==============================================

Jan 1, 2005, Day 2 of Dakar:

Stage 2: I´m sitting here at the Fira Palace Hotel in Barcelona getting ready to leave for the 540 mile liaison to Granada. The Super Special Prologue was held yestreday on the beach south of town. 100,000 spectators turned out! Kellon rode really well finishing in 5th place. Chris was in the mid-30s. I was around 60th. I rode very conservatively. A lot of people were crashing. Alfie Cox stacked it up and is nursing a wounded shoulder this morning. The next special test is on Sunday in Granada. It is on hard terrain. We want to finish somehwere between 20 and 40th going into the first stage in Morocco.

KTM had a big party last night to celebrate New Years. It was Meoni´s
birthday. He was out of control. The whole KTM crew went over and wrecked the Nissan celebration. It was a lot of fun. Pierer and Kini were on hand to wish everyone Happy New Year and Good Luck in the race.

The weather has been good. Cold at night but it warms up during the day. We
are all anxious to get on the road today and finally get into Africa in the next couple of days. Rumor has it things will get very tough in the middle stages of the Rally. There is an enormous field of competitors. The parc ferme is huge. Over 2000 people will participate in the Rally. It has been a real zoo getting through sign in and scrutineering

From Left to Right Standing are Matt Spencer, Joe Barker, Elmer Symons, Thomas McDonald. Kneeling Left to right are Chris Blais, me, Kellon Walch

Stay tuned for more soon,
Scot Harden

==============================================