Paul Carruthers | January 3, 2001
With no agreement being reached with the Spanish motorcycle federation, only cars and trucks raced in a special test on the beach in Castellon, Spain, today in the 2001 Paris-Dakar Rally.
Meanwhile, event promoterse have reaffirmed their confidence in the measures of security put in place by the Moroccan authorities to ensure the safety of the Rally during its seventh stage on January 7.
However if, according to event promoters, if over the next few days, the situation evolves, TSO is ready to take all necessary measures to neutralize or modify the stage as a consequence.
Yesterday evening the motorcycle competitors were informed that today’s special had been cancelled “due to the excessive sum of 7 million Pesetas demanded by the Spanish motorcycle federation for the running of the 6 km special.”
This meant that they were under no obligation to ride the course, but out of solidarity with the organizers and in an effort to not disappoint the large number of spectators, the majority, including the KTM and BMW factory teams, did a “demonstration lap.”
This afternoon, competitors headed off to the port of Almeria in the south of Spain. They will spend a night afloat before arriving in the morning in Morocco for the first African stage – a 373-mile stage between Nador and Er Rachidia.
Paul Carruthers | Editor
Paul Carruthers took over as the editor of Cycle News in 1993 after serving as associate editor since starting his career at the publication in 1985. Carruthers has covered every facet of the sport in his near-28-year tenure at America's Daily Motorcycle News Source.
