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Tag: Hero MotoSports
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CS Santosh in good spirits after finishing 553-km Stage 5; Harith Noah has a good run: #Dakar2020
#50 CS Santosh, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, in action during Stage 5 of the Dakar 2020 between Al Ula and Ha’il, on January 9, 2020 – DPPI Media Ha’il (Saudi Arabia), 9 Jan 2020: Ace Indian rally-raid rider CS Santosh saw another successful day finishing Stage 5 in 38th position that brought a smile to the 36-year Bengalurean as he finished at 39 in the overall ranking for bikes in the Dakar Rally on Thursday.
The first Indian to take part and finish Dakar Rally represents Hero MotoSports Team Rally and is participating in his sixth straight Dakar. “Initially, the stage had too many rocks but I had a long but good day. I am looking forward for the next stage,” said the Red Bull athlete. “And it is nice to have company towards the end,” he said of the other Indian Noah finishing with him. Sanatosh took 4 hours, 50 minutes and 28 seconds to complete the 353-km of the Special Stage 5 of the total 553km. Santosh is sponsored by Sidvin, Fast Indian, Scott, Track & Trail and Cannondale.
The other Indian in the fray, Harith Noah of Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team packed up on Day 3, but rejoined to take part in the non-competitive Dakar Experience Class. Today, he finished a spot ahead of Santosh in 38th place but it will not count towards the overall ranking as his missed Stage 3 when his bike refused to start the stage due to technical issues on Tuesday. Noah clocked 4:49:44.
Tomorrow’s stage six will be the second-longest of the 2020 Dakar Rally, totalling 830 kilometres with a 477-kilometre special. In a change to previous days, the special stage will be ridden entirely on sand, which will test the bikes and riders as they head south-east from Ha’il to Riyadh. Once completed, it will mark the halfway point of the event ahead of Saturday’s rest day.
Provisional results: Dakar Rally 2020, stage 5
1. Toby Price (KTM) 3:57:33
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 3:58:45 +1:12
3. Andrew Short (Husqvarna) 4:00:04 +2:3138. Harith Noah (Sherco TVS) 4:49:44;
39. CS Santosh (Hero MotoSports) 4:50:28.
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CS Santosh completes another stage, takes 42nd overall ranking: Dakar 2020
Portrait of Santosh from Stage 1 by DPPI Al Ula (Saudi Arabia), 8 Jan 2020: The 36-year-old ace Indian rally-raid specialist CS Santosh of Hero MotoSports Team Rally had another successful day at Dakar 2020 finishing Stage 4 and Day 4 in 44th position to gain an overall ranking of 42 in the Bike category on Wednesday.
Sanoths, India’s most accomplished supercross and rally-raid champion, fought the day with determination and exhibited his skill to conquer another stage but still Dakar has much to be dealt with in the days to come. “I made one mistake but but happy to finish the day. The dust was not much and the pain in the hand reduced,’’ said the Bengaluru-based rider at the end of the day in a video message. Taking part in the Dakar Rally for the sixth consecutive year, Santosh became the first Indian to finish Dakar in 2015 finishing a creditable 36th for a rookie rider.
CS Santosh (Comp No: 50) continued: “It was a really long and cold day. For me the stage was pretty good overall. In the beginning, there was a lot of dust so I waited to push ahead. The stage was quite difficult but I had a lot of fun today, made considerable time except for a small mistake I made before the refuelling point where I lost my way a bit. Overall my hand is feeling better and stronger, and I am looking forward to the next couple of days at the Dakar.”
The winner of three National Championship titles in Supercross is a Red Bull athlete representing Hero MotoSports Team Rally and is supported by Red Bull, Hero, Sidvin, Fast Indian, Scott, Track&Trail and Cannondale. Santosh also won the Raid de Himalaya in 2012, the toughest rally-raid event in India on the foothills of Himalayas.
The caravan of bikes, quads, cars, trucks and SSVs departed Neom for Al Ula, which meant leaving behind the city of the future, to discover the ancient wonders of the master builders of the Nabatean civilisation, who knew how to cut out temples in rocks two millennia ago. The sites peppered with a hundred temples are, of course, out of the reach of the Dakar competitors. However, even getting close to this area has taken a titanic effort. Riding at altitude in the early morning, bikers had to overcome the mountain chill, but especially the rocky terrain and a crossing of the Harrat al ‘Uwayrid volcanic region, where any navigation mistakes take a heavy toll. Pictures of the tombs will have to wait.
