And only after the proverbial checkered flag waved would the Coast 2 Coast Rally award them their glory and a celebration.
#Coast rider desent angle free#
Here, they were stallions or carriages free of masters and rules and burdens.
It was the moment where those heavy weights of competition were blown off their shoulders in this hasty sprint. That was the start of the final timed section, cued up at Timing & Scoring, waiting for the prerequisite signal.
Then the blanket of warmth became a more unbearable heat, and you knew you were at sea-level. Pines and ferns became vines, fruits, and florals along the path. Humidity built up around you with every meter you traveled closer to the Pacific. Air was cool for a while, but there was a distinct change from one climate of biosphere to the next signaling the arrival to the jungle. A dense fog sat at a certain elevation almost indefinitely so travelers can watch everything ahead of them disappear into the grey. Under the dark, cool canopies of the rainforest, they brushed against helechos, healthy ancient ferns unbothered and thriving in the woodlands. Reportedly, one of the more popular routes, SS5 gave the participants a little bit of everything. And that someone was Arturo Garza (107), while Juan Manuel Vasquez (105) took the next respectable step. Something that counts for a lot in a sport meant to break you. They mixed with the Stock class on course, and while there was a bit of gap between them, they also both finished with points. Both Unlimited UTVs drove fairly separated from each other most of the event. A dizzying descent during the Liaison from San José del Pacifíco – reaching upwards of 3,000 meters (or 9,842 feet) at times then dropping drastically – was such a contrast from the wide, straight, swift trajectory of the 10 “clicks” of the Special that it’s no wonder the racers went wild at the sight of the finish line. The lines were all over the place, up and down, in short bursts and in large. If you followed their tracks on Google Maps, you might think you were viewing the records of an electrocardiogram (EKG) by mistake. With Speed Zones ever present, the SSVs of both categories caravanned down the steep, curvy mountain range they’d ascended the stage before. His wife and daughter congratulated his success under the Red Bull arch at playa de Zicatela, maybe still unaware of his accomplishment at that point. Strawberry farmer in small-town Baja, Lara was a surprise to those who weren’t familiar with him or his prowess on a moto. Avenant was a favorite to win, having some of the most well-rounded experience in the lineup, but the fierce competition around him, rather than his performance, likely obstructed his preferred results. But consistency, and perhaps sheer determination, gave South Africa’s Willem Avenant (12) and Oswaldo Lara (7) from Punta Colonet, B.C., the upper hand, placing them One and Two ahead of Santana. Mauricio Santana (5) appeared to be in real contention, pulling some of the quicker times on-course. Differences between the first four seats were by mere minutes. The ones who didn’t fluctuate so drastically were the champions amongst the professionals.
Bikes at the top one day were damn near the bottom the next. Even so, a smattering of penalties kept riders who were talented at both bogged down by extra time. This whole group was made up of fast guys, so it’s safe to say the leaders were the more talented navigators. Rally Pros had a slim margin for failure. Come Friday only three were left: Mauricio Varela (73) in the Winner’s Circle, Leonardo Padilla (71) right after him, and Javier Garza. Like the Rally Experience class, Maxi Rally saw about a 50% attrition rate. Juan Pablo Isaac Medina (57) was a contender for runner-up throughout the tournament, but eventually settled for Third after he was awarded a crushing penalty on Stage Four. Mauricio Rivas (59) took the second step of the podium on his Aprilia Tuareg 660, a rare vessel even in this class. Of the ADV Experts, Vincent Ros (62) had the fastest time amongst his peers, winning the Rally Experience Category with flying colors. Perhaps they possess just a few more drops of masochism every rally racer needs to survive five-plus stages of punishment, especially on a motorbike sitting in the heavier weight classes. It already takes some courage to enter a rally-raid on a purpose-built vehicle, but to sign-up with machines that are arguably inefficient in this sport (or any?) requires a bit more than bravery. Maxi Rally and Rally Experience teams were some of the toughest boys out there.
0 kommentar(er)
