Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Dakar Rally - Cyril Desprese Hero or What?

[webbyc]

Not sure I've spelt his name right, but this guy is currently lying second on the bikes in the Dakar. In addition he won a stage the day before yesterday as I've not updated myself with what happened yesterday. Anyway a few days ago he came off his KTM at near on 100 mph, knocked himself out, dislocated his collar bone, damaged the bike. Couple of other riders checked that he was ok but went on their way. Cyril comes round, picks himself up and the bike to continue on to finish the stage having only lost 2 minutes to the leader!!! He went to the medical centre to get checked out and has continued on in the rally!! He lost a lot of time over the next couple of stages but has been clawing that back to lie currently in secomd place overall and not that far off the lead. What a man or has the bang on his head affected his judgement?

[Ian Harris]

Wasn't there another French bloke, several years back, who carried on with a broken ankle, and didn't stop until he broke the other leg as well?

[BDG]

Absolute hero's, anyone who completes more than half of that race, never mind finishing.

[doogalman]

Ditto. damn hard blokes they are . Pain! what pain???

[Ray]

One of few last truly great motorcyle adventures. The factory riders have a relatively pampered existence compared the privateers, but maybe that should be RELATIVELY.

It never cease to amaze me what all the competitors put themselves through, especially the bikers and quad riders. Some get so far behind they just ride from the end of one special into the start of the next.

Caldecote lost his life a day or so ago, His local town in Aus clubbed together to fund his First ride on the Dakar.

If you can get to see it on Eurosport its well worth a look.

Ray

[Brogins]

I did read the Dottor Costa book (the surgeon of MotoGp riders) ..and I was amazed from what professional rider are able to bare when talking about "pain" and racing. Definetly a tough breed...
This guy is a hero.... at least for a small portion of human beings - motorcyclists -

[webbyc]

Originally posted by Ian Harris
Wasn't there another French bloke, several years back, who carried on with a broken ankle, and didn't stop until he broke the other leg as well?

Think you're right Ian, asn't it last year and didn't he break both ankles and wouldn't take his boots off because they were holding them together????