Third edition of the Belgian Dark Dog Moto Tour

April 26th, 2009

Article By IPA Member: Guy Verstraeten
Guy594 Photography

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Motor Rally has already gone a long way. The motor rally has its golden period after the WWII, with events such as Liège-Milan-Liège, the trophy of Monaco and numerous rallies that went through Belgium. Then after a while the road rally disappeared from the scene. The Tour de France - which became Dark Dog Tour – brought this sports back a number of years ago and it was somewhat logical that they would hold it in Belgium. Despite the enormous organization and many authorizations necessary for such a championship, the team of Christian Jupsin stand firmly in this adventure and established the third edition of the DDMT on May 21-23.

This edition will be different than the previous because there is no driving in the race track, there is no night round with the exception of a little bit on the second day. Besides that, this edition consists mainly of very technical classification tests.

Even if the heart of the race will take place at the race track of Francorchamps, on the same day of our track days (so-called 10th Anniversary of our Bikers' Days track days for motorcyclists), the participating villages as well as the service points where the motor rally will drive through will provide attractions for the public. The competitors will make a trail on Thursday to Riemst, in Flanders, on Friday to Ciney and on Saturday to Libramont. All villages have closely worked with the organizers to put up a magnanimous rally like this.

The connecting routes which run on the basis of a roadbook should be driven to an average speed of 50km/h and are interrupted by chrono-rides, special round or Regularity Test. Thus, it’s a good filled sportive program that requires hard work and constant concentration for those who want to go for the title. Of course, the organizers would do everything in order to ensure maximum safety conditions. On top of this, an impressive team of helpers and the presence of many road commissioners (it works in nearly 300 persons involved in this project), joined forces to keep the natural obstacles (that might possibly bad for the game) protected with pads or cushions, as what are customarily used in the MotoGP.

This competition is a part of the IRC (International Rallies Championship) of the FIM, and to make it better known to the motorcyclists, the organizers of the third day, May 23, made it open to the Belgian Championship of the BMB. Everybody (amateurs as well) can join in this round so that the participants could discover and experience the atmosphere of togetherness that motor rally creates.

A few words of explanation about motor rally...

Motorcycle Rally is a competition that runs on a number of routes on public roads that the participants should drive
using a road book, with a mandatory speed of an average of 50km/h, where the Highway Code must be respected including speed limits and other road users. Participants must clock to different points and the motorcycles must comply with the Highway Code (registered, insured, etc.).

The route consists of several stages. The timed classifying stages are held at a series of roads that are kept safe and closed to traffic. The participants leave individually, the fastest renders punishment points for the others.

The special rounds are done on the race track, wherein the participants leave individually or in groups and drive different rounds.

The Regularity Tests run on roads open to the traffic, but the arrival point is unknown. The participants have a mandatory speed of an exact average of 60km/h.

Service points and times are provided for the maintenance of the machines. The pilots may also be assisted by a third party at all stages, but they have no time credit. Rankings per stage and for each category should take into account the penalty times and realized time during the chrono-rides.


Technical data of the Belgian Dark Dog Moto Tour
Championships
International Rallies Championship (IRC)
Belgian Championship Road Rally (May 23)

Dates
from 21-23 May 2009

IRC Category (power limited to 100 HP)
Multi Cylinder (after 1982)
Mono Cylinder (after 1982)
Side Cars (after 1982)
Scooters (230cc and minimum of18 HP)
Classics (before 1982)

IRC Classes
Expert and Promotion

Belgian Championship Categories
Motorcycles Solo Open (minimum 250cc)
Scooters (up to 125cc)
Classics (homologated engines between 1948 and 1981)
Side Cars

Belgian Championship Classes
Class 1: from 0 to 250cc
Class 2: from 251 to 500cc
Class 3: more than 500cc
Number of participants: 150

Point of Departure and arrival
Spa-Francorchamps Race Track

Central Point of the Rally
Premises of the Eau Rouge

Service Point in Villages
May 21: Theux (Filaville) and Riemst (Kanne - Reeckerveld)
May 22: Ciney (Monseu market and Soccer field)
May 23: Libramont (Walexpo)

Program of Activities
Wednesday, May 20:
From 9 am: administrative and technical control in the
paddocks of Spa-Francorchamps race track

Thursday, May 21:
2 loops
8 Classification stages
1 Regularity Test
1 race in group (Francorchamps race track)

Friday, May 22:
2 loops
4 Classification stages
1 Regularity Test
1 Show ranking test

From 16:00: administrative and technical control in the
paddocks of Spa-Francorchamps race track for the
participants in the Belgian Championship.

Saturday, May 23:
2 loops
2 show rounds
2 Classification stages
3 Regularity Tests

Awarding Ceremony

Kilometers
May 21: 485.5 km
May 22: 512.7 km
May 23: 540.9 km
Total: 1539.1


The Championships

The Belgian Dark Dog Moto Tour鳬is one of the three races that is included in the IRC (International Rallies Championship), a
Championship founded in 2007 by the F.I.M. that would get a world status by 2010.

It is the season opener of a championship with two other
competitions in France (from October 3-11) and in Corsica (from 11-15 November). The last day of the Belgian Dark Dog Moto Tour is accounted for the Belgian Championship road rally. The rules, drawn up by the B.M.B. are slightly different; they can also participate in duo, the passenger (at least 16 years old) should then read the road book. Currently, there are two rounds included: one on May 23 under the “Belgian Dark Dog Moto Tour” and the other one on September 16 during the “Boucles de Theux”.

