The best offroad machines on the planet have assembled on the streets of Eastern Siberia for the start of the 2019 Silk Way Rally. The first stage of the two-week rally will depart the city of Irkutsk on the shoreline of Lake Baikal tomorrow. We’ll have 10 stages and 5,000 kilometres of rally-raid action before the winners are crowned in Dunhuang, China on July 16.
One of the first to rev up his engine in Russia was reigning Dakar Rally champ Nasser Al-Attiyah (QAT). Al-Attiyah and his co-driver Mathieu Baumel (FRA) finished second at the Silk Way last year, they want to go one better this time around. The duo showed off the pace and power of their Toyota Hilux during a shakedown test on Friday afternoon.
« The Silk Way Rally is always really amazing. The organisation have made us feel very welcome. This will be the third Silk Way for me and we’ll try to win it. » – Nasser Al-Attiyah
Also getting to know their vehicles again before setting off on the Silk Way were the Red Bull KTM Factory Team. Three of the team’s bikers have made the journey to Russia and will be looking for the win as the route winds through Mongolia and China. Sam Sunderland (GBR), Luciano Benavides (ARG) and Laia Sanz (ESP) are leading the charge for KTM.
This is the first-time ever bikes, and quads, have been raced at the Silk Way. It remains to be seen if the Red Bull KTM Factory Team can extend their Dakar dominance to the Far East.
« I’m here in Russia for the first time in my life. I’m sensing a big difference in culture which is always cool to see. Discovering new places is definitely one of the best things about our sport. » – Sam Sunderland
Russian rider Anastasiya Nifontova (RUS) will also participate in the first Silk Way Rally to host a bike category.
Coming through the pre-rally scruntineering checks alongside fellow competitors on Friday were Team Kamaz Master. The Russian truckers have a proud record to maintain at their home rally, having won seven of eight editions.
Kamaz go into this latest edition of the Silk Way with four race trucks. These trucks will be driven by Andrey Karginov (RUS), Ayrat Mardeev (RUS), Anton Shibalov (RUS) and Sergey Kupriyanov (RUS). Expect to see the four trucks hunt in a pack as they look to secure another victory for the Russian team.
Bryce Menzies (USA) suffered an injury setback that has prevented him from participating at the 2019 Silk Way Rally. An accident while training for the rally caused an L5 disc herniation. The serious nature of the injury meant it was impossible for Menzies to bring his Peugeot 3008 DKR to the start-line in Irkutsk.
« I’d been logging many miles in our Polaris RZR to prepare for Silk Way. I had also been working out to make sure I was in my best physical shape to compete. Then I got this problem with the bulging disc in my back. I’m so disappointed that I can’t make the race, but I’m looking forward to future rally opportunities. » – Bryce Menzies
The convoy of competitors who will race this year’s Silk Way are set to take their place for a special start podium presentation in Irkutsk tonight. Then on Sunday morning, competitors will travel 250 kilometres to Baykalsk as part of the first Silk Way stage of 2019.
Quotes
Nasser Al-Attiyah: « The Silk Way Rally is always really amazing. The organisation have made us feel very welcome. This will be the third Silk Way for me and we’ll try to win it. We are still working very hard to develop our Toyota Hilux to make it as competitive as possible. »
Sam Sunderland: « I’m here in Russia for the first time in my life. I’m sensing a big difference in culture which is always cool to see. Discovering new places is definitely one of the best things about our sport. This gnarly big lake we’re going to ride around seems to be something unbelievable to see. »
Luciano Benavides: « The Silk Way is a new race for me, and a new race for all the bike competitors here. It’s a really long race so I’m expecting it to be as tough as a Dakar. In my last race I did good so my confidence is high. »
Laia Sanz: « I’m excited to discover a new race. I always love to discover new countries. Since the Dakar I haven’t raced on my rally bike, only with the enduro bike for Erzberg. It feels so good to be back on my rally bike doing what I love. »
Bryce Menzies: « I’d been logging many miles in our Polaris RZR to prepare for Silk Way. I had also been working out to make sure I was in my best physical shape to compete. Then I got this problem with the bulging disc in my back. I’m so disappointed that I can’t make the race, but I’m looking forward to future rally opportunities. »
Christine Fial,