#esp since I probably won’t be able to sleep tomorrow night

[canisonicscrewyou]

1 AM. Wouldn’t call everything clean, but the trash under my bed is gone, my clothes are packed, my medicine cabinet is packed, and there’s a rather large pile of donate-able clothes and textiles that I need to bring to the basement tomorrow

[mrsrhys23]

I wish you'd write a fic where Riley is really worried about the costume ball. I feel like PB did do a great job there, I find it difficult to believe they would all just go back into the ballroom without a fuss after what happened in there at the Homecoming ball I'd also like it if Riley had been shot that night as well as Drake just to make it more scary for her to go back in there.

Thanks for the request Nonny!

I got quite carried away with this and now I have 2077 words...

I agree with you that  Riley and everybody else probably wouldn't, in real life, be able to just go back in there after what took place. 

Warnings: Angst, PTSD.

Permatag: @itschoicesstuff, @addictedtochoiceslove,@desiree-0816, @cordoniaqueensworld

It was the night after the art gallery that somehow, despite all the odds, Riley managed to make into something salvageable and not a complete disaster, like it was destined to be at the start of the day.

She had been lying in bed staring at the ceiling for most of the night, unable to sleep. Sleep hadn’t been something that had been coming easy for Riley since the homecoming ball.

After spending another half an hour staring at the celling she climbed out of bed and headed to Liam’s room. Liam answered after a few knocks.

“Riley, you alright?” Liam asked, his brow creased  in concern.

“Can we talk please?” 

“Yes,” Liam nodded, allowing her into his room. They took a seat on his bed. “What is it you wanted to talk about?”

“The wedding,” Riley muttered. 

“What about it?”

I’m not sure we should go ahead at least until we know who’s behind the assassination attempts and the videos,” Riley explained, twisting her hands together nervously. “At the homecoming ball people got hurt…. another social event like that one, especially with it being the royal wedding its seems like the perfect time for them to try again. The anti- monarchy wants us dead. I know we have to appear that we are not frightened but I am. After I… after I got shot… the wedding, the costume ball tomorrow,  I don’t know if I can do it.  I’m probably just being stupid, but that thought of being in the sort of situation again Liam…”

“Mara and Bastien will have the security side of everything covered,” Liam reassured, but that did very little to assuage his fiancée’s fears. “Do you really want to postpone the wedding?”

“No.  No, I don’t. I’m scared, Liam, I am really, really scared. I want to marry you more than anything. This was all a lot simpler when I came here, when I was ‘the mystery woman’ from New York. Everything I do, every move I make I’m being watched. My life is an open book there for everyone to see. It’s tough. I’m expected to be perfect and I don’t know how to be. I suppose it’s easier for you because you’ve grown up in the spotlight. You probably think I’m being ungrateful,” Riley explained, fighting back a few tears.

“No. I understand,” Liam told her, reaching for her hand.

“It’s not just that… The thought of tomorrows ball….It’s just bringing a lot of memories from that night back…”

Liam squeezed her hand tightly, prompting her to look up at him instead of at her hands in her lap. “Do you maybe want to talk to someone about it?” Liam asked, his thumb rubbing soothing circles along her knuckles. 

“The duchess needs counselling,” Riley scoffed, “Wait until the press get hold of that. All that will prove is that the crown was affected.  

“You got shot that night people will understand.”

 “I’m going to ask Madeline in the morning to set up a press conference. There’s a few things I want to say, and I want It to come from me before it ends up in the papers another way.”

“Okay,” Liam  nodded. “It seems like a good idea to probably consult our friends, if that’s okay with you?”

“Yeah,” Riley said, giving Liam as small smile. 

“We better get some sleep,” Liam suggested.

“Yes. I better go back to my room. Maxwell will be worried if I’m not there as he is my alarm clock,” Riley explained, getting to her feet and walking over to the door with Liam.

“About that…When we can actually sleep in the same bed can we get a proper alarm clock?”

“Yes,” Riley chuckled. “Good night your majesty.”

“Goodnight duchess.”

_

The next morning Riley  met Madeline in the boutique at Kiara’s estate before going outside doing the press conference, that Madeline had set up extremely quickly, then heading back to the palace for the ball later that evening.