The other Indian in Dakar 2020, Harith Noah representing Sherco TVS Factory Rally team pulled out on the third day when his bike did not start. He took part the next day in the Dakar Experience, a new class which started this year allowing riders to experience the thrill of Dakar but they will not be eligible for ranking.
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Harith Noah’s Dakar ends as bike refuses to start; CS Santosh improves to overall 44th
CS Santosh during the Stage 3 on Tuesday. Photo DPPI/ Flamand Jeddah, 7 Jan 2020: Ace Indian rider CS Santosh of Hero MotoSports Team Rally finished Stage 3 at 51st position to end the Dakar 2020 Day 3 with an overall ranking of 44 in the Bike category on Tuesday.
The 36-year old Bengaluru based Santosh said at the end of Stage 3: “Today was a long stage and there was a lot of dust. I spent a lot of time to find the right way and made many mistakes. But I am very happy to finish the stage.”
And then, the only other Indian, Harith Noah of Sherco TVS Factory Rally team ended his Dakar campaign as he failed to start Day 3 due to mechanical issues as his bike did not start on Tuesday morning, the third day. However, he would continue in the new category `Dakar Experience’ but will not be eligible for rankings in the competitive class.
Today stage was on the loop around Neom. The fast tracks in the first 100 kilometres mostly led competitors on a slalom between the giant rocks of Wadi ash Sharmah that give the impression they have been there since the dawn of time. The riders, drivers and crews then made their way through landscapes typical of neighbouring Jordan as they swept round the Jabal ash Shifa Mountains. In the final section, the rocky terrain required the utmost caution from all the competitors.
Harith Noah suffers technical issues and could not start Day3. A Sherco TVS image Meanwhile, Ricky Brabec wanted to make a statement of intent on the loop around Neom and rose to the challenge seamlessly. Despite tricky terrain and difficult navigation, the American methodically left his rivals in his wake to triumph with a big lead over the rest of the pack, allowing him to take command of the rally.
In the quad race, Giovanni Enrico finally put an end to the supremacy of Ignacio Casale and picked up his first stage victory. In the car race, it was far from the first time for Carlos Sainz as he tasted victory for the 33rd time on one of the legendary rally’s stages, permitting him to take over the lead in the general standings, in front of his runner-up on the day and one of his most consistent rivals, Nasser Al-Attiyah.
The contest was also close in the SSV race, which was today won by Gerard Farres thanks to a fine finish in the last few kilometres. Andrey Karginov did not give a sniff of a chance to Siarhei Viazovich for stage victory and is now putting pressure on his Byelorussian rival in the general standings.
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Harith Noah makes splendid recovery in Stage 2; Sunderland takes overall lead: #Dakar2020
Harith Noah makes a grand recovery on Day 2 finishing overall 65th on Monday. Photo by Sherco TVS Rally team Al Wajh (Saudi Arabia), 6 Jan 2020: Despite a heavy crash that caused an eye injury on Day 1, Harith Noah of Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team finished Stage 2 on Day 2 with flying colours with an impressive recovery from 111th on first day to 51st on second day that brought him an overall ranking of 65 on Monday. The other Indian, experienced ace, CS Santosh of Hero MotoSports Team Rally, too had a fruitful outing on Day 2 as he finished 53rd for an overall ranking of 47. Noah clocked the 367-km Special Stage in 4 hours 54min and 46 seconds while Santosh took 4:59:44.
Indian ace CS Santosh (with bike/Competition No: 50) said, “It was a really difficult day for me with all this pain in my hand from yesterday’s crash. The stage was really rocky and all the impact was coming onto my hand making it really difficult to hold the bike. I will get this checked now and hopefully will have a better stage tomorrow.”
Harith Noah gets a blown eye bandaged on Sunday for rest before taking off for Stage 2 on Monday. FB @HarithNoah8 Meanwhile, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Sam Sunderland has finished second on stage two of the Dakar Rally, moving himself into the provisional race lead. Luciano Benavides enjoyed another solid day in Saudi Arabia, finishing fifth. Matthias Walkner and stage one winner Toby Price finished in eighth and 15th places respectively after opening much of the special.
