CHILE: MOTOR RALLYING: Chilean motorcyclist holds press conference ahead of Dakar Rally.

Record ID: 212715

  • Title: CHILE: MOTOR RALLYING: Chilean motorcyclist holds press conference ahead of Dakar Rally.
  • Date: 17th December 2008
  • Summary: SANTIAGO, CHILE (DECEMBER 16, 2008) (REUTERS) {SOUNDBITE} (Spanish) DAKAR MOTORCYCLIST FRANCISCO LOPEZ SAYING: "The circuit is much larger than Dakar, more than 660 kilometers, that is Copiapo (a race that leaves from the Atacama Desert and returns to the city of Copiapo) and this could be the difference, I believe that Coma is a racer equal to Cyril Despres, and David Casteu, they are drivers with a lot of experience, more than I, but I believe with my knowledge of the terrain and being in my country, they will have less advantages."
  • Embargoed: 1st January 2009 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Chile
  • Country: Chile
  • Topics: Sports
  • Reuters ID: LVACQRXLKLDBDCGAJQ18S6ZM8IDT
  • Story Text: Chilean motorcyclist Francisco "Chaleco" Lopez is gearing up for a first time South American win against former Dakar champs.
    Chilean Motorcyclist Chaleco Lopez is calling home turf the advantage as he prepares to take on two prior champions in the upcoming Dakar rally on January 3rd.
    The world's toughest off-road race is debuting in South America, after fears of terrorism canceled the event last year for the first time in its 30-year history.
    Organizers decided to move the event after receiving threats and following the deaths of four French tourists in Mauritius in January.
    The 15-day, 6,000 kilometer, coast-to-coast race will begin and end in Buenos Aires with the Chilean port city of Valparaiso at the midpoint.
    Lopez says he expects to outsmart rivals, former Dakar champions Cyril Despres and Marc Coma, by taking advantage of their weaknesses:
    "They say Chaleco is at home, let's put pressure on him, so that he tries to open the road and try to win, obviously I am going to try to win in the first stage, but I believe I am going to do it with a different strategy, I want them to feel the pressure. They have already won the Dakar, they are number one and two. They are going to fight and are going to be astonished by what is behind them, an error, and there I arrive," he said.
    In the "Dakar spirit" of venturing into the unknown, drivers must maneuver through the sprawling Pampas plains, snow-peaked Andes, and the Atacama Desert in Chile where Lopez has been focusing his energy for the tough road ahead:
    "The circuit is much larger than Dakar, more than 660 kilometers, that is Copiapo (a race that leaves from the Atacama Desert and returns to the city of Copiapo) and this could be the difference, I believe that Coma is a racer equal to Cyril Despres, and David Casteu, they are drivers with a lot of experience, more than I, but I believe with my knowledge of the terrain and being in my country, they will have less advantages."
    Some 570 vehicles and 950 participants from 50 nations will drive along the route beginning on Jan. 3 and ending on Jan. 18.
    While the race is safe from the political upheaval in Africa, it may still come under threat from disgruntled Argentine farmers who are considering protests along the route in the vast central province of La Pampa, scene of the opening two stages.
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