 “Everything for the conference is set up, now you need something to wear,” Madeleine said, looking through the different clothes on the racks.

“You know Madeline I can pick out my own outfit,” Riley mentioned.

“Yes,” Madeline sighed, turning to face the future monarch, “Do you know what you’re going to say today?”

“Yes. Me and the king discussed it last night.”

“Well I hope that you know what you’re doing.”

I do. As does Liam.”

“I have no doubt that Liam does but you on the other hand, Duchess Riley.” 

“Thank you for your concern Madeline but I am getting the hang of this. I have an announcement of my own to make.”

”Just don’t screw it up,” Madeline snarled.

“I won’t.”

_

The royal couple stepped outside of Kiara’s lovely home and over to the podium that had been set up on the steps, herds of people and press swarming around.

Riley stepped up to the podium, Liam standing just behind her letting her take the lead. She adjusted the microphone slightly, took in a deep breath then started talking.

“So most of, if not all of you are probably wondering why this press conference if even being held. I, as future queen want to feel like I’m doing all that I possibly can…I watch the news, I read the newspapers, I’ve seen the headlines…After the attack, the videos, the orchard it’s getting harder to reassure everyone in the kingdom.  You all absolutely have a right to be worried, but we are doing everything in our power to find whoever is doing this. But how can we expect you all to feel like you’re safe if we don’t share the information as we receive it? We have reason to believe it is someone from the anti- monarchy and after their assassination attempts failed they resort to terrorising you, the people of Cordonia. Just because of this it doesn’t mean you have to abandon your normal day to day lives and be scared, because if you do that then they win, I understand that more than most,” Riley said, turning to Liam, who gave her a reassuring smile.

Liam stepped forward, sensing Riley’s reluctance. “As everyone knows the night of the homecoming ball Duchess Riley was very unfortunately injured during the attack at the  palace. In an effort to help my fiancée, you’re future queen in getting back to herself she has decided, with the support of myself and our friends to attend some counselling sessions-”

When Riley heard the crowds murmurs she stepped forward again, adjusting the microphone on the podium slightly.

“I know what you must all be thinking....We’ve made out that the crown was not affected and that was wrong, I think everyone in a way was affected by what happened, one way or another. And that’s okay. If we continue to make out we werent then everything we say and do will be dictated by that lie. By the anti- monarchy. I will not be stepping down from any of my royal duties, I hope I will be able to do more afterwards though.

“How did the shooting affect you exactly?” Ana asked, stepping forward in the crowd.

“I nearly died,” Riley blurted out.

“Are you saying that the press and people were misinformed of the severity of your injuries?” Anna asked.

Riley swallowed hard, looking down at the podium then back up at the people. She felt Liam grab her hand, squeezing it tightly. The simple action made her believe she could do this.

“It was a very emotional time,” she explained.

“It’s okay,” Liam whispered in her ear.

“It was not released to the public domain at the time and maybe that was wrong, but I got shot. When you get shot Miss de luca then you can tell me why you wouldn’t want a whole country to know the severity of it. I have never and will never let that get in the way of ruling this kingdom. I will continue to do my best for everyone here, for every man, woman and child and that is a promise. On the unity tour, while we were in Applewood, there were two children who used to play where the orchard was, but they couldn’t because of the scorched ground so we played with them, we spent time with them and that just reminded me of how important our roles are. How many people rely on us. When you are relied upon so much you will not, and you will never let anything, not even a bullet stand in your way. I’m not perfect and I’m done trying to be. I’m just a woman trying to do her best. Isn’t that what everyone here is trying to do? That’s all I have to say on the matter.” 

_

After the Constantine drama, they all returned to the palace. In the early evening, before Riley needed to get changed she trotted through the halls of the palace to the ballroom where staff were finishing all the preparations.  

She opened the doors, taking in a deep breath then walked in. Flashes of that night going through her head, she closed her eyes, squeezing them tightly as if that action could make those memories that were flooding back go away.

She turned, facing where it happened. It all happened so quickly, the lights went out, they came back on and she was staring down a barrel of a gun, frozen, unable to move, think. She remembered being tackled to the floor, she remembered Drake landing on her, his blood going everywhere, the fiery pain she felt in her stomach as the world darkened around her, hearing Liam pleading with her to stay awake…

“What are you doing in here?” Drake asked, snapping her out of her daze. Riley opened her eyes, noticing the staff had all left, leaving only her and her friend in the massive ballroom.

