DAKAR 2 016
15 January 2016
12th stage: San Juan – Carlos Paz (Argentina)
Special: 481 km – Link section: 450 km – Total: 931 km
Yesterday, the Rally was far from over as this penultimate stage is the longest of the competition with over 900 km, half link, half Special. The selective sector traversed the Sierra with narrow winding trails and fairly dense vegetation.
Antoine Meo (KTM), who moved into third on the leader board yesterday, a very respectable result for his first Dakar (like Toby Price (KTM) last year), naturally took on the role of second to the KTM leader, Toby Price, who was in a position to win, and the third step on the podium was taken by Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna). Rookie Meo (KTM) had to put aside his podium ambitions for the good of the team and did so with much philosophy and good humour. Having set out first after winning yesterday’s special, the Frenchman waited for his leader and rode with him, leaving Helder Rodrigues (Yamaha) to win his first stage on this year’s Dakar ― thereby taking fourth overall – ahead of Price (KTM) and Benavides (Honda), who is currently 5th overall.
Antoine Meo was particularly unlucky, crashing heavily at the end of the Special while looking for a WP. He is bruised and battered but managed to make it to the finish at Carlos Paz, dropping to sixth position overall.
Alain Duclos (Sherco) had his helmet stolen while his was repairing his motorbike after a crash and we are waiting to see if a solution can be found. His team mate Pedrero dropped out two days ago, also after a crash, as his Sherco was too damaged to continue.
For Yamaha, a win for Helder Rodrigues is some comfort after they lost Xavier de Soultrait at Fiambala two days ago following the loss of his oil cap and a broken engine, and then Botturi yesterday, also with a broken engine.
In quad, Marco Patronelli win the stage ahead of Nosiglia et Karyakin. The rider from Argentina is now top of the leader board with an 8` lead over his brother Alejandro and Sergey Karyakin. Camelia Liparoti is in a very impressive tenth spot overall!
Tomorrow, the Dakar will end with a 180 km special and nearly 300km of link section to reach Rosario, the end of the road for 2016.
Judith Tomaselli