Two test days set the full stop to more than four months preparationfor the 2006 Lisbon Dakar Rally
The Repsol KTM team set the full stop to its preparation with the last joint test before the start of the 2006 Lisbon Dakar. Marc Coma, Giovanni Sala and Jordi Viladoms, under the direction of Team Manager Jordi Arcarons, completed two tests days in the North of Spain, mainly focussing on the secrets of navigation and orientation, two elements that will be decisive in this new edition.
The members of the Repsol KTM team covered more than 4,000 kilometres preparing the African raid during the last four months, testing twice in Tunisia, once in Morocco and up to four times in the North of Spain. In addition to making the riders work hard on the use of the road book under extremely difficult situations and locations, Jordi Arcarons also insisted in the closeness of the team and in promoting the spirit of team work. Of vital importance in these tests was also getting to know, analysing and adapting to the new regulations, such as the new navigation system without the complete GPS which the riders had been using in previous editions of the rally.
With the absences of Carlo de Gavardo, who is preparing the race in Chile, and Jordi Durán, still recovering from the accident suffered one week ago in Morocco, the rest of the team-members used these two days to have also a first contact with the new maximum speed warning system – 150 Km/h -, developed by the French company Sentinel.
The whole Repsol KTM Team, including riders, mechanics, physiotherapist and the rest of the team-members, will meet two days in Osona, Barcelona, to prepare the last logistic and organisation details of the team for the African raid.
