Team Honda Europe

Things have stepped up a notch for Team Honda Europe. Two 6×6 trucks, two Land Cruiser's, two buggy's and five bikes last week departed from Le Havre, France for the shores of South America, ready for the start of the 2011 Dakar Rally on January 1st. The machines were loaded in Vorden, Netherlands and the trucks were packed meticulously to serve as super-efficient mobile workplaces for the team during the rally itself.

Team Honda Europe's five rider team comprises American Quinn Cody, Mirjam Pol from the Netherlands, Russian Alexey Naumov, Vadim Pritulyak from Kazakhstan and Christopher Jarmuz from Poland. The multinational collection of riders can now begin to focus on their own individual preparation and plan their race strategies, safe in the knowledge that there will be an excellent team of well equipped mechanics waiting for them at the end of each grueling stage.

The journey has now begun for Team Honda Europe but still within Europe, there was a full equipment inspection to undertake. The team were also required to collect essential items from the rally organizers, including the stamp book and stickers, Sentinel, Iritrack, GPS and Tripy that needed to be installed in order to ensure the bikes are full Dakar-ready. After the inspection, the bikes were sealed at the Harbor and loaded aboard.

The main event is getting close but it isn't just a question of counting down the days. Team Honda Europe is alert, preparing, organizing and constantly busy fine-tuning the last details before the start of the event. The team personnel will depart on December 27th to join the equipment that will be ready and waiting for them for them in Buenos Aires.

There is no turning back now. It's a race to the finish.

Henk Hellgers, Team Manager, Team Honda Europe

"We are making final preparations before the team travel to South America. Effective organization is the key to success so we are making sure that everything is prepared meticulously. The last checks on the machines have been made, the mechanics have been briefed and all the necessary logistical operations have been put in place. Pretty much all of the paperwork has been completed, so now we go racing!"