Jan 6th, 2016 Dakar Rally Stage 4 Race Info & Discussion

Join in and discuss all the action from Stage 4 of the 2016 Dakar Rally. Robby Gordon finished 16th in Stage 3, and his teammate, Sheldon Creed, finished 25th. The special section of Stage 4 is 418km. Robby Gordon start time: 8:04am/et, Sheldon Creed start time: 8:14am/et. Raceday chat will be available throughout the entire 2016 Dakar Rally.

2016 Stage 3 Photos

STAGE 4 TRACKING

STAGE 4: SAN SALVADOR DE JUJUY > SAN SALVADOR DE JUJUY

Connection 201km | Special Stage 418km | Total 619km

COURSE OVERVIEW

Marathon 1: No Mechanics! On many levels, the competitors face their first real test here. The special section takes place at an average of 3,500m altitude, with incessant changes in pace resulting from alternating sandy and rocky terrain. This grueling route will be on the agenda when everyone already has 2,500km in the saddle or bucket seat, which is already exhausting for the lower placed drivers. First and foremost, this is the start of a very particular marathon stage, with a closed area for the vehicles... and for the competitors.

The GREEN section of the route is the connection , the RED is the Special Section of the stage.

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Permalink Reply by Luis Fernandez on January 6, 2016 at 4:07pm

A classic post from 2012 which is still relevant today
http://www.planetrobby.com/forum/topics/it-s-a-common-procedure?com...

It's a common procedure

Posted by Fabio on January 14, 2012 at 2:41am in Robby Gordon Discussion
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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.

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Permalink Reply by pedro santos on January 6, 2016 at 4:19pm

Sorry, just a comment: those are not Hummer´s ( they never were), THOSE ARE GORDINIS, from GORDON.

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Permalink Reply by joseph on January 6, 2016 at 4:12pm

some one asked before about tv times. nsnbc 12.30 1.00 1.30 am east coast time should be first there shows

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Permalink Reply by Mike Kenyon on January 6, 2016 at 4:12pm

that should be a winner, same odd's as RG winning his first CUP race on a mile? 265 million to 1
Except for the Gil Martin factor.

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Permalink Reply by David Z on January 6, 2016 at 4:18pm

For those wondering about this rely, it's to my Powerball post below.
Damn new tablet, deleted original post and fixed the typonesse.

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Permalink Reply by David Z on January 6, 2016 at 4:15pm

OK for those asking for chat, I just bought a Powerball ticket and if it wins, I'll sponsor chat. It should be lucky, I bought it at the Shell station next to the site of Robbys first NASCAR Cup win.
Wish us luck.