2019 Robby Gordon Headquarters
It's a common procedure
As a Dakar fan, I'm quite disappointed with the A.S.O. For me, this rally was the epitome of the off-road competition. Endurance, intelligence, team work and top of the line racing equipment.
I always tought they were not like the FIA people, with all it's corruption. A.S.O. for me was the brightest race organization in the world, for making such difficult race happen, wich must be very difficult for itself.
And maybe this difficulty is one of the reasons why A.S.O. is clearly manipulating the results. The sponsors and big money teams, are starting to take over the Dakar. It's sad, because this rally stills one of the few worldwide competitions that the independents can shine over the mighty money factories team.
But the reality is, BMW/Mini already spent lot's and lot's of money on this competition, and the car is very slow for the competition standard. They know that, and they will do whatever they have to do to ensure victory, so they can merchandise over it.
After losing with shame for the VW Touaregs, now that the VW'S are out, they cannot afford to lose for an independent team, it will hurt their image pretty bad.
From the day one, with one of the multiple cars they signed in, it was settled that Mini would win this year Dakar, and that's what A.S.O. is ensuring to happen. A.S.O. is making it, maybe to defend their sponsors, like BF Goodrich...and to ensure the big sponsors like Monster and Red Bull still on the Dakar for the next years to come.
If you ask me, it's wrong...true competition is the sport soul, if you take competition out of the sport, turns it into a friends camping over the wilderness. And people don't want to see a bunch of rich fellas having fun, people want competion, motorsport.
I'm pretty sure now, this kind of situation have happened before, with a lot of competitors and other teams. Every time I see the Red Bull biker, Cyril Despre, and how he managed to get out of the mud and not loose any time (thanks to the organization, who credited him all the minutes he lost)...I feel ashamed...that's not racing.
The organization (A.S.O.) even PUNISHED the portuguese rider who helped him, because he was helped by locals. The curious thing is, if the section was cut off from the rally, why punish him them?
And Peterhansel, who deliberately rammed over a stuck motorcycle rider inside a flowing river?! He hit'n'run the guy, pushed his bike to the water and was TOTALLY clear with that.
If Robby was the one pushing the biker into the river, what you people think A.S.O. would do?
Competition is always fair, the best wins. But this, this is not competition, it's a marked game.
The tv coverage A.S.O. is providing is rich in images, but very poor on info, always speaking how great Peterhansel is with it's nine victories (but how he managed to win nine times...like this year?), and always making fun of non factories racing teams.
The good thing is, in south america people have cameras, and are posting videos on youtube...if you search, you will see who are the competitors the crowd loves, and the mini-mini pilots are not among them. There's no A.S.O. helicopter on earth who can prove that wrong.
"La Hummer, la Hummer" "La vien Robby", "Nasser Hummer, que loco"...and a lot of screams, hands to the air and people going crazy. The mini-minis only appear on the videos when they happen to be near a Hummer, otherwise most of the people don't even bother.
It's sad to see such a incredible race, in such beatifull place, tainted by this corruption scheme.
But people, let's be concient, who has ever watched the 2010 movie about Senna?
2010 Senna Movie
French driver Prost, F1 multi-champion...winning in conditions like this, with a lot of corruption from the french sport organization.
I'm not saying french people are corrupt, and it's not right blame a nacionality for something like this. But these kind of situations happens on sports, people should be aware of it.
I live in Brazil, if Robby is racing next year Dakar, will take the trip to argentina to see the Hummers close and cheer for the Speed Team wins.
Views: 1264
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Michael Martinez on
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The roots of "the fix" are running pretty deep in sports. sitting there spitting out lies like olive pits come fairly easy for some folks, the worst of which are the ones who believe their own. I'll keep it short and leave it at that.
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Permalink Reply by C4robby on
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The ASO also runs the Tour De France, If you don't think they will do anything and everything to discredit any American, just look at Lance Armstrong. He won 7 Tours and has been treated like a criminal.
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Permalink Reply by Craig Veld on
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Well spoken words Fabio,
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Permalink Reply by TobaccoRoad on
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Great post!! But RG is used to this type of fight. I loved the video from stage 12 where he brought over the crew of a couple of the mini's to show them he plugged the part in question, then told them to tell Peterhansel he can "kiss my ass".
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Permalink Reply by paul murray on
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very well written, it will be interesting to see what comes out of A.S.O. final investigation, in a few weeks , keep it up all this chat is finally starting create something, both peterhansals, and the x raid facebook are starting to pile up unsavory comments, even from the french . also spare a thought for marc coma he also seems to have been robbed in the bikes.
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Permalink Reply by matts11 on
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great post Fabio and very true.
instant media like facebook, twitter, blog sites have brought the dakar rally to everyone on the globe. and because of that the world is finding out that Robby did not cheat and he has kicked some butt according to their rules. go to facebook and check out the x-raid site, its has gone crazy. the number of people who have called them out for being cry babies and cheats themselves is amazing. the best part of it is, they are non-Americans.
Monster, X-raid, BMW, ASO, and any other big companies may just smile and act like nothing is going, but behind the curtain they are some worried people. They are not worried about Robby winning the race, they are worried about where it will hit them the most. the pocket book. they know that if these people are pissed at them, then next time the fans think about buying their product they will remember the Dakar 2012. and just maybe pick up the can of Speed instead of monster.
Gas On Robby and show them what you are made of!
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Permalink Reply by Scooter Wright on
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Good reading and I agree with it..... I seldom watch NASCAR here in the USA because of similar governing tactics. KICK THEIR ASS ROBBY.... we all know and see the what is happening.
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Permalink Reply by Frank on
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I have read some great thoughts here, well done all of you. It seems as if we are all thinking alike. It is sad to see something you love corrupted. But, we have the ultimate say, if we stick together and vote with our pocket book. I will buy Toyo tires and Speed. And when we see good happen we need to speak to it on the web. My vote is for integrity
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Permalink Reply by FD REBEL on
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I could not have said it better, dead on! Its a shame and an insult to all Dakar racers that have made this endurance race an icon in the world of off road racing.
I can only imagine what the originators would think!Robby has single handedly taken ASO to task on making the rulings fair for all. He has stuck it out kicked some major ass and the cameras were there!
ASO take note: The jig is up, time to run this race as it was intended. Time will tell
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