STAGE 1, First day on my motorcycle. Buenos Ares, Argentina

STAGE 1, Buenos aires - Villa carlos paz

Liaison sections: 663 km 

Special stage: 175 km

Total: 838 km

My name is Anar Chinbaatar, I am Mongolian and I am a Dakar Rally finisher, here is my story. I am beginner on riding motorcycle, just learned to ride in year 2011. During summer time riding (not racing) few days if I have free time. 

The Prolog is the first day of the Dakar, it is usually short, fairly easy and has a lot of spectators. This year the Dakar was different, the organizers made the difficulties begin early on. Having never even ridden my new KTM 450 rally replica, the motocross-like track felt unusual. I found the KTM to be very plush, lightweight and powerful but the handlebars were too low for standing comfortably and the seat was too low for me when I sat down, my legs were bent at too acute an angle. I realised it was too late to make changes, I am quite sure my teammate, #83 Boldbaatar Damdinkhorloo and I were the only riders in the rally who did no testing with their bikes prior to rally.

The hard packed surface was tricky for me to learn, there were a great number of tight turns and I asked myself, “Have you ever cornered a motorcycle before?” The dust was thick and it made it hard to see far ahead, I was riding blind and didn’t understand how riders passed me in the dust clouds.

Mid-way through the Special Stage an Italian rider, number #106 crashed hard just in front me and at the same time as the BAS TRUCK team rider  was passing me. He and me I stopped to provide him with help as motorcycles passed by, I asked if he was okay and pressed the emergency button on his irritrack system to summon medical assistance then mounted up and continued on to the finish line. During the liaison we passed by a beautiful lake that reminded me of my home so far away.

At the bivouac our support team Rally Raid UK we not there, Boldbaatar and I waited and slept in our riding gear until midnight when RRUK finally arrived.