“Tonight we’re supposed to come back in here and act like nothing happened…This is the first time I’ve been back in here,” Riley explained.

“Me too.”

“I’m glad the unity tour is over.. But being back properly at the palace especially tonight… I just don’t know if I can do it. I thought maybe coming in here now before tonight would I don’t know… Do you ever think about that night?” She asked, turning to him.

“No,” he insisted shaking his head.

“Really?” she asked, her eyes widening, she thought about it all the time.

“Well occasionally,” Drake shrugged.

“We still don’t know how they got in.”

“But at least precautions have been put in place.”

“Yeah but…”

“At the homecoming ball it was unexpected, no one thought it was even a possibility. But this time everyone’s ready. You need to stop worrying about it Brooks,” Drake said, giving her shoulder a comforting squeeze.

“You know Neville’s going to be here, right?” Riley said, eager to change the subject.

“Don’t remind me,” Drake grumbled, “I promise I will try my best not to punch him.”

“He is irritating,” she agreed.

“I thought the future queen was supposed to like everyone?”

“I can just about tolerate him but liking him? Never,” Riley shuddered, causing herself to smile and Drake.

“How are you, Brooks?”

“I’m Fine. why?”

“After the press conference...”

“Yeah, that was eventful,” Riley reminisced. “I know marrying Liam that the press will always be involved, but it’s just… it’s exhausting. Questions about that…I just don’t know how to answer them without yelling at her. Sometimes I just wish we were all normal and did normal things.

“Normal? Normal is overrated. And me and you we were normal. Would you really want to go back to that?”

“No, well maybe sometimes.”

“’Sometimes’ meaning when your yelling at the press?”

“Yeah,” Riley nodded, “Me and Liam are being announced together to night. I can’t believe this is actually happening, that we’re actually getting married. When that stuff with Tariq happened and then he was engaged to madeleine and it was all just a mess and it wasn’t that long ago. At the coronation it all fell apart, and I can’t help but feel it will again.”

“It won’t. Your marrying Liam in two weeks,” Drake told her.

“A lot can go wrong in two weeks. It took five minutes for that to happen.”

“Oh, you need to lighten up Brooks. You really do,” Drake advised.

“Drake?”

“Hmm?”

“Thank you,” Riley smiled, pulling him into a hug.

[recoveryisbeautiful]

If you’ve followed me for a while you know a few things about me: (1) I have a heart “condition” (2) my boyfriend is amazing

So I had an episode last night... it wasn’t the worst I’ve had but I got absolutely no sleep because it just lasted a long time and I was also super dehydrated so I kept needing to drink more water. Anyway, was just telling Dan I’m probably going to be going to bed and won’t be able to hang out tomorrow since I need to make sure I get some sleep. Dan: You know how you have heart problems sometimes? Me: Why? Dan: Cause your hearts too big and your body can’t hold it sometimes, it’s why you feel too many things too.

This is why he’s the best. Not only was that adorable, but I also tend to get super frustrated at how highly emotional I tend to be and frustrated that I’m constantly anxious (esp. lately) and frustrated that I such a hard time managing my moods. Now I can go to sleep happy :)

[amerasdreams]

The plane of the people im pet sitting for is delayed who knows how long because of a storm and now I'm in limbo. So I'm not sure if I should get my computer back out, after packing everything, and get some work done, or watch TV etc bc I am really tired, didn't get much sleep last night and only was able to function because of caffeine...

I hope their plane isn't delayed til tomorrow, I want to get home, I've been here 10 days. Need to cuddle my cat. This is sortof the last time I'm doing overnights so... now of course it has to be long

I dont want to have to unpack again. I need to be able to do something besides pet sitting, something more. And how can I do that with an irregular schedule. Not getting enough sleep. When can I ever catch up, get going with what I really want to do.... I had all last year, I mean I did work on figuring out what to do bc I really need to decide. .. I don't have time to focus on things that aren't main. I need to do what I really want or ill regret it. I might not have enough time.... I need money. But I need to get a blog, write articles, research -- I want that to be the main plus non computer things I do at home like create things to sell. If thats possible. If I can earn a living at that. When I get a house, board cats. Plus adopt animals.... I need to get to that this year. I need to get more $ than from just pet sitting, too much running around esp in a.m. burns me out. But I need enough $ to get a house and that's what I do for main job right now ... I need something more stable, consistent as well. Diversified income. Passive income. Plus writing stories, don't care if thats for money, may be better if its not.

