Having successfully returned from his latest global-trotting adventure, By Any Means, actor Charley Boorman will be lending a helping hand to Simon Pavey and his instructors at selected BMW Off Road Skills courses in September. Enthusiastic off-roaders Charley and Ewan brushed up on their riding skills with Simon Pavey at the BMW Off Road Skills school prior to their two marathon biking trips, ‘Long Way Round’ and ‘Long Way Down’ and it’s difficult to keep Charley away from the place.
After 16 agonising days, only half of the competitors that started the 2006 Euromilhões Lisbon to Dakar Rally reached the end at Dakar today. Race to Dakar rider and six-times competitor, Simon Pavey was one of the lucky ones to finish the race and in an impressive 86th position. His BMW team-mates of Charley Boorman and Matt Hall were forced to withdraw during the event due to injury and sheer exhaustion.
For the first time since 1996, the Dakar rally returned to Guinea today, which gave all competitors a great opportunity to test themselves in conditions well suited to enduro specialists, including rocks, jumps, potholes and water crossings. Today's 872 km marathon stage saw competitors leave Mali and enter Guinea during the 197 km liaison. The 368 km special passed through dense vegetation and many fords, giving several riders problems with water entering their engines.