GHR Honda’s second Dakar Rally campaign is finally under way following the ceremonial start and prologue were held today in Peru. After 5 days of preparation and build up in Peru’s capital, Lima, the four Honda CRF450X motorcycles and one Honda TRX700XX quad entered by GHR crossed the ceremonial start with 444 other competitors and their machines. Embarking south on a scenic coastal liaison, they traced the coastline for 250km to Pisco where the racing started. The prologue stage of the 2013 event was a warm-up sprint throughout the sand dunes merely 13km in length, so brief that most riders finished in under an hour before returning to the Pisco bivouac.

Dakar Rally 2013: Stage 1 Route. Courtesy dakar.com

Lead GHR rider #156 Todd Smith from Condobolin finished in 34th place from 183 starters.

“Well, day 1 is done and dusted… I’m pretty happy with how it went, and just cruised through to come in 34th – a great place to start Day 2. I’ve done my map and the track looks good for tomorrow – some dunes and some road sections. It should be a good stage to learn the roadbooks and GPS. The bike is great, everything worked well.”

Second time Dakar entrant, #131 Warren Strange from Western Australia was the next GHR bike to clear the stage and stands in 59th place. A veteran desert racer, he’s aware that the race can’t be won on the opening stage but it can certainly be lost. His position tomorrow will allow him to start chipping away at his objective of a top 20 finish.

GHR have with their ranks two South African riders, both of whom raced the 2012 Australasian Safari with the Australian team. #89 rider Brett Cummings from Witbank and winner of the 2012 Dakar Challenge division at Safari crossed the line in 103rd place today. The 29 year old engineer has been training hard in preparation for this year’s Dakar with fellow South African competitor, #91 Glen Grundy, 48. While Cummings is aiming for a top 50 outright placing in the event, Grundy’s sole objective is to finish the race.

Victorian quad rider #274 Paul Smith started today as the first ever Australian to enter the quad class at Dakar. The 34 year old farmer completed the prologue in 13th place and has his sights set on a podium spot this year.

Today’s results have determined the start order Stage 2, consisting of an 85km liaison and 242km special over mixed terrain in the table lands to the west of the Andes. 3 sections of dunes will test the riders’ navigation skills and endurance before they return to Pisco for the second night.

Pictures from Glenn Hoffmann:

Leaving our home for the last week. Manuel supplies all his family contacts along the way.

Lima: filling up at the servo where full service and uniforms are the go.

Pisco: Glen at the end of the first day feeling... relaxed!

Pisco: bivouac panorama.

Pisco: bivouac panorama.

Pisco: Paul Smith is all set.

Pisco: Paul Smith saying hello to the crowd (who loved it).

Pisco: Warren is Mr Cool and ready for anything.

Pisco: Glen pumped and making motorbike noises.

Pisco: Brett Cummings takes the last pictures before they depart.

Pisco: Jonny Campbell still does his own maps of course.

Pisco: the rear end of the new HRC Honda.

Pisco: Some lucky competitor's home for two weeks.

Lima: How many outright Dakar winners in this shot?

Lima: heading south out of town.

Day 1: en route to Pisco.

Pisco: VIP entertaining with beer, ladies and V8 buggies for joy rides.

Pisco: two trucks buried in the pits. Check out the trailer in the background!

Pisco: changes to the notes for the second day.