Rallyraidio

After a miserable day of intense sickness yesterday that resulted in him sitting out the stage, Lyndon is much recovered today and had a great day on the bike, describing the stage as a "real African Dakar stage"!  Rally On, Lyndon!!

Lyndon calls in with a comprehensiive from the Bivouac after a rough day on the bike, health wise. 

On the eve of fulfilling his dream of riding a North African Rallye, Lyndon (Pyndon) Poskitt calls in from the Merzouga Rally. He'll be on his self-built KTM 700. It's great to have you back on RallyRAIDio, Lyndon!  

Ned Suesse (Neduro), who we followed with rapt attention during the 2012 Dakar Rally, calls in after Day 1 of the inaugural Baja Rally. Thanks, Ned, and good luck on Day 2!

For the third year in a row, fans from around the world have followed Luis Belaustegui as he's attempted the Dakar on a 2-stroke KTM 150. Last year he came agonizingly close before a crash and injury ruled him out a stage from the end. This year, he had to overcome one challenge after the next in order to make it. When you hear his attitude, I think it will be clear why he was able to triumph. We chat with mechanic and team manager Scott Spears, followed by Luis, as they are on a layover on their flight home from Chile.  Thanks for taking the time to speak with us guys, and congratulations on a job well done!!

Fresh off the podium, we catch up with Lyndon for a wrap-up interview for his 2013 Dakar effort. Many of you have asked to hear from Lyndon's dad, Robin, who served as his mechanic for the race, and I'm happy to say that Robin joined us for this call! Grab your favorite beverage and sit back for the final details and some reflection on the past fortnight (indeed, the past year). Cheers!

Preempting the throngs of "official" media, Lyndon first calls in to RallyRAIDio from the finish line of his first Dakar. A Dakar rookie, but hardly a novice, Lyndon's effort this year is a textbook lesson on how to bring it home. CONGRATS, Lyndon!!!

An upbeat Lyndon calls in on the Penultimate day of the rally. After his miraculous (and rally-saving) mechanical repair yesterday, he started well down the field today and had to contend with a lot of dust, passing 40 bikes and quads through the course of the stage. One day to go, and Lyndon knows it's not over until the finishers medal (which is satisfyingly heavy, as Ned Suesse informed us last year) is in his hand. Keep it steady, Lyndon, and thanks for the ride!

It was clear from the timing sheets that something dramatic had happened to Lyndon in the first sector of today's stage, but no one in cyberspace could have imagined how close his rally came to being over. Lesser men would not have been able to repair the damage and bring it home (on pace, no less, once he got going again).  We didn't have an interview planned, but I was able to catch Lyndon on his call in and have a chat -- glad I did!  Go "Inside the Helmet" as Lyndon talks about what was going through his mind both out on the piste, and at the end of the stage.  Brilliant stuff.

Lyndon calls in after the Fiambala stage, which turned out to be of a much different character than those run on previous editions. True to form, however, the stages that appear shortest on the route description prove to be long on challenge. Looking ahead, the rally crosses the high passes back into Chile tomorrow, with three long days to go before the riders can allow themselves to relax.  Keep it steady, Lyndon.

No way to dance around it, Stage 10 was a tough day on the job for Lyndon. Things came unglued in a high speed corner resulting in a high side that banged up both bike and rider alike. Tomorrow is the famed (and oft dreaded) Fiambala stage, so hopefully they'll both be fully recovered. Rest up, Lyndon. We look forward to a happier call tomorrow!

How does it feel to start amongst your heroes in the first 10 on a stage in the Dakar? Pretty magical. Lyndon started 9th from the line in today's stage, ahead of such stalwarts as Cyril Despres, Helder Rogrigues, and Chaleco Lopez. Knowing full well that they would catch him on track, he rode his own ride, and was treated to a show out along the way.  Kid in a candy store? You bet! It's a whole different world at the front end of the field. Grab a beer, and enjoy the tale!

Interview with Lyndon Poskitt on the rest day, Listeners' questions answered including whether he thinks a 950 would be up to the task.

Dave from Rally Management Services chats with us from the rest day bivouac for the stories on Kevin Muggleton's abbreviated run, updates on crowd favorite Luis on the 150cc 2 stroke, and what it's like to participate not as a rider, but on the team side of things (a perspective that may be more realistic for many of us). Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule for us, Dave! (Dave from RMS at left, Freedom Racing Team photo)

We have a great interactive interview from the bivouac with Lyndon Poskitt following his top 10 finish on stage 8! What's it feel like to have the ride of your life, and come in to find that it landed you in the top 10 on a day that caught out many of the best rally riders in the world? Grab a beer or two, and listen in to find out!  Congrats, Lyndon!!!   

Lyndon calls in after the first of two marathon stages (bikes spend the night in their own bivouac, no assistance crews for the duration of two consecutive days). It was a rough day for him, both physically/health, and mechanically on the bike, which luckily can be considered his first setbacks of the rally. It was also an emotional day, as a moto competitor was killed on the liaison to the start of the special. Godspeed, Thomas Bourgin.

Lyndon rings in after the longest stage (in selective miles) of this year's rally.

Stage 5 was billed as a "short" stage, but as Lyndon reports, woe is the competitor who confused distance, with challenge. Put into difficulty on several occasions, his enjoyment of the stage is nevertheless very clear in his voice (as Ned predicted it would be today).  The competitors have a 0430 start tomorrow, compounded by a further two hour loss of sleep due to the time change in Chile. Get some rest, Lyndon, you'll need it for the marathon stage tomorrow!

It's hard to believe it's only been four stages, but they've been some of the toughest opening stages on any edition of the Dakar to date.  After a marathon 700+km day, we catch up with Lyndon Poskitt for an interactive interview, featuring special guest, and Lyndon's dear friend, Ned Suesse (of 2012 RallyRAIDio fame). Grab a beer (or coffee, depending on when you listen to this) and sit back as we catch up on Lyndon's rally, and listen to Ned and Lyndon compare notes on their experiences. Thanks, Lyndon, and thanks Ned for joining us. It's great to have you back on RallyRAIDio! Webventure.br photo

On a day that saw many competitors come to grief on the long and challenging stage, it's clear that Lyndon is having a blast and enjoying the ride. Listen in, you'll be grinning ear to ear by the end, too.  Thanks for bringing us along for the ride, Lyndon! Keep it Pyn'd!