Dakar Rally: Ross Branch wins first brutal stage
The Botswanese Ross Branch (Hero) today won the first stage of the Dakar Rally. He did not have the fastest time, but thanks to a time bonus obtained for offering help, he still wins the stage. Ricky Brabec (Honda) and Mason Klein (Kove) finished second and third in a ride of 541 km.
The riders were warned during the briefing this morning that this stage would be very tough. A little less than halfway through this internship, which started in AlUla, a first drama occurred. Tosha Schareina, yesterday's winner of a short prologue, crashed at KM 240 and broke his wrist.
Ross Branch had stopped to provide assistance but had no choice but to hand the Spaniard over to the emergency services. Schareina was third in the stage at that time and logically had to leave the race. Just before Schareina's crash, Joaquim Rodrigues had also disappeared from the race after a fall. He was taken away by helicopter.
Ross Branch kept a strong pace today and was consistently at the front of the stage. So he got a 25-minute bonus after the finish after helping the unfortunate Tosha Schareina. Almost at the same time, KTM rider Michael Doherty crashed. He also had to be taken to a hospital by helicopter. He may have suffered a broken hip.
Mason Klein rode a strong stage today but had to watch Ricky Brabec cross the finish just a little earlier. More than an hour after the winner, Jérôme Martiny came in and was recorded as 41st. Joris Van Dyck finished 81st in this ultra-tough stage. We had not yet received any results from the other two Belgians at the time of going to press. In the standings, Ross Branch is the leader with 11 minutes 54 seconds. ahead of Ricky Brabec and Mason Klein.
Update: In the meantime, Gwen Backx and Pierre Saeys have also crossed the finish line. Backx was flagged 109th while Saeys was recorded in P113.
Tomorrow the second stage will be ridden from Al Henakiyah to Al Duwadimi with a total length of 463 km.
Result AlUla – Al Henakiyah
1 | 046 – R. BRANCH (BWA) | HERO | 4h56m01s |
2 | 009 – R. BRABEC (USA) | HONDA | + 00: 10: 54 |
3 | 098 – M. KLEIN (USA) | KOVE | +00:11:19-06.21 |
4 | 018 – B. COX (ZAF) | KTM | + 00: 12: 54 |
5 | 011 – J. CORNEJO FLORIMO (CHL) | HONDA | + 00: 13: 43 |
6 | 016 – R. DUMONTIER (FRA) | HUSQVARNA | + 00: 14: 06 |
7 | 015 – L. SANTOLINO (ESP) | Sherco | + 00: 14: 11 |
8 | 047 – K. BENAVIDES (ARG) | KTM | + 00: 15: 37 |
9 | 005 – D. SANDERS (AUS) | GASGAS | + 00: 16: 54 |
10 | 023 – M. MICHEK (CZE) | KTM | + 00: 17: 12 |
41 | 037 – J. MARTINY (BEL) | HUSQVARNA | + 01: 06: 20 |
81 | 120 – J. VAN DYCK (BEL) | HUSQVARNA | + 02: 29: 31 |
109 | 137 – G. BACKX (BEL) | HUSQVARNA | - |
113 | 138 – P. SAEYS (BEL) | HUSQVARNA | - |
Interim score
1 | 046 – R. BRANCH (BWA) | HERO | 450 RALLY | 5h13m55s | + 00: 00: 00 |
2 | 009 – R. BRABEC (USA) | HONDA | CRF 450 RALLY | 5h25m49s | + 00: 11: 54 |
3 | 098 – M. KLEIN (USA) | KOVE | 450 RALLY | 5h25m53s | + 00: 11: 58 |
4 | 011 – J. CORNEJO FLORIMO (CHL) | HONDA | CRF 450 RALLY | 5h28m43s | + 00: 14: 48 |
5 | 018 – B. COX (ZAF) | KTM | 450 RALLY REPLICA | 5h28m48s | + 00: 14: 53 |
6 | 015 – L. SANTOLINO (ESP) | SHERCO | 450 SEF RALLY | 5h29m03s | + 00: 15: 08 |
7 | 016 – R. DUMONTIER (FRA) | HUSQVARNA | 450 RALLY REPLICA | 5h29m50s | + 00: 15: 55 |
8 | 047 – K. BENAVIDES (ARG) | KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY | 5h30m09s | + 00: 16: 14 |
9 | 005 – D. SANDERS (AUS) | GAS GAS | 450 RALLY FACTORY | 5h30m42s | + 00: 16: 47 |
10 | 023 – M. MICHEK (CZE) | KTM | 450 RALLY REPLICA | 5h31m59s | + 00: 18: 04 |
42 | 037 – J. MARTINY (BEL) | HUSQVARNA | 450 RALLY REPLICA | 6h27m54s | + 01: 13: 59 |
80 | 120 – J. VAN DYCK (BEL) | HUSQVARNA | 450 RALLY REPLICA | 7h52m15s | + 02: 38: 20 |
Photos: ASO
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