The Race Rounds (details)

Thursday, May 21
Francorchamps - Theux - Riemst - Francorchamps (485.5 km)
8 Classification rounds -1 Regularity Test -1 Group Race

The start is at 8:00, it is up to Theux for a first timed classifying round. The route goes fairly on technical roads taking off in a rapid descent and a quick finish on a new asphalt road but also very dusty track between the fields.

After this round, there is a service point at Theux before the second classification round which will end in Kanne. A short
classifying test (1.7 km) that starts with eight hairpin turns on a slope. Following this technical part is a very
fast straight line which requires a heavy break phase.

Going through a connecting round, the participants will arrive in Riemst, where service assistance is waiting for them.

Shortly before noon, there is a classifying test in Slins, this time again on a small local road which requires the skill of drivers. They must not only be technical and fast, but very attentive and careful because many bends are even hidden.

The first loop ends with a return to the service park at Theux. The following loop is identical to the previous one, with the exception of a Regularity Test at the end of the second loop. The participants are expected to return to the paddocks of Spa-Francorchamps around 19:30. At 21:00 there is a regrouping in the program, wherein a race by a series of eight motorcycles will take place at the racing track of Francorchamps (total of 5 rounds). The drivers will show their skills and offer some spectacles to the spectators.


Friday, May 22
Francorchamps - Ciney - Francorchamps (512.7 km)

4 classification tests - 1 Regularity Test - Show ranking test

Departure at 8 am for the classifying test to Bourseigne and Froidfontaine. Waiting for them is a beautiful forest road which is two cars-wide. It’s like a continuous rapid runway which is slightly inclined and despite of the two hairpin bends still remains a fast road. The chrono-ride of Froidfontaine as that of Slins, is not only fast but very technical. Here is some skills required. Service point is provided at Ciney, in the parking lot of the soccer field.

The second loop in the afternoon will focus on a different path than the morning, making the participants discover more the route. This round begins with a Regularity Test followed by two passes through the route of the two classification tests that morning.

At 18:30, the participants are expected back in the paddocks of Spa-Francorchamps, but the day is not yet over for them. They will have a small lap (35 km), where they have to show their driving talents throughout the race track.

From 16:20 the administrative and technical control for the participants of the Belgian Championship will take place in the paddocks behind the 'Eau Rouge'.

Saturday, May 23
Francorchamps - Libramont - Francorchamps (540.9 km)

2 Specials - 2 Classification rounds - 3 Regularity Tests

At 7:45 the start of the longest lap of this rally with a Regularity Test which is about 120 km long connecting route to Libramont will take place. Service point is provided in Walexpo where the agriculture fair is always held.
Then a special round will follow on the circuit of JEHONVILLE.

Just beyond Sainte Marie is again a special round, back on small paths as in Slins and Froidchapelle, but crossing over an old railway which lies slightly higher. This could provide for a spectacle of a number of daredevil jumps. After that special round, there is a service point at Walexpo for the participants, where afterwards a new lap on another route follows.

On the way back to Francorchamps before the arrival around 20:00, the participants will still be subjected to two Regularity Tests which can give a number of surprises that could overturn the rankings entirely.


The Pilots to watch!!

In only one month to go before the contest, the list of participants gets longer. This has a number of big names,
starting with Fred Lejeune. Fred, who has won the two previous editions and takes part in the IRC Championship,
hopes for a third victory. As usual, he can count on a highly efficient and experienced assistance, and he will
compete on a BMW Megamoto, the perfect weapon for the various special rounds.
Opposite him is Fred Fiorentino. In the two previous editions was this Super Moto specialist, quadruple winner
of the Super Biker and French Supermotard Champion, leading along the way until he did a few small mistakes which made him missed the victory. As expected, he will rely on a KTM 990 Supermoto, which he can perfectly manage.
Also Damien Denil will take part on such a machine to match his success in 2008. Last year, he let himself be noticed on monocylinders and he discovered that he made a chance in the scratch classification. His big heart and experience as a motocross rider could make a difference.

As with the Belgians, with the brothers François and Olivier de Spa, these experts of mechanical sports in
general, and mainly motor sport, know the area very well and last year, Olivier even got the third place on the
stage. They put their trust in the three cylinders of their Triumph Street Triple R.

Currently, we are still awaiting the confirmation of a few large French names - Denis Bouan and Philippe Pinchedez.

And then there's Thierry Sol at Voxan 1000, who’s more than a serious outsider. With his achievement during the 24h of Le Mans, and since he already earned his stripes in Enduro, he could be an outstanding competitor for the Belgian Dark Dog Moto Tour.

Cyril Guillemin, an editor of Moto Magazine, has participated in the different classes of speed championships. He even took part in the 24h of Le Mans and also ventured already a Tourist Trophy on the Isle of Man and to the Ulster Grand Prix, before he established a speed record on the salt plains of Bonneville.

A competition as DDMT has several categories which has something in store in each of them. In 2008, Bruno Crutzen, Michel Mono Tori and Alan Lehman have themselves be noticed and they will definitely try again during this third edition.

Source of Information: www.DARKDOGMOTOTOUR.BE