UAE Desert Challenge 2007

During our recent trip to Dubai we were able to catch the start of the UAE Desert Challenge and watch the prologue stage in Dubai. It ran at 4.00pm and it was still 36C.

Talking to Nick Plumb of Touratech and Dawn to Dusk fame. He reckoned a sensible budget for the event is £1500 including shipping your bike, entry, etc. Needless to say Thomas now has a new ambition!

The only modification over standard on Nick's 525 is a big tank and the roadbook/navigation equipment. In addition to full on Rally Raid bikes there were several bikes that were standard enduro models with just a big tank, lots of Honda CRF450s.

Alphand and Sainz are fighting for the World Championship so all a bit serious. Towards the end of the prologue stage Sainz slowed to a crawl before the line to ensure he dropped enough time to put him down the order for the start of the desert sections the next day.

The factory KTM 690 Rallye bikes were so obviously superior to anything else there, the way they rode the sand ruts had to be seen to be believed. The WP suspension guy was tweaking Despres and Coma's bikes and their front forks even had small plaques with their names on and the number and spec of the forks. Probably change forks for different terrain as the event progresses.