallyRaid Bikes
130 Alberto Hintenaus
131 Mike Hughes
145 Patricia Watson-Miller
146 Tom Classen
156 Mark Elland
164 Christo Aspeling
179 Werner Pfeuffer
194 Hein Joubert
212 Neville Murray
220 Oz Bestel
RallyRaid Cars
432 Round/Coulson
433 Hugounenq/Coste
434 Radet/Gerard
436 Petrus/Petrus
438 Schoo/Koning
RallyRaid Truck
540 Saumet/O'Malley
