Men looks at brighter side of Dakar Rally show (China Daily) Updated: 2006-01-17 08:45 Despite dropping out of the
race in the ninth stage, Men Guangyuan of Team Mitsubishi Ralliart China
believed he had improved a lot after participating for the second time in the
Dakar Rally.
Meeting the press after returning to Beijing from Paris, 25-year-old Men, who
also had to retire after the eighth stage in last year's race, said: "I'm
satisfied with my overall performance in the rally, though a little regretful as
for the outcome.
"But I think I had better control of my vehicle (Mitsubishi Pajero Diesel)
and my knowledge of the world's most gruelling race also matured."
A mechanical failure lost Men a lot of time in the ninth stage from
Nouakchott to Kiffa, the stage where Australia's motorcyclist Andy Caldecott
died from a bad crash.
Before that Men was ranked No 47 in the overall standings.
But Men said he was angry with the failure at the time, but having had time
to reflect he now accepts that everyone is prone to mistakes. "He is a good
mechanic and I hope he can still help me if I take part in the race next year,"
the Beijinger said.
Men was not the only Chinese to drop out of the race. Lu Ningjun of the Team
Triangle-Monarch was forced out of the race after his Nissan Pathfinder
overturned during the 13th stage.
But Xu Lang and Zhou Yong, both driving China-made Paladins completed the
race with Xu coming in 19th place and Zhou in 43rd.
"I feel happy for them. After all they are my fellow countrymen," Men said,
adding that his next job was to take part in more races to gain experience and
hopefully to cooperate with Mitsubishi again for next year's race.
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