Stage two at the 2020 Dakar Rally presented riders with several new challenges. The pre-coloured road books used for the first time this year were only given to competitors 25 minutes before the start of the timed special. Also, with the day marking the first half of the event’s Super Marathon stage, riders were only allowed 10 minutes to work on their bikes at the end of the day, with no outside assistance permitted.
As the fifth rider to enter the day’s 367-kilometre special, Sam Sunderland was able to maximise his advantage and push right from the start. The 2019 FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Champion was able to improve his position throughout that stage to ultimately post the second-fastest time. Sam now enjoys a lead of just over one minute in the provisional overall standings.
Sunderland wins overall first place after finishing second in Stage 2 on Sunday. Photo by KTM Factory Racing Team Sam Sunderland: “It was a really tough day today and it felt very long. There was a huge mix of terrain with high speed tracks and then slower technical sections. In and out of the canyons there were a lot of lines visible and that made navigation more of a challenge. I made a couple of mistakes, but I think everyone did out there today. All-in-all though I had a good run, just trying to stick to a steady rhythm and build up my pace as the race goes on.”
Luciano Benavides continues to show great pace and consistency at this year’s event. The young Argentinian, in only his third Dakar, placed fifth on the day’s special to elevate himself to seventh in the overall standings. With a strong start position for stage three, Benavides is confident of another good result.
Luciano Benavides: “It’s been a good day for me – I finished inside the top five and I’m really happy with my rhythm here in Saudi. I enjoyed the stage today but came very close to crashing at one point. Luckily, I was able to stay on and from there I decided to bring the bike home safely and make sure it is good for tomorrow.”
Despite being the third competitor into today’s stage, Matthias Walkner was able to use his skill and experience to carefully navigate the technically demanding route, making the minimum of errors to complete the stage in a solid eighth place. Now lying an excellent fourth overall, the Austrian rider will enjoy an advantageous start position for the second half of the Super Marathon stage.
Matthias Walkner: “I had quite a good day today – the navigation was tough but I was able to push on from the start and at about 45 kilometres I was able to catch Toby. From there I opened the piste to the halfway point. We then rode in a group of four until the finish, which can be tricky as the dust from any riders in front makes it difficult to see stones and rocks hidden in the soft sand. Thankfully I was able to look after the bike and it’s all ready to go for tomorrow.”
Winner of the first day, Toby Price had the unenviable task of opening stage two. That, combined with the limited time to acquaint himself with the road book, made navigating the stage extremely tricky from the front of the pack. Despite the disadvantages, the reigning champion put in a good ride to 15th place and now lies ninth in the provisional overall standings, seven minutes and 34 seconds down on Sunderland.
Toby Price: “Today was always going to be tough, leading out from the start without having had much time to read the road book. The stage went ok, I lost some time to the others but the most important thing is I looked after my bike and the tyres so should be in good shape to close down on the leaders again tomorrow. There’s still a long, long way to go, but the bike is working great, things are looking good and I’m happy.”
After a tough day in the Saudi Arabian sand, KTM Factory Racing’s Mario Patrao completed stage two in 41st place. An error early on cost the Portuguese rider some time and he was then forced to ride in a group until the finish. Despite the challenging day, Mario was able to bring his KTM 450 RALLY home in one piece and now looks forward to stage three.
Mario Patrao: “It was a difficult stage for me today, I made a mistake at kilometre six and was then caught by some other competitors. Riding in dust for the rest of the stage was really tricky as it’s so difficult to see any rocks or other dangers. To stay safe, I hung back a little, which cost me some time. Overall, the bike is good and I’m ready for tomorrow.”
Tuesday’s stage three of the 2020 Dakar Rally will see riders complete a looped course starting and finishing at the city of Neom. Of the 504 kilometres covered, 427 will be timed special, leading competitors towards the border with Jordon and rising to the highest point in this year’s rally at an altitude of 1,400 metres before returning to the bivouac.
