Stan Watt rings in after the abbreviated stage.  Having injured his knee yesterday in the "debacle", he took it easy today.He also mentions that yesterday's stage was neutralized, and that it sucks for Jonah.  Obviously that doesn't jive with the timing as we're seeing it today, so either the riders have been given a false impression, or something is afoot that we're yet to hear about.  Lets hope the former.  :nod

Garry calls in from the bivouac after the weather-shortened stage 6. As good as Jonah's day

was yesterday, David Schwarz had a tough one, missing a CP by 60m and

incurring a very hefty penalty.Thanks, Garry!

Jonah's Eurosport interview following his impressive win on Stage 5.  Check out eurosport.com for more of their great coverage.

Garry heads off to bed, but not before speaking with Marc Coma.  Tomorrow will be a big day, with competitors encountering the first dunes of the rally.WE should get to hear from Marc tomorrow, all things going as planned.

In the meantime, Garry fills us in on some followup with Frans

Verhoeven on the future of El Dakaro, and gives us a glimpse of what

it's like over in the Elf Box camp, with the truly unsupported

privateers.

There's some digital break-up in parts of the call (from wind noise, I believe), so bear with us.

Cheers, and G'night Garry!

Garry speaks with the lone Kiwi on the rally, privateer moto Michael Shepherd.  Great chat on what brought him to the rally, and what it's like to get passed flat out by the cars and trucks.Thanks Mike, and good luck!

After finishing his roadbook for the night, the man in second place overall, Jonah Street, gives us a quick call.  Get some rest tonight, Jonah!

Garry chats with Italian quad rider Camelia Liparoti, who shares her perspectives on the rally with us in this great(!) call.Here's the Dakar profile for Camelia:She has been thinking about it for 12 years. Her uncle,

a mechanic in her native Tuscany had her cleaning the spark plugs in

her car. “I never got dirty”, she says laughingly. “I was fascinated by

engine noise”.

It runs through Carmélia Liparoti’s veins. This petite

lady’s passion is the quad; she seeks adventure and has dreamed about

the Dakar for quite awhile.” I have covered the rally three times as a

journalist”. These elements came into focus for the photographer.

Camélia has had this challenge in the back of her mind since she

decided to return but on the other side of the lens as a competitor. “I

want to be the first woman to reach Dakar on a quad”.

Since discovering the rally she has prepared to take it

on. In the three years she has amassed experience on raid adventures on

every continent. Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritania, Morocco, Russia,

Finland, Canada even Madagascar were all stops along the way. Colleague

and past Dakar competitor, Francis Guérand is lending Carmélia a hand.

He too ran a quad on the Dakar. He acted as a “Sherpa” over the entire

rally distance.

The Italian lady lives in Chamonix, France and at home

skiing is her first love. “Skiing… the lines and slopes are a great to

learn more about riding a quad. It’s all about sliding which is also

how you attack a valley of dunes.” Luc Alphand, her ‘Godfather, on the

Dakar wouldn’t disagree.

Aussie Christophe Barriere Varju fills us in on his race to date, and what the dust is doing to man and machine alike.Thanks Christophe, and hope to hear from you again soon!  Safe racing!Christophe is running race number 205

Garry rings in with an awesome update of the rally from the perspective of a support team member (as well as EveryMan rallye nut).  Ever wonder what goes on when a rider pulls into the pit?  Listen in.  Garry's also got a great description of how the Rally is being received in SA.Thanks, Garry!

Garry has Frans Verhoeven, former KTM factory (now Vectra teammate to Casteu) rider and winner of Stage 2, on the line.  Thanks, Frans, and continued good luck!