Pavey enters extreme new Beijing Rally

Escapism is the answer to surviving modern day life. Some people go away for the weekend and then others go to extreme lengths to keep the sparkle in their eye. Six-times Dakar competitor Simon Pavey is that man – a motorcycle rally rider who loves the idea of taking himself to the edge of sanity.

Simon has entered a new rally called the Transorientale which starts in St Petersburg in Russia on 12 June 2008. He will race a motorcycle through the lush landscapes of Russia, across the large steppes of central Asia; navigate around the lakes in Kazakhstan to China, where the gigantic sand dunes begin – some of the highest in the world reaching more than 2000 metres. The finish will be in Beijing on 28 June 2008, after competitors have travelled 10,000 kilometres over 17 days.

“I have competed in the Dakar six times now and finish four and I’ve felt like it’s time for a change,” said Pavey who last competed in the Dakar as a support rider to Charley Boorman on the Race to Dakar project. “The idea of this rally really excites me. For the Rally-Raid Marathon competitors it seems that it will be tougher than the current Dakar. It’s a chance for me to ride through different countries and try a new experience. I’ve got high hopes for this event and I’m sure it will live up to it. It’s also the first time I get to share a rally with my wife Linley.”

The Transorientale is aimed at catering for all types of rally competitors – from hard-core, to those who just want to have a go. Therefore, the Rally has several different categories to suit competitors. The Rally-Raid Marathon is for the true die-hard Rally heroes. It is open to all cars, vans, motorcycles and quads in a similar set-up to the famous Dakar Rally testing competitors driving/riding ability, hunger for competition and of course, navigational skills.

The Relay Race has the same structure as the Rally-Raid Marathon, but it’s where riders and drivers can work in teams. Three drivers can share one motorcycle or four drivers in one car. They will follow the same route as the main Rally-Raid category.

The Regularity Raid is for competitors who have less support than the other two categories. It means that the vehicles are not “factory” or costly and it is a much more realistic and cost effective way of competing in a Rally.

Finally there is The Discovery Raid. This category allows those who are passionate about driving to travel across these beautiful countries in almost any vehicle. The course will be entirely on tarmac and close to rescue services. Although the scenery will be spectacular, the route will be issued by road book and the focus and grading will be on the competitor’s navigational skills. Some days competitors will need to drive almost 1,000 kilometers!

Frenchman Renè Metge is the man behind this fantastic new Rally. His competitive background includes winning the Paris-Dakar Rally three times, as well as competing in the Le Mans 24-hour six times. As an organiser, his credentials include two Dakar rallies, the first Paris-Moscow-Beijing Rally, seven Master Rallies and three Orient Rallies.

For the first time Simon will be joined by his wife Linley on this new Rally. Linley will play a key role of driving the support vehicle to assist Simon in his effort of completing one of the toughest rallies of our modern time.

Simon and Linley have run the highly-successful BMW Off-Road Skills courses in south Wales for the past eight years. They have taught thousands of people to ride off road for the first time.

Pavey wins the Hafren Rally on a BMW HP2 - 21 December 2006
Six-times Dakar competitor, Simon Pavey has won the 2006 Hafren Rally held in Mid Wales riding one of BMW’s HP2 machines. The rally was the perfect opportunity to prove the impressive performance of the 1200cc machine in a trail bike event.

“I’ve been really keen to race the HP2 at the Hafren Rally,” said Pavey who recently finished 13th overall in the UAE Desert Challenge in Dubai, racing against factory-KTM riders Cyril Despres and Marc Coma.

“I have had so much fun riding the HP2 while instructing on the BMW Off-Road Skills courses this year. It’s just so easy to ride. People think that it is daunting because it’s a big bike, but the size is one of its attractions.

“The Hafren Rally is the perfect opportunity to showcase this bike. The event features three special tests which are fast and fun. The second test was bumpy and whooped out, but that’s where the HP2’s suspension really surprised me. I just needed to ride through it quick and the suspension just soaked it up.

“The twin-cylinder engine of the HP2 is what makes it so fun – it’s really powerful, but easy to ride. And it just sounds fantastic when you put the throttle on hard.”

The Hafren Rally is renowned as one of the leading trail bike rallies in the UK. It began in the mid 90s to give owners of trail bikes the opportunity, and conditions, to race a fully-road legal machine in an off-road event. The demand for the 2006 event saw a full capacity of 200 riders entered and more than 100 turned away.