Provisional Results Stage Two – 2020 Dakar Rally
1. Ross Branch (BWA), KTM, 3:39:10
2. Sam Sunderland (GBR), KTM, 3:40:34 +1:24
3. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI), Husqvarna, 3:41:31 +2:21
4. Kevin Benavides (ARG), Honda, 3:42:50 +3:40
5. Luciano Benavides (ARG), KTM, 3:42:54 +3:44Provisional Overall Standings (after stage two) – 2020 Dakar Rally
1. Sam Sunderland (GBR), KTM, 7:05:22
2. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI), Husqvarna, 7:06:40 +1:18
3. Kevin Benavides (ARG), Honda, 7:06:54 +1:32
4. Matthias Walkner (AUT), KTM, 7:07:22 +2:00
5. Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 7:09:33 +4:11Hero MotoSports– 2020 Dakar Rally
14. Paulo Goncalves (Portugal) Hero 3:48:42;
25. Sebastian Bühler (Germany) Hero 3:59:13;
47. CS Santosh (India) Hero 4:59:44.Sherco TVS– 2020 Dakar Rally
16. Adrien Metge, (France) Sherco TVS 3:57:42;
19. Johnny Aubert, (France) Sherco TVS 3: 59:14;
23. Lorenzo Santolino; (Spain) Sherco TVS 3: 57:35;
65. Harith Noah (India) Sherco TVS 4:54:46. -
I expect to see a lot more Indian fans on the stages, says CS Santosh: Dakar 2020
CS Santosh…..on a charge. File photo – Anand Philar Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), 31 Dec 2019: In the Dakar’s 40 years of history, Santosh Chunchunguppe Shivashankar will be remembered as the first ever Indian competitor to take part in the event.
It was back in 2015 and not only did the man known as `CS Santosh’ start and finish the rally, he also managed to raise enough awareness back home to seduce Hero, the biggest selling motorcycle brand in India. Five years after his debut, the rider from Bengaluru has finished three out of five Dakar rallies managing his best performance of finishing 34th in 2018. His most-recent appearance unfortunately ended as soon as Day 5 after a severe crash last year.
The 36-year-old returns in an even stronger Hero team, thanks to the arrival of experienced Paulo Gonçalves (2nd of the Dakar in 2015). A recruitment that delights the Indian, eager to carry on the learning. On a new territory, closer to India, he also knows he’ll be a lot more followed by both the media and the huge Indian community living in Saudi Arabia.
“Funnily, I never watched any motorsports before the age of 16. I have absolutely no motorsports background in my family. I was raised to go to college and probably work in software. Then my dad bought me a bike to go to school and that’s when my love of riding really started. Racing probably saved me from getting into trouble. It gave me something to focus on with passion. As a kid, while growing up, I remember being fascinated by adventure, and that fascination continues to this day. Last year I started really well with a 20th spot on Day 1, but had to quit after crashing during stage 5.
“I say this every year but I’m still hoping to finish in the Top 20. I’m still chasing that number but of course I have to start by finishing. The fact of going on unknown territory is really interesting. We won’t just have dunes but also a lot of rocky tracks. I have to adapt to different conditions. To win you need to be a good overall rider. Saudi Arabia is a lot closer to India and the time difference is the same. I know that there will be a lot more media attention and I also expect to see quite a few Indian fans on the stages. Having Paulo (Gonçalves) with us gives the team more ambition. I learn a lot from him, not just on the technical side but also on the bike setting.”
Dakar Village
With just a few days to go before the drivers and crews battle it out on the tracks and in the dunes, the Dakar Village systematically marks an important meeting of conviviality for all and provides an opportunity to experience what the Dakar is all about. This year the Village will be installed along the Red Sea for three days, precisely on the North Corniche of Jeddah.
The 6,000m² site is built for fostering encounters between the rally participants and the public. The Dakar Village is a great occasion for visitors to attend autograph sessions with the competitors, demonstrations and various activities designed to get the spectators into the race in their own way.
Visitors will be able try their hand behind the wheel thanks to virtual reality and a driving simulator. They will also have the chance to discover the Dakar Museum where cars from the Dakar’s past and future will be on display. The organisers have also thought about children who will have a go with pedal cars on their very own circuit.
At night, the Dakar Village will transform into an open-air theatre for a spectacular show featuring Saudi rider Shadi Al Daheri.
The Dakar partners (Motul, BF Goodrich, Aquafina, Mercedes-Benz Trucks, Honda, Red Bull, Rebellion, Kärcher, DExt Official Dakar Shop) will be present in the village for the three days with games and quizzes as well as thousands of prizes to be won.
