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Me and overall winner, Jean Brucy (FRA) Gauloise
KTM,
at the start of the last special stage.
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From success to disaster to success again.
My troublesome race to the finish...
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I finished 18th overall, which was a bit of a disappointment
because I started first day by finsishing 13th, only seconds behind
KTM factory rider Jean Brucy, France. Then all the problems started.
I was the only XR400 cc bike (SLOWEST bike), with huge problems...
the carb and fuel pump didn't work properly and I couldn't get
it sorted, it misfired and stopped time to time. Then the NEW
CDI box broke because water had got into the connection and loom,
and I had to fix it out on the track. I can't believe all the
weird problems that just came up back-to-back, on a standard XR
that is just unreal.
So I dropped down to 30th for two days. Even if I tried hard and
rode faster than I've ever done before I couldn't make up all
the lost time.
In the beginning of the race with all problems I was just thinking
I wanted to finish, and as the race continued I started chasing
minutes and places... funny huh?
Anyway, I made some really good results the last couple of days,
finishing 13-12-11 and the last day 10th, on the very same second
as Jean Brucy. This is the best I've ever raced in my whole life!
On the last 2,5 km stage Jean Brucy and I started together - and
gentleman as Brucy is, he let me win!
I "won" a small victory just beating the technical difficulties
and not giving up the race. The other riders came and shook my
hand and congratulated me for my "iron mentality" and
results the last days. I think I proved I can ride fast despite
all the bike problems.
And I'm very proud of myself doing that, not giving up, racing,
fixing the bike on the track, doing mechanics in the evening myself,
little sleep etc. Also, I didn't get hurt - that's a big bonus!
THANX:
Moto Aventures - bike, prep etc. without you it wouldn't have
happened.
Team Ullevålseter - helping me fix bike
Other teams/riders - support and helping
Rene Metge Concept race org - for putting together a good race
Touringbutiken - equipment
My sister Eila - updating the web
Darren Duesbury - for inviting me to the Rally!
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Start: 1 August - Ankara
Finish: 7 August - Antalya
Course: approx 3100 km
Rallye
d'Orient web page
On TV every night
Eurosport CET
1 aug: 23.00-23.15
2 aug: 00.15-00.30
3 aug: 23.45-00.00
4 aug: 23.45-00.00
5 aug: 23.30-23.45
6 aug: 22.30-22.45
7 aug: 23.00-23.15
10 aug: 23.30-00.00
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Team Moto Aventures
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Rider:
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Annie Seel - Pressinfo
PDF |
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Race Class:
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450 SP |
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Race No:
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28 |
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Race Bike:
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ALIEN 400 |
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Team:
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Moto Aventures - Moto
Aventures |
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Team boss:
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Su Downham |
| Bike preparation: |
John Griffiths |
The ALIEN |
Annie & Team boss Su |
John prepping
(Read about bike prep on NEWS) |
Pressrelease 2004-07-27:
Annie Seel in World Cup Rallye d'Orient
T urkey, 1-7 Aug 2004.
Swedish motorcyclist and adventurer Annie Seel got a special invitation
to the Turkish World Cup Rally round, Rallye d'Orient.
The 3100 km race starts the 1 August in Ankara, and finishes 7 August
in Antalya on the coast.
Team Moto Aventures provides the specially built bike, called "The
Alien". She will be the only rider on a 400cc. The bike is a new
upgraded version of the Honda she raced in the Dakar 2002, which she
actually won the 400 Production class on. But she was more recognised
for finishing the Dakar with a broken right hand and a blue thigh...
Annie herself flew down to Moto Aventures' workshop in Andorra last
week to prepare it together with team boss John Griffiths, who is entering
the Dakar 2005 on the same type of bike. So Annie is also "pre-testing"
the components and set up for the Dakar in January 2005.
It has been 3 years since Annie raced in a World Cup Rally. Since the
Dakar 2002 she has mostly raced in the USA, riding the legendary Baja1000
and Baja500 with Rob Barnum and Mike Kay.
Only last month she was the first ever woman to ride the IRONMAN class
in Americas longest offroad race, the Vegas-to-Reno 500 miles. She finished
5th in the Ironman amateurs, and now is the first ever IRONWOMAN!
In August 2003 Annie set the Womens Mount Everest World Record on a
21 year old bike, when reaching 5305 m on the Everest north face.
This year started badly for Annie, when having a bad knee injury during
a Swedish TV game-show. She had an operation in late February, and started
biking in mid April. But now she is definately back on her wheels.
There's nothing stopping her.
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