“This has just started and there is so much left, that I don’t think that it is time to think about starting an attack or trying to enlarge the advantage”.
Its always satisfying to lead the standings, because it means that we are doing a good job, but it doesnt mean that from now on we have to defend the position no matter what. Whats more, I think that its possible that they will pass us soon again.
Right now we are at the bivouac in Ouarzazate, still in Morocco and we have just covered 2,000 kilometres, so we still have more than 6,700 ahead, almost nothing. The specials of the first days were short, but today we covered almost 400 kilometres and in a couple of days therell be another special of almost 450 kms and several of 500 or even more kilometres…
Today I enjoyed the dune section a lot. It was filled with people and it seemed rather a MotoGP Grand Prix than a stage of the Dakar Rally. People were loudly cheering us up and I think that there was a huge crowd. Its been an anecdote that we talked about later laughing with the mechanics at the bivouac. Its good to talk sometimes about these things to always keep the good feeling among us.
The bike is working well; we made some changes yesterday on the front suspension with Lee Palmer, my mechanic, and the result was very good, so Ive told him that well keep everything as it is for tomorrow.
There will be a selection of riders in the race every day and there will be fewer riders left every day, until only one will reach Dakar as the winner. This is about finishing stages, staying among the top and overcome problems that will surely come. We will soon arrive in Mauritania and there the desert is really difficult, complicated and dangerous. In addition, during the off-road sections and with the new navigation system, things can get even more complicated. Im not worried because there is no need to be blinded by the lead right now. I only want to stay focussed and that the Repsol KTM keeps on doing the great job they have been doing so far.