(Santosh Interview courtesy #Dakar2020)
File photo of CS Santosh in action. Photo – Hero Motorsport -
Santosh in creditable 20th after 331km of Stage 1; Aravind 71st: Dakar Rally
Adrien Metge of Sherco TVS rally team during Stage 1 Lima to Pisco on 7 Jan 2019. Photo by Antonin Vincent Lima, 7 Jan 2019: Michael Metge of Sherco TVS Rally team is placed in 12th while Oriol Mena of Hero Motosports Team Rally is in 14th place at the end of Stage 1 after covering a distance of 331km in the Moto section of the Dakar Rally 2019 which began in Peru on Sunday.
Santosh CS, is standing a creditable 20th after the first leg, and is doing better than his Hero Motosports teammate Joaquim Rodriques who is three places behind him in 23rd place after the first leg.
Right behind him in 24th and 25th places are the other Indian team members of Sherco TVS Rally Factory team. Adrien Metge is in 24th place while Lorenzo Santolino is in 25th place. The second Indian in the field, Aravind KP, also of Sherco TVS Rally team is going steady in 71st place with the sole aim of finishing the Dakar in his third attempt.
Santosh took a time of 1 hours 6 minutes and 49 seconds, a difference of 9:13 minutes to the first to cover the 331-km first stage while Aravind took 1hr 24.23 to be classified in 71st place out of a total of 135 participants who were classified after Stage 1.
Meanwhile, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing have completed a successful stage one of the 2019 Dakar Rally with Sam Sunderland, Toby Price and Matthias Walkner all finishing well inside the top 10. Luciano Benavides put in a solid performance to claim the 15th fastest time of the day with KTM Factory Racing’s Laia Sanz and Mario Patrao placing 31st and 36th respectively.Provisional results after Stage 1: Joan Barreda Bort, Monster Energy Honda Team 2019, 57 minutes, 36 seconds; 2. Pablo Quintanilla, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing, 59:10; 3. Ricky Brabec, Monster Energy Honda Team 2019, 1:00.28; 12. Michael Metge, Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team, 1:04.25; 14. Oriol Mena, Hero Motosports Team Rally, 1:04.43; 20. Santosh CS, Hero Motosports Team Rally, 1:06.49; 23. Joaquim Rodriques, Hero Motosports Team Rally, 1: 07.50; 24. Adrien Metge, Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team, 1:07.52; 25. Lorenzo Santolino, Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team, 1:08.29; 71. Aravind Prabhakar, Sherco TVS Rally Factory Team, 1: 24.23.
edited 8jan19 at 1pm
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CS Santosh finishes 34th for a best Dakar record; Hero MotoSports Team on a high
Cordoba (Argentina), 20 Jan 2018: It was a glorious triumph for Hero MotoSports Team Rally as the only Indian, CS Santosh, who delivered his best Dakar ever after an energy-sapping, marathon 14-day gruelling journey in three countries. Hero was particularly proud with Oriol Mena finishing in the top-10 in a dream debut. Santosh, the only survivor of the two Indians, achieved his best Dakar in three finishes. Aravind KP of Sherco TVS team crashed out in the early stages.
The Dakar Rally 2018 came to a grand end after as the competitors crossed the finishing line, the emotions rolled high amidst the cheer from the teams and the crowd alike. For Hero MotoSports Team Rally, it was a particularly special day as they delivered their best ever Dakar performance, which is even more commendable given that it is only their second Dakar.
Indian MotoSports superstar CS Santosh became the first and the only Indian rider to have finished the Dakar thrice, an honour that is going to make him and all the Indian fans very proud. Not only did he finish it, but he did it in style by delivering his best Dakar performance ever, finishing at 34th position this year.
His performance was particularly commendable given the higher competition level and the stages being toughest this year. This performance of the Hero MotoSports Team Rally has again proved that with right focus and team, one can deliver top class performance.
Oriol Mena impressed one and all to deliver an excellent 7th position finish in his debut Dakar. Delivering consistent top 10 stages towards the end of the rally while everyone was getting tired, shows the kind of skills and stamina he had and also his ability to learn the game fast. He was also adjudged as the best rookie rider of the rally for his special performance.
Hero MotoSports Team Rally is fast gaining a reputation for bringing in top class debutants in the rally with every year. If it was the 12th place finish of Joaquim Rodrigues last year, this year it was Oriol Mena’s turn to even better the results of last year for the team.