I have to cut extraneous stuff i have no time for... I wanted to get a consistent ish job and I got a proofreading class for $400 last year.... I did a proofreading test online and only got 55%. And I could study for it... but I dont care about proofreading. Its too nitpicky. I don't have time for something I dont care about. I have to streamline, I don't have unlimited time and energy. I have to focus now on main... I just hope its not too late, that ill have to get whatever job I can get asap if something happens w my parents .. like dad retires....

I should've been working on main all along but. I wasnt sure what I wanted. Been looking for it since college ... years ago. Shouldn't have taken the diversions... idk. I didn't know which way to go or even what all was out there. I tried some things. Pet sitting may be too inconsistent, made it so I didn't have a consistent schedule.... so I couldn't sit down and get stuff done regularly. But I did have time... maybe its my own floaty mind's fault.

I dont want to look back and regret. I already regret. Not not getting a regular job. But not going for what I really cared about. I was doing it sort of for a couple years... and of course writing. But I need to go all out if I'm to succeed at all... need to totally Decide and not waste time on tangents I dont care about.

I dont have much time.... which makes me panic which makes me not do it, look for side things like proofreading ... something I could do asap. Well I could do gig jobs like pet sitting, other things... when it fits in my schedule. A regular ish schedule so I spend the max amount of time on main. Blog/articles/research, about stuff I want to write about in stories so I get material for writing while working. That's what I wanted to do all along... I just didn't know if it was possible. But it seems right, seems centered. Plus work on creative stuff which I can sell. Something I enjoy I can also sell. Idk if thats possible either.... but if I have a chance I have to go for it.

I dont want to panic again and look for something I dont care about..... I don't have many other skills idk how I could survive in the real world either so I have to carve out my own place.... but do people even want what I have to offer.

Help

Is it just a dream and will I have to go get a real job no matter how menial it is.... despite the fact I have a college degree. I wouldn't survive with regular people. I don't know what the culture is even. Havent been in it. Don’t like a lot of what I see. I would be forced to do what they wanted me to do. Because I would back down bc I would be afraid they would ... say something mean to me. So I cant be myself. But I cant be anything else. So I hide from the real world ... its probably too late for me to be a real part of it even if I wanted to.

Is the only option to carve our my own place, tho perhaps that's only a dream too and I won't belong anywhere, cant succeed at the things I really want, can even succeed at things I like and have been doing forever, writing.... maybe I should have done something other than writing wasting most of my life on it ... too late to get back those lost hours, years of writing now.. and I'm desolate in a wasteland and have nothing to offer, nowhere to go, even if I ever did...

[assholemurphy]

so, i’m dying.

lol, not rly. except, yeah, kinda.

my gallbladder has finally fucked itself into a coma and only wakes up to force me to projectile vomit myself into oblivion whenever i consume solids. and on occasions, liquids, if it’s rly cranky. that’s my life now.

i have managed to eat 2 hot pockets, some chips, abt 8 jalepeno poppers, and three eggrolls (and keep them down) in the past 2 weeks. all that i’ve been able to keep down has happened in the past 24hrs. i’m not sure how i managed it, tbh, but it wasn’t without a fight. other than that, i have not digested anything but liquids in the past 2 weeks. i cannot think straight, i can barely form words in my head, let alone say them out loud. this is not fun and i don’t like it. it was one thing to choose not to eat (tho, rly, with an ed, it wasn’t exactly a choice, ya feel?) and to choose to purge, but now that i have no choice at all, i’m so fucking pissed off. like, part of me is happy bc i’ve lost 5lbs already, even with being bloated from constant puking, but like, more of me just wants to survive so i can work on my goddamn finals. which are all due this week. and none of them are done. (except the one that was due last week, managed to do that one, luckily).

