Salvatierra wins Day 4

Friday 15 May 2015
Fourth Special: Tibniya - Sitra - Tibniya
Link section: 0.90km – Special: 343.02 km – Link section: 113.33 km – Total: 457.25 km
 
 
After being forced to cancel the fourth Special, the organisers replaced it with the second leg course. However, the temperature soared with the dawn and the sand had become much softer after being churned up by the riders two days ago. Last year’s winner Juan Carlos Salvatierra (KTM) was determined to win this fouth leg so as to use to best advantage the opportunity to choose his position at the start of the last leg and possibly gain back the 3’51 lost to Kuba Patiek (KTM) and take the laurels beneath the Pyramids.
“Everything worked well for me”, said the man from Bolivia. “I put my foot down and won today’s Special. Tomorrow I shal go all out to try to catch the riders who will be starting ahead of me.” Today’s runner up, Kuba Patiek (KTM), also had a good day and moved to the top of the leader board after a major navigation error by Mohammed Al Balooshi (KTM) who lost over 20' to wind up 3rd.  “It was a fast special”, says the rider from the Emirates. “After the first fuel stop I had the best virtual time and after the second I went after Salvatierra, but then I made the same mistake as two days ago, at the same spot. I was completely lost and rode round for nearly  20'... That said, I am happy to be at the bivouac and I am learning a lot in this rally. You can’t take anything for granted! Yesterday I had a comfortable lead and today I am 2'47 behind Patiek.”
Diocleziano Toia (KTM) came in 4th. He dislocated his shoulder but finished the Special, followed by Gaggiani (KTM) and Abu Issa (Honda), the first of the quads. “The track was really very churned up but I like that and it didn’t bother me at all.” Russia’s Anastasiya Nifontova finished 7th ahead of Rafal Sonik who turned over at the foot of a dune and broke the stabiliser on his Honda. The FIM Cross Country Rallies Quad World Champion also made the same navigation mistakes as he did two days before....