It can be surely said that the team has transformed itself from being rookies of the last year to the Heroes of 2018. Wolfgang Fischer, Team Manager: “Finishing this Dakar at Cordoba is really the toughest experience in our Dakar years so far. Starting with the accident of Joaquim Rodrigues, getting into the tough stages at Peru, seeing all our guys overcoming difficulties with bravery, Mena improving with every stage and learning the Dakar mode fast, seeing CS and Mena making their way through the finish, is just a privilege. Santosh getting his best-ever result in which was the toughest Dakar is an achievement we are really proud of.
“For Oriol Mena, it was a big accomplishment to finish in the top 10. He kept going up the rankings while maintaining his position in top 10 in the last few stages gives a lot of confidence for the team’s future. My compliments to the team who worked really hard not allowing any technical issues. We send our best regards to JRod for a fast recovery. We missed him very much in the team and we are counting on him to come back racing soon. Finally our thanks and regards to everyone back in India, and our fans. It’s just a fantastic feeling at the moment.”
Oriol Mena (Comp No: 61): “I am really happy with my results. I enjoyed the last stage a lot and it felt as if these 120 kms were longer than my life. I am at the finish line and also won in the rookie class so it’s a real good result and what can I say, dreams do come true.”
C.S Santosh (Comp No: 49): “It was as tough Dakar this year for sure, every day you had to bow down to the stages. I had lots of ups and downs, some high points in the beginning, then some lows as well. I think it was everything that you would envision a Dakar to be. Lot of stages we offpiste but much difficult from before. I am happy to make it to the finish line of another Dakar. My best Dakar so far so I am really happy to be going home with that.”
Provisional Stage 14 Classifications: 1. Kevin Benavides Monster Energy Honda Honda 01hr 26m 41s 2. Toby Price Redbull KTM Racing KTM +54s 3. Antoine Meo RedBull KTM Racing KTM +02m 49s 6. Oriol Mena Hero MotoSports Team Rally Hero MotoSports +05m 01s 32. C.S. Santosh Hero MotoSports Team Rally Hero MotoSports +18m 40s.
Overall Provisional Classifications after Stage 14: 1. Matthias Walkner Redbull KTM Racing KTM 43h 06m 01s 2. Kevin Benavides Monster Energy Honda Honda +16m 53s 3. Toby Price Redbull KTM Racing KTM +23m 01s 7. Oriol Mena Hero MotoSports Team Rally Hero MotoSports +02h 22m 52s 34. C.S. Santosh Hero MotoSports Team Rally Hero MotoSports +11h 29m 31s.
eom/Hero MotoSports press release
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Santosh falls twice, but holds on after a tough marathon run at 42nd overall position
CS Santosh during Dakar 2018 Stage 8 of Leg2 on Jan 14, 2018. A Hero MotoSports Image Bolivia, 14 Jan 2018: CS Santosh, the only Indian remaining in the Dakar Rally this year, continued his exploits and made a steady progress overcoming a challenging marathon run to end the first stage of Leg 2, Stage 8 in 38th position, which places him at an overall 42nd position. The other Indian KP Aravind ended his campaign after a nasty fall.
Having spent a night at Uyuni without assistance, the competitors started the leg 2 of the Marathon stage from Uyuni to Tupiza on Sunday, the 14th morning for the longest stage of the Dakar Rally.
Santosh of Hero MotoSports Team Rally, too has been gaining good ground lately and continued his steady run today as well. His teammater, Oriol Mena has been consistently delivering under top 20 performances for the past few stages and today was no different as finished today’s special at 12th position. Today’s performance helped Mena in defending his top 20 ranking and grabbing up the 18th spot overall.
The riders had to make a total run of 498 km on Sunday’s special stage followed by an 87-km liaison section. This stage offers the challenge of a tough high altitude riding in the mountain sand dunes at 3500 m above sea level.
Stage 9 of the Dakar Rally has been cancelled due to excessive rains the region has witnessed over the last few days. Overflowing rivers are expected to pose grave dangers to the competitors and hence the organizers decided to call off the stage.
However the riders and the rally will still need to cross the borders to move into Argentina on to their next bivouac at Salta, while covering the longest liaison section of the Dakar.
