STAGE 15 - TAMBACOUNDA to DAKAR

4:23am PST: It's still early and Scot has not yet called in with today's report. What we can tell you is that he, Chris and Kellon have completed the special tests and are arriving in Dakar now. They each appear to have maintained their positions and should embark upon tomorrow's final stage around the Pink Lake (Lac Rose) in great shape. Stay tuned!

6:50am PST: a call from Scot in Dakar... "Words cannot describe the feeling of finally arriving here in Dakar. Chris, Kellon, Joe Barker, Dr. Jonathan Edwards and our mechanics are here, too.

The ride and special test went well today. No crashes, no mechanicals - a truly flawless ride. Perhaps the most difficult portion of the ride was just after the special test on the transfer into Dakar. Giovanni Sala and I teamed up for this leg and we were real road warriors, picking lines on the roads, off the roads, wherever we could make it through. It's crowded here, there is lots of traffic and everything that you would imagine a third-world seaport city to be. Glad it's over with!

Right now I'm in my hotel room, I've just had a hot shower and I'm looking out over the Atlantic Ocean. Today the team and I will pack our gear and prepare for both the short sand test tomorrow around Lac Rose. Tomorrow night we'll celebrate with the rest of the Dakar contingent then head off for our flights back to America at 3:00am Monday morning.

Can't wait to report in tomorrow. Thank you all for your kind emails and well wishes to me and the Red Bull KTM US Dakar team. I look forward to recapping our adventures for you over the days and weeks to come. -- Scot Harden

Red Bull KTM USA Team Overall standings - after Stage 15

9th Chris Blais - today's finish 10th
17th - Scot Harden - today's finish 21st
22nd Kellon Walch - today's finish 32nd