Well we’re back in the saddle again. After a rusty lay off since the middle of January it was back out on the trusty new 2009 gasser EC 300 with five hours and five laps of the all new Ballinderry Enduro in Co.Wicklow on Sunday last. An excellent course was laid out with 5 short laps of 45 mins to 1 hour and it was a welcome introduction to the 2010 Dakar training program.

The EC 300 two-stroke held up well and is a different beast completely to the EC125 Philip was using in the IEC in 2009. The 300 drives on a lot more into corners and a few branches were chewed during the 4-5 hours run-out! Mind you it’s a welcome change from the needle bushes of the Argentine Patagonia.

The 2010 Dakar course has now been released to the World Media and it will be the 2009 course in reverse which basically means all of the dunes will be crossed in the first seven days up until the rest day and the remaining seven stages will be open plain racing with three technical days thrown in for good measure.

Team Dakar Ireland 2010 will have a complete team including 2 support vehicles for 2010 and 2 assistance vehicle drivers as well as 2 mechanics completing the first ever comprehensive team to enter the Dakar from Ireland . We will be announcing a number of events shortly including the Official Press Launch of  Team Dakar Ireland 2010.  

Until next time yours in offroad extreme rallying Team Ireland Dakar 2010.
        

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