Spanish rider Joan Barreda yesterday won his first stage of this year’s Dakar Rally, taking the honors in the fourth stage of this year’s race with Australia’s Dominic Sanders retaining the overall lead.
Barreda, on a Honda, timed 16 seconds faster than Chilean teammate Pablo Quintanilla with the ultra-consistent Skyler Howes of the US third, 1 minute, 5 seconds off the pace.
Howes’ compatriot Mason Klein was the big loser on two wheels on the 425km special raced around Hail.
Photo: AFP
He led for most of the stage until a fuel intake problem 20km from the finish cost him dearly, losing 12 minutes.
As a result he dropped from second overall to sixth.
“I had to stop, take the tank off and pour it in the back,” he said. “Then I couldn’t get the skid plate bolt back in.
“I was getting very stressed. It’s pretty disappointing because the day was going so well, but at least we made it here,” he said.
Sanders — winner of Tuesday’s stage — leads Howes by 3 minutes, 33 seconds, with Kevin Benavides of Argentina third, 4 minutes, 5 seconds adrift of the Australian.
Sanders, worryingly for his fans, said he had a sore arm after posting the eighth fastest time, over 10 minutes off the winner.
“I think for me now it’s just a case of trying to get some recovery and take it easy for the next few days because my arm is pretty sore already and the elbow isn’t 100 percent,” said Sanders, who fractured his left elbow and wrist when he crashed in last year’s race.
“We’ll take it easy. It’s a long race. I’m just trying to calm myself down every day. I said to myself and the family and friends back home that after the year off I’ll be happy with a top 10 finish,” he said.
Chile’s Jose Ignacio Cornejo earned plaudits in stopping to help injured Hero rider Joaquin Rodrigues, who ultimately had to retire from the race.
Cornejo had the time lost for his act of selflessness restored by the organizers.
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