Our friends from WESTx1000 are out at the 2019 Silk Way Rally bringing live daily coverage of the event. 
Begin Press Release: 

Day 1, Tech & Podium: Notorious S.W.R.
Are the Teams Ready for a Race with a Reputation for Tempestuousness"

Lightning filled the sky with a flash of baby pink over the center of Irkutsk as the last trucks crossed the podium for an enthusiastic, but waning crowd. With the sun setting well after 10p.m. during the summers, darkness was evidence of the late hour. It seemed the region?s tendency to rumble with this rally, both literally and figuratively, began to reveal itself. Not yet the first stage and already rain threatened the parade. One year, downpours battered every stage, having steadfast participants reconsider their return. Then at other iterations, the extreme temperatures took their toll on both man and machine alike. No wonder this Russian-born race keeps even the best pilots at bay. ?This 2019 SILK WAY RALLY offers a dream route, not only for the competitors but also for the many TV viewers who will be able to follow this fantastic adventure in almost 190 countries. For the first time this 9th edition incorporates the bike category and becomes the second round of FIM World Championship. It will no doubt offer a fantastic spectacle and take our event into a new dimension.? ? FRÉDÉRIC LEQUIEN, Silk Way Rally Deputy Director

And yet, the roster is still littered with big names. Yazeed Al Rajhi #200 (Overdrive Racing) ha...