pretty boy took me to the er on sun night bc i can’t keep anything down and it’s only gotten worse since they released me. we got there right as the docs were changing shifts, so the first doc was rly narcissistic and full of himself and the second he heard me say ‘i’ve got atypical anorexia b/p subtype’ he was like, ‘ah, yes, it’s all in your head, this is your fault’ which even made pb annoyed bc he apparently can tell the difference between what’s currently going on and my (his words, not mine) ‘crash diets’. but he was p sure the doc didn’t like me bc i called my primary doc (who was supposed to get me scheduled for an ultrasound to get this taken care of almost 2 months ago but didn’t bc he didn’t believe me when i said (having opinions from 2 previous docs) i had gallbladder issues, so he ignored it) an idiot for, ya know, ignoring me when i told him something was wrong. but docs are assholes, they don’t like it when you’re right abt something they can’t see themselves. so i’m switching primary docs asap. this guy’s a fucking joke.

(it’s also been almost three weeks since the pharmacy faxed him paperwork abt the insurance company not wanting to pay for my adderall prescript bc i take 3 pills a day and they only wanna pay for 90 in 75 days (yeah, not even 2 pills a day, like this shit doesn’t work for five hours max). he still hasn’t filled it out. it’s fucking finals week and i’ve got maybe 6 pills left. how fucking grand. so that’s gotta be sorted at the same time he gets me a surgeon’s appt.)

so the guy had me pee in a cup and gave me fluids/anti nausea meds (which were nice, helped me keep down a bit of food sun night). then he basically told me ‘it’s just cyclic vomiting, you’ve just got to break the cycle’ but he was leaving so he was going to let the next guy discharge me. thank fucking god, bc otherwise, i’d probably be dead in a couple weeks.

so this next guy is eccentric af, this whole hospital is a circus, it’s fucking great (no sarcasm, i love quirky ppl). he checks out my cup of pee and orders some blood tests (that the other guy didn’t even care to do), then he comes in and talks to me and he’s fucking great, a+ doctoring, love this guy, sadly, he doesn’t have a private practice, but apparently the nurses get asked if he does all the time. how do i know? my mother asked, bc she liked him. i trusted him. i trust no docs, ever. but this one is good. he says there’s def something wrong, def not just my ed, and orders me an ultrasound for the next morning. good, great, getting this show on the road. he understands my concerns abt my primary doc and offers to explain the results of the ultrasound to my mother via phone mon night. so she calls, he tells her i’ve got ‘sludge and wall thickening’ which are Bad(tm) esp in combination with me not being able to eat anything for over a week and a half.

so, now i’ve got to talk to a surgeon and get my gallbladder removed. as i fucking figured i’d need months ago (during the summer, with my pain and stuff). now this vomiting thing has been happening at least once a semester for abt 2 years now. no one has known what is wrong. ‘it’s acid reflux, take these pills’ ‘these pills don’t work’ ‘welp, idk ^.^’ and so forth for 2. fucking. years. now i’ve got confirmation that my gallbladder is bad. like ‘could explode and kill me’ bad. this is great, i can finally get something done abt this.

except.

except it’s finals week and no only am i running v low on adderall (i just took a pill for the first time since fri morning just a few hours ago) and i’m now fatigued and unable to eat with 4 projects left to do. all of which require a fuckton of concentration. concentration i just don’t have even with the adderall bc i haven’t actually eaten much food lately and can’t fucking think at all. like, every time i eat, it comes right back up.

so, i’ve been sleeping a lot. great, right? except for ya know, all the work i’ve got? nope. i can’t sleep for longer than 4 hours without having night terrors. like BAD ones. i’d tell you abt the one i had when i slept last (from 5:30p to 8:30p) but it would require a whole host of trigger warnings just to give a summary. but it fucked me up badly. and they’ve been getting progressively worse. i dreamed my dog died. i dreamed my apartment was possessed and the demon was trying to kill me. i’ve dreamed of animal abuse and murder and even worse things that leave me fucking shaking when i wake up. but i’m so tired that i keep falling asleep anyway, no matter how scared i am. and i stay asleep, until my alarm goes off, then i shut it off and fall asleep again (into a different night terror). there is no stopping this. my body is dying and it’s telling my brain i’m in danger so my brain is trying to scare me. it’s working. i’m well aware i’m in danger but there’s nothing i can do until my mom sets up a surgeon’s appt for me. i’ve got to remind her to do that tomorrow. i’d do it myself, but i’m far to fucking out of it currently to talk to a medical professional in any capacity.

