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.
(China Daily January 17, 2006)