There just isn’t much going on in the two-wheeled world these days. EICMA is over, the roadracing scene is pretty quiet, and for us Canadians, it’s too cold, snowy, and icy to ride anyway.
But just around the corner, after Christmas, the 2016 Dakar rally will run in South America, where it’s been for the last few years, due to the threat of terrorism on its former African route. Although it doesn’t get the respect it deserves here in North America, the race is more than just a duel between the world’s top off-roaders and the factories backing them; it’s also a beacon of hope to frozen-in riders, who get to see that there are actually places in the world that are warm enough to ride.
Today, we’re posting a blast from the past, a Dakar broadcast from 30 years ago. The 1985 race looks a lot different from today’s event; the bikes aren’t restricted to a puny 450cc, and the vehicles are all much more obviously production-based. But no matter the vehicle or the continent, the enemy is still the same: The endless dunes of the desert.
Love that old footage! It was in 85′ that I became aware of this great race, but I only ever read about it and saw pictures. Thanks for this clip!