but throughout all of this, i’m falling further and further behind on my final projects. i’ve got a 10min play analysis due tomorrow at 10:30a (which i’ve got to work on tonight). then i’ve got to finish my stagecraft project (which requires that i go to the shop 3 more times so i’ve got to do that at like 11a tomorrow, then 12p thurs, then like 7p thurs, but i’ve got to find a shop employee to go with me, apparently, and i’d take goldilocks, but she obvs doesn’t want to do it, so i might ask pb or mary, if i have to). then i’ve got to do my monologue assignments for acting i (i’ve got one almost fully memorized, i just need to refresh, but i’ve got to memorize another one, read the play it’s from (i’ve got to buy the ebook), and do an analysis over it before thurs at 10:30a). then my intro to theatre final is due last, but it’s p big and i’ve got to do a lot for it. like 7pg paper plus a ‘previous action’ script (i’ve got to write up a script showing what happened before the play itself starts). i’ve got a SHITTON of work to do and only 9 hours for the sa final, then 24 hrs for the acting i final, then 26 hrs for the itt final, and somehow i’ve got to find at least 3 hours for my sc final. all while trying to get sleep and not eating anything.

plus i’ve still got to do some loan stuff with finaid this week.

i emailed my profs telling them what’s going on, but they’re not going to accept any late finals, so idk why i bothered. (i haven’t heard back bc i just emailed them like, an hour ago and it’s 1a). i CANNOT fuck up this semester bc i won’t get finaid anymore if i do and i can’t drop out. so like, i’ve got to get everything together, but i’m just so fucking sick and everything is overwhelming. i’m going to do my damnedest to get everything done, but idk if i’ll be able to. i rly don’t know.

i’m so fucking stressed over this shit, which is only making my gallbladder issues worse, so it’s a losing battle all around and i’m drowning. honestly, if i had the money, i’d pay for someone to do this for me, but i can’t and i wouldn’t anyway bc like, i’m not putting my name on anything i didn’t do myself out of some bullshit pride thing i’ve got going on. my pride’s gonna get me killed one day, i just know it.

but, tonight, i’m gonna work on my script analysis final and pray to god i can get it done in time. i’ve got like 2 hours left on my adderall, maybe 3 if i push it. i need to make a plan of attack for everything and get to work.

i’m not going to fail this semester if it fucking kills me. and it actually might.

[totallymotorbikes]

