2024-01-07 13:45:18
Today’s stage of the Dakar 2024 was a special 463 kilometers between the towns of Al Henayikah and Al Duwadimi and a first section featuring many dunes and fast terrain.
For the second special stage, Schareina was no longer there, injured in stage 1. Yesterday’s winner, Ross Branch, led the way. If on Saturday bad luck accompanied the Spanish representative who had an exciting start, Tosha Schareina, Today he passed it to another national, Lorenzo Santolino and as soon as he started.
The Sherco driver started as the best Spaniard by finishing seventh, just 14:11 behind the leader, Ross Branch. However, suffered a mechanical problem at kilometer 17 after a breakdown that prevented him from continuing the march, putting an end to his journey in the Dakar.
“It’s a shame because I think it was a good year. The level of the bike is good and I am in a good physical moment. The terrain, furthermore, today was favorable and yesterday even leaving calmly we were with those in front,” Santolino said in a worn tone, who was postulated as one of the best Spaniards in the series.
???? @LorenSantolino5th in Rally GP yesterday, has screeched to a halt due to a mechanical at km 17.#Dakar2024 pic.twitter.com/mhR8jHwLnh
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 7, 2024
So Things went very much in favor of Luciano Benavides, who today began to set the pace and tied the time with Pablo Quintanilla. The rest of the Hondas also had an overwhelming pace; van Beveren was third, and Brabec, who gave up first place yesterday, was fourth. The KTM army was fighting behind: Price, Corneo and Sunderland on the attack. That’s already at the first checkpoint.
Sunday did not start well for Mason Klein, representative of the Chinese brand KOVE. His motorcycle stopped at kilometer 46, and after two hours of mechanics on the sand, he managed to start it again, ruining his chances in this edition of the Dakar.
The changes began to happen; some went up and others went down. Quintanilla and Cornejo seemed the fastest, and they were constantly playing for the lead point after point. In fact, the two positions were already more than clear before the penultimate checkpoint; first for Cornejo and second place for Benavides (+6:35). But the general was still awarded to Ross Branch, with 2:30 cushion.
????@kmbenavides ???? coyote????
Who’s winning ? #Dakar2024 pic.twitter.com/SR7lKLwWiS
— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 7, 2024
The fight was behind; Pablo Quintanilla provisionally took the podium, and was 6:48 behind his compatriot. The one who completed the ointment was another from Honda, Ricky Brabec, reviling the power of Honda and sneaking five motorcycles into the top ten.
Joan Barreda is more alive than ever, sneaking into a top 10 with a rhythm that is going more. He finished eighth, 9:36 behind the day’s benchmark, and is already the best-positioned Spaniard in the general classification after the fiascos of yesterday and today: in the general classification he is 10th, just over 21 minutes behind his brand-mate, Ross. Branch.
Read also: First stage of survival in the Dakar: Branch wins and Schareina says goodbye after a heavy fall
Tomorrow, Monday, one of the juiciest stages will take place, with a semi-marathon between Ad Dawadimi and Al Salamiya. There the pilots will be able to stop for two hours to make mechanical adjustments or repairs at the end of the day.
Stage 2 Classification
General motorcycle classification
#Cornejo #leads #day #Honda #dominates #Santolino #goodbye #Dakar