“Anyone who has completed at least Level One of the BMW Off-Road Skills course could compete in the Hafren Rally,” said Pavey. “The special tests aren’t technically hard. The speed that you carry is the only challenging part. The rest of the terrain is main trails and fire roads, so anyone could compete and really enjoy it!”

Simon runs the BMW Off-Road Skills course held in south Wales, where he and his team of instructors teach people to ride off-road for the first time on BMW motorcycles. The Level One course takes two days and includes instruction and bike hire of either a BMW F650 GS, a R1200 GS or the new Xchallenge.

Starting in 2007, dirt bike enthusiasts can also enjoy a day riding the HP2 in Wales. Only four riders take part on each experience and they will get the opportunity to ride the HP2 on and off-road. The available dates are 26 May, 25 June and 15 October.

Pavey finishes the 2006 Dakar - 15 January 2006
After 16 agonising days, only half of the competitors that started the 2006 Euromilhões Lisbon to Dakar Rally reached the end at Dakar today.

Race to Dakar rider and six-times competitor, Simon Pavey was one of the lucky ones to finish the race and in an impressive 86th position. His BMW team-mates of Charley Boorman and Matt Hall were forced to withdraw during the event due to injury and sheer exhaustion.

Today's 15th stage, which started and finished in Dakar included a short 31km special around Lac Rose. Over the years, the run has become a motor sport classic. It's here where some competitors are still tempted to go after a handful of seconds to hoist themselves up one or two places in the overall classification. Others quietly soak up the atmosphere and battle with the reality that they have actually finished this immense event. Either way, it's a day for competitors to enjoy.

In memory of the two children that sadly died during the passage of the Dakar caravan in Guinea and Senegal, the Lac Rose special today was not timed. The official times for the final standings of the 2006 Euromilhões Lisbon to Dakar Rally were therefore those registered after stage 14 between Tambacounda and Dakar.

93 motorcyclists, 64 car crews and 33 trucks eventually made it to the finish line of the 28th Euromilhões Lisbon to Dakar Rally. Marc Coma on two wheels and Luc Alphand in the car race were both crowned winners for the first time. Vladimir Chagin, behind the steering wheel of his Kamaz conquered his fifth title.

Mick Extance secured the best finishing position for the Brits in 27th position. Fellow Brit Nick Plumb rode his BMW F650 GS Dakar to finish in 78th position. Patsy Quick was the first British woman to finish the Dakar and secured 88th place. Her team-mate Clive Town was in 89th position.

Marc Coma dedicated his first ever Dakar success "for Andy Caldecott" his KTM-Repsol team-mate who died earlier this week.
 
For more information about the Race to Dakar team, enthusiasts can visit www.racetodakar.com

Pavey heads for Dakar - 14 January 2006
The end of the 2006 Euromilhões Dakar Rally is now firmly in sight for Race to Dakar competitor, Simon Pavey, as he successfully completed today's penultimate stage from Tambacounda to Dakar finishing in 86th position.

Riding a 254km special towards the Senegalese capital, the rally demanded immense navigational skill and speed control from its competing riders and drivers, directing them through beautiful scenery and numerous villages before a further 273km liaison stretch to Dakar loomed ahead.

Pavey made good time in today's 14th stage finishing in 49th position. BMW F650 GS Dakar rider, Nick Plumb, was not far behind in 52nd position.

Following today's proceedings, David Fretigne (France) won today's special stage for the first time in the rally followed by overall leader, Marc Coma (Spain) and fellow Spaniard, Farres Guel, in third position. A navigational blunder by Cyril Despres caused the Frenchman to lose 20 vital minutes, finishing in 43rd position. However, Despres still remains in second placing in the overall standings.

Tomorrow will see the 2006 Euromilhões Dakar Rally come to an emotional end. And for BMW riders, Simon Pavey and Nick Plumb, a 110km stage is now all that remains between them and a much sought after final placing.

For more information about the Race to Dakar team, enthusiasts can visit www.racetodakar.com

Highlights of the 2006 Euromilhões Lisbon to Dakar Rally (31 December 2005 to 15 January 2006) can be seen on Eurosport. See your local guide for details.

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