Yamaha Riders All Set For Second Week Of Competition At Dakar Rally 2017 Making the most of their day off in La Paz and enjoying some much-needed rest and recuperation, Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team duo of Adrien Van Beveren and Hélder Rodrigues, along with Yamaha France supported Xavier de Soultrait, are now geared up and ready for the second week of competition at the 2017 Dakar Rally. With Adrien and Xavier provisionally third and sixth overall respectively and Hélder just outside the top 10, all three riders will continue their battle to bring Yamaha even closer to the top during their second week of racing in South America. Reaching La Paz yesterday afternoon, team members had the chance to assess their progress so far and analyse their strategies for the second week that officially starts tomorrow. Important for more than one reason, the rest day in the capital of Bolivia also gave team mechanics the opportunity to thoroughly check the team’s WR450F Rally machines and prepare them for another 4,000km of arduous racing. Enjoying a very positive first week of competition, Yamaha is about to enter the second part of this year’s Dakar Rally with two of its riders inside the top six and with a third close to the provisional top 10 in the overall standings. Along with the trio of Van Beveren, Rodrigues and de Soultrait twelve more Yamaha riders will enter week two tomorrow and continue their battle to the finish line in Buenos Aires. Confirming the brand’s status as a dominant force in the Quad category, Yamaha riders continue to occupy the first four spots in the class’ provisional standings. France’s Simon Vitse is currently leading the overall standings, with Russia’s Sergey Karyakin and Frenchman Axel Dutrie rounding out the provisional top three in the Quad class. With the Dakar Rally officially resuming Monday morning, competitors will have to contest six more equally gruelling stages until they reach the finish in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on January 14. The second week of racing at this year’s Dakar Rally begins with the first part of the two-day-long marathon stage. With competitors tomorrow heading to Uyuni team mechanics and crew will go directly to Salta, where they will meet up with the Yamaha Racing trio at the end of the marathon stage on Tuesday afternoon. In tomorrow’s bivouac in Uyuni riders won’t be allowed to receive any external help as they prepare their bikes for the second part of the marathon stage on Tuesday. Adrien Van Beveren – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team rider 3rd Overall Last night I had a full 10 hours of sleep so I’m feeling fresh and ready for the next stages. The first week of this rally has been really positive for me. It took some time for me to find a good race pace and then on stage two I saw an animal crossing the road and that kind of made me stay off the gas for the rest of the day. But during the last three stages I’ve kept building on my speed while also making sure I stay away from mistakes. Along with improving my navigation during the last few days I’m gradually feeling a lot more confident on the bike. The plan for week two is simple – I want to keep this same momentum and remain concentrated until the end. The most important thing is that I now found a pretty competitive race pace and I know what to do to keep that. This is surely a harder Dakar than last year and there’s also a new waypoint system that demands 100% of our attention. The key is to remain focused on navigation and that’s exactly what I’m planning to do this coming week. Hélder Rodrigues – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team rider 13th Overall This has so far been one of the toughest Dakars I’ve done and there’s still a long way until its finish. The truth is I struggled to get a competitive pace during the opening stages but I’m slowly getting there. I’ve been expecting the most difficult stages so that I could take advantage of my experience. The way I see it, I haven’t been given the chance to make the difference but I’m sure my time will come during the following week. My plan is to gradually get back the time lost during the opening stages in order to put myself back in contention for the top. My WR450F Rally has been running great so far. We’ve been through extremely warm stages, through torrential rain and high altitude but the bike never missed a beat. Tomorrow starts the first part of the marathon stage and I think that will probably be a good chance for me to push to improve my place in the overall standings. Xavier de Soultrait – Yamaha Viltaïs Experience Michelin FFM rider 6th Overall We’ve had a very good first week at this Dakar and I’m really happy with my speed. I was fastest outright during the short opening special stage and then went on to claim two more top three results on stages two and four. I’ve also made a few mistakes getting lost a couple of times during this first week and it’s exactly that kind of mistakes that I want to avoid this coming week. I feel that I’ve gotten a lot more into the groove of this race so I’m feeling a lot more confident to push. I was able to attack the few following stages so that I can gradually place myself as close as possible to the top. The feeling is great on my bike so far and we’re now aiming high. With six more stages to be contested everything can happen, really. Alexandre Kowalski – Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team director It’s been a tough week but we’re already looking forward to the following one. All the members of our team from the riders to our mechanics and support crew got some needed rest during the rest day so now we’re all set for another week of competition. Adrien is doing an excellent job so far. He has remained focused since the start and he is slowly building up on his speed. The biggest difference with this Dakar is navigation. It’s always been a crucial factor but this year if a rider gets lost they risk losing twice the time they’d normally do in order to get back on the right track. We had a briefing with our riders this morning and once again we highlighted the importance of staying focused on navigation and avoiding mistakes. In my opinion that’s the key this year. Our goal now is to get all three of our riders at the end of tomorrow’s two-day-long marathon stage in good shape, so we can then continue our battle to bring Yamaha on top.Dakar Rally 2017 – Overall Classification [After Stage 6] 1. Sam Sunderland (GBR), KTM, 15:22:05 2. Pablo Quintanilla (CHL), Husqvarna, 15:34:05, +12:003. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA), Yamaha, 15:38:12, +16:07 4. Gerard Farres (ESP), KTM, 15:34:02, +20:57 5. Matthias Walkner (AUT), KTM, 15:51:06, +29:016. Xavier de Soultrait (FRA), 15: 58:11, +36:06 �13. Hélder Rodrigues (POR), Yamaha, 16:45:43, +01:23:38 Yamaha Riders All Set For Second Week Of Competition At Dakar Rally 2017 appeared first on Motorcycle.com News.