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Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128344
-- - - August 22-26, 2004 OFF-ROAD __ Red Bull KTM USA Dakar Rider Search Kellon Walch heads for d inner from the Dakar-style bivauac setup for the riders and mechanics. Dune s, so uth of Death Valley in California. Dumont would be the base of operations for the next th ree days to simplify logistics; participants in Dakar would set up and break camp - or bivouac every day. Tuesday would be the big day, with the riders getting a 2:30 a.m. wakeup roust so they could set off on a lOS-mile "liaiso n." or transfer stage, to the start. (Slee p depr ivation is an unavoidable part of Dakar and was built into the contest.) As planned, they arrived before dawn, so the six caught some sleep in the dirt next to their bikes while waiting for the start of two 2oo-mile stages that wo uld take them back into Nevada and also south then west between the 1 and 1- 15 freeways in the California -40 desert . Bartram joked , "I don't even like driving a car that far in a day!" The fi nal day wo uld encom pass mor e drills and two conte sts: the High Point competition, where the first guy to the top of the tallest dune at Dumont wins, and the 90-minute Grand Prix de Dumont Dunes, which turned out to be o ne of the best off-road races ever (despite its small field of ent rants). A large crew of cameras - including one in a helicopter that shot tw o days documented everyth ing for a two-hour te levision show on Outdoor Life Network, which will air later this year. "I've always wan ted to do something diff erent than just race in the States here, but I can't afford to go over there on my own ; it' d have to be a deal like this," Blais said. "The right opportunity came by, and that 's why I'm here . "We only had a few days to RSVP. I talked to Johnny [Ca mpbell] a little bit abo ut it; he said I should go fo r it . I decided if he knew I cou ld do it, I should be out her e ." (Aba ve) Legendary off-roader Malcalm Sm ith (left) and Harden he lped judge the con testants." U (Bel ow ) Chris Blais brushes up on his deep-sand-riding sk ills. 28 OCTOBER 6, 2004 • CYCLE N EWS 40th Anniversary Gr ider also knew he wa nted the chance. After co ming close to riding last year's race after McCoy bro ke his leg while testing a few weeks befo re the start, Grider actually co nside red retiring from serious comp et ition this year. Then, the Dakar Rider Search invitation came. "Coming up to the [Baja] 500, I was th inking that was probably going to be my last serious professional race going for the overall," he admitt ed. "I was getting ready to put it away and wasn't worried abo ut my training any more. When I got this letter, all of a sudden prerunning became serious - the race was serious. I started training again and got [my we ight] down [20 pounds] to what my body should be 18S pounds - instead of a fat beer-drinker on the couch ." Walch, probably the youngest of the bunch and curr ently focused on the WORCS races and motocross , ended up entering almost on a lark. "Like [current spon sor] Jeff Price says, 'T hat's something yo u kind of think abo ut when you get older and your career is kind of done you go and do Dakar.' "I really didn't even th ink about it [before]. To be hones t , I never even used a GPS befor e I came he re . I knew w hat it mea nt, but I'd neve r even used one, so I was kind of nervous about navigation. That was the only thing that kind of made me nervous - th at and sand dun es. I haven't ridde n th e sand dunes very much." He was in the same boat as most of the contestants, but lewis put their minds more at ease afte r running them through one of his rally-navigation sem inars, which he followed with drills to re inforce what they 'd learned - and they'd get plenty of time in the dunes over the cou rse of the contest. When it was over, Walch and Bl is a end ed up on the team, with Grider earning the role of alternate , but it wasn't an easy decision by the judges. "The tro uble is, all the guys did pretty well. I mean, it was hard for us to say, 'Three of you lose,''' Smith said. Harden adde d, "I wish that I could invite all the riders to Dakar because they all have so much talent, enthusiasm and strong character. However, there can be only three riders that can go to Dakar. For 200S it will be Chris Blais, Ke llon Walch and me. In addition, all of us, including Andy Grider, are looking forwa rd to competing in the upcoming Baja 1000." First, though, the team w ill participate in the Nevada Rally Experience next month, a noncompetitive ride that fo llows part of the old Nevada Rally course. Afte r the 1000 w ill be tests in Tunisia, then on to Dakar. This reality sho w is underway. eN