Craig Bounds calls in from the blustery bivouac after stage 3 -- a seemingly benign stage on paper that ended up being one of the most grueling in recent memory.  There is a lot of wind noise, but as you'll hear, one needs to wear goggles because of the blowing sand -- we shouldn't complain!

Congrats on surviving the stage, Craig.  Keep it rolling.

Stan rings in from the finish line -- having just stepped off the podium!  From seventh just a few days ago, he climbed into the top three on the final day.  Way to keep at it! Find complete coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net  Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

Stan Watt from team FrontRowGB with his stage 8 report, again running at the very front of the field, before a mechinical problem set him back a bit. Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

Stan calls in after stage 7, as the rally returns to Tunisia with another soft stage with technical navigation. Michel Marchini, overall leader from the start suffers a mechanical failure. Rally is a cruel mistress. Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

Stan Watt from Team FrontRowGB calls with the news that the longest stage of the rally has been neutralized -- the sweep truck overturned with 8 on board last night, among other things, so for safety reasons today's stage has been turned into a liaison. A blow to the boys who were hoping to pull back some time today. Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

Stan Watt phones in after a superb performance in Stage 5 of the Optic, a day filled with soft sand and huge dunes. Update on Craig Bound's mechanical issues, and news that Ludivine Puy's bike was destroyed by fire out on the stage (she's okay). Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

Stan Watt from FrontRowGB calls in after stage 4, a stage with massive 300ft dunes well inside Libya. He catches us up on yesterday's news, which saw him and Derrick Edmondson go from 30 minutes ahead of the field, to nearly an hour behind after a confusion over a roadbook change found them on the wrong track. A protest has been filed with the jury, so they may see some or all of that time credited back. Today's stage had both fast bits, and huge dunes, while tomorrow's will be nearly entirely in the deep stuff. Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

Dave from Adventure-Spec rings in with an in-stage update for their riders. A long "classic" desert stage today, they're hoping it will play to the big bikes and strong navigation of their crew. Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

Stan Watt phones in as the rally has seen its first long desert stage, and has crossed the border into Libya. The FrontRowGB riders have moved considerably up the order since the prologue and are now inside the top 10. Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com

Dave from Adventure-Spec rings in with their rider report for Day 2. Stay tuned for additional coverage of the Optic Tunisia Rally at http://RallyRAIDio.net Music by Dreamline, available at PodSafe.com