C.S Santosh, who rides with a competition Number 49, said: “I think this Marathon stage was the hardest I have ever done. It was incredibly difficult as we did 80 km off-piste and the camel grass. I was physically drained with the high altitude riding and also crashed a couple of times. By the time I reached the marathon bivouac I had nothing left in me. This morning we had the longest stage of the Dakar which was tough again. Happy to be back here with the team, I missed these guys. Now we got a lucky break tomorrow and then we go racing all the way to Cordoba”
Provisional Stage 8 Classifications: 1. Antoine Meo, RedBull KTM Racing, KTM, 5h 24m 01s 2. Ricky Brabec, Honda Factory Racing, Honda, +01m 08s 3. Toby Price, RedBull KTM Racing, KTM, +02m 45s 12. Oriol Mena, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, Hero MotoSports, +16m 57s 38. C.S. Santosh, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, Hero MotoSports, +06h 31m 43s
Overall Provisional Classifications after Stage 8: 1. Adrien Van Beveren, Yamaha Factory Racing,Yamaha,27h 22m 03s 2. Kevin Benavides, Honda Factory Racing, Honda, +00m 22s 3. Mathias Walkner, Redbull KTM Racing, KTM, +06m 34s 18. Oriol Mena, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, Hero MotoSports, +01h 42m 57s 42. C.S. Santosh, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, Hero MotoSports, +07h 19m 21s.
eom/Hero MotoSports press release
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Santosh survives Day 1 with a 29th place after Stage 1; J-Rod crashes out
© RallyZone – Edoardo Bauer Pisco (Peru), 8 January 2018: Hero MotoSports Team Rally regained the momentum to make a solid show on the 2nd Day of the Dakar Rally 2018, shrugging off the unfortunate events of the Day 1 where their main rider, J-Rod Rodriques, dropped out of contention after an accident where he fractured his wrist and was airlifted to a hospital.
Stage 2 was the first full-length stage of the Dakar with a short 12-km liaison section followed by a 267-km loop of Pisco. It is a challenging stage with tricky canyons in the first 40 km of the stage which make it only tougher by the series of dunes that follow.
With a tough stage on the cards, both the Hero riders decided to be cautious and steady. Oriol Mena finished the stage at 27th place and Santosh at 29th.
The third stage of the Rally will commence on January 8, when it moves to the next location of San Juan De Marcona, where the competitors can expect to encounter a Chott (dry/marshy saline lake), a number of canyons and almost 60% sand during the course of the 504 kms of riding.
C.S Santosh (Comp No: 49) said: “The Dakar really kicked off today with a difficult stage. The sand was really soft and some of the dunes were really massive. I started really slow but then gained a good rhythm. I had fun today and really happy to make it to the end of day 2.”
Oriol Mena (Comp No: 61) said: “It was a really hard day today but I covered the 1st half at really good speed and caught up with three riders in front of me. Before the re-fuelling station I had slight problem and lost a few minutes there but happy that I finished today and now have one day less to arrive at Cordoba.”
Joaquim Rodrigues (Comp No: 26) said: “Thanks to all the friends and my team for the support and wishes. I am doing ok now and will be flying back home soon to complete my recovery. Sorry, my Dakar was short this year, hard luck but I will come back stronger. All the best to CS and Mena to make it to the finish line at Cordoba safely”
Provisional Stage 2 Classifications: 1. Joan Bort Barreda, Honda Racing, Honda, 02h56m44s; 2. Adrian Van Beveren, Yamaha Official Rally Team, Yamaha, +2m 54s; 3.Matthias Walkner, redBull KTM Factory Racing, KTM, +4m 24s; 27. Oriol Mena Hero Motosports Team Rally, Hero MotoSports, +24m 55s; 29. C.S. Santosh, Hero Motosports Team Rally, Hero MotoSports, +26m 07s.
Overall Provisional Classifications after Stage 2
- Joan Bort Barreda, Honda Racing, Honda, 03h18m36s; 2. Adrian Van Beveren, Yamaha Official Team, Yamaha, +2m 30s; 3. Matthias Walkner, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, KTM +4m 50s; 27. Oriol Mena, Hero Motosports Team Rally, Hero MotoSports, +28m 12s; 28. C.S. Santosh Hero Motosports Team Rally, Hero MotoSports, +28m 26s.
You can follow Hero MotoSports Team Rally at www.heromotosports.com
