MERZOUGA RALLY 2019

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MERZOUGA RALLY 2019

Posted on April 23, 2019 at 9:25 AM

This is one of the most unique events in the Cross-Country world of Rallying. It is the little brother to the Dakar rally, both being ASO events. However, it is a training and navigation rally and the ideal place to see if you are prepared for the Dakar. Competitors who participate usually get the “green light” for Dakar if they have proven themselves capable. It is the brainchild of Edo Mossi a mad passionate Italian who understands what the competitors need and want from an event.

Doing the stages in the mornings, the riders are then free in the afternoons to attend workshops on navigation, use of the equipment, Dakar preparation and the like. Also, if the bike breaks or the competitor has some sort of issues in a stage, he/she can start the next days stage even though they will incur massive penalties In other words, you are very rarely disqualified or out of the race, and it is a good value for money event in this regard. Also, there is a coach who is out in the dunes to advise and guide you as to what you are doing wrong. Listen well, the coach is none other than Giovanni Sala with a ton of experience. A lot of Assistant teams are present, and one can get the feel of who you would like to go with to the Dakar. Some top teams use it as a testing ground, so you can be in the presence of the likes of Adrian Van Beveren and Michael Metge and this year Nasser Al Attiyah who was in an SSV or SXS vehicle.

Being a much more relaxed event, means the officials also benefit as we get to do other jobs. Usually the Jury are kept away from the work which could put them into a conflict of interest. But here, the jury were the Jury, Competitors Relations officers, Starters and in my case, do the riders briefing in English each night. This makes it so much more stimulating and interesting for us, and the rare opportunity to get out to the start of a stage and see the spectacular countryside of Morocco. Yes, it involved diabolically early starts (we had to be in position at least one hour before the riders left the hotels on their liaison to the start of the stage), putting up panels, boards, flags, barrier tape, rubbish bags and ensuring we had water for riders, as well as setting up the GPS clock. We also had to find the start of the stage somewhere out there and point it in the right direction! We got it wrong twice but managed to hurriedly move the start around. Once we were set up, we operated like clockwork, getting the riders in order, checking helmets, camelbacks and removing cameras! It’s a chance to chat to the riders and make new friends and enemies!! Then by the time we packed up and got back to the Race HQ it is lunch time and, in the afternoons, we deal with queries and endless explanations as to why penalties were applied.

The KTM Adventure riders were part of the package this year, and it was fantastic to meet riders from New Zealand, USA, Canada as well as our own South African riders. They were under the watchful gaze of the big guns such as Marc Coma, Chris Birch and Quin Cody. The results were as follows:-

KTM ULTIMATE RACE 2019 RESULTS

1. Scott Myers #411 (USA)

2. Radek Burkat #410 (CAN)

3. Jordan Huibregtse #412 (USA)

4. Sebastian Blum #401 (GER)

5. Christiaan Odendaal #403 (RSA)

6. Kevin Archer #405 (NZL)

7. Elliot Kent #406 (NZL)

8. Vasile Scurtu #409 (CAN)

9. Greg Hodgskin #404 (RSA)

10. Steve Robertson #408 (AUS)

11. Stefano Sassaro #402 (ITA)

12. Robert Nowak #407 (AUS)

From the Motorsport South Africa stable, Ross Branch had an epic race to finish second overall and take the penultimate stage win. Also, high up the rankings from SA was Kenny Gilberts who finished ninth overall. The ladies from SA showed a clean pair of heels, with Kirsten Landman winning the ladies class and Taye Perry also finishing on the podium. Robert Gibbon and two Zimbabweans, Graeme Sharp and David Westwood also finished the race, and everyone earned some valuable experience.

For me personally, this is my favourite event, as it is an opportunity to learn more about my sport under the guidance of some very experienced officials, who have to deal with my inability to speak French.