Dakar: Szalay team stage four report

Over the first stiff stage

All the members of the Szalay Dakar Team are over the first stiff stage, however, even a lot of stars had troubles with it. Ours' did not lose their way, had no technical difficulties, they just did what they had to. The beginning of the stage between Er Rachidia and Ouarzazate was extremely rocky, stoney and fast, not to mention how dangerous it was. On today's tracks there were dunes as well, however, just a taste of it.

Balázs Szalay, László Bunkoczi (Opel Frontera, 38th)
We took 200 kilometers without powersteering, again. It seems like at all competitions there is something we get stuck with. Last year it was the v-belt, now we are struggling with power steering, for the second time. My thumb, which still hearts badly, just worsened the situation, so driving was a total affliction. Otherwise I really liked the stage, we had no problems, had to get out just once to flatten the tyres a bit and be able to cross a softer sandy part.

Ákos Varga (KTM, 43rd)
I am fed up with stonedesert stages, since there is only crazy speeding going on plain track, which I think is especially dangerous. I prefer sandy parts to this one. There was a bit of ruction today; the guy ,fueling my bike up, did not close the lid, so fuel spilled all over the seat and into my boots, burning my skin. I was trying to dry it somehow on the way, so luvckily I did not get hurt, but I could scrag the guy who fueled.

Zsolt Darázsi, Norbert Szalai, György Rack (MAN, 14th)
Nothin special happened, we we driving at our own pace similarly to the past few days. Luckily the truck is coming through remarkably well.

Jaroslav Katrinak (KTM, 13th)
It was a tough, long and dangerous stage - it could have been easy to fall on the stoney parts, fortunately I only 'managed' to do so among the dunes, where I fell into the soft sand and avoided getting injured. The stage had another critical point, too, when once my bike scampered, but I made it without falling. I am absolutely satisfied with the results, I did not expect to make it so much to the front.

-szalay-