Santhosh climbs rankings at Dakar
The fourth stage of the Dakar Rally stayed in San Juan De Marcona, Peru, for an additional day of dunes and navigation that ambushed competitors with hidden way points and difficult terrain. Both Hero MotoSports Team Rally riders pushed hard, Oriol Mena continuing his fine form to begin the stage well but losing time in finding a waypoint in the later part of the stage.
He finished the stage 33rd, which now places him 24th in the overall rankings.
C. S. Santosh rode hard to cover some ground despite a nasty crash. He gained over 40 positions on his overnight ranking of 98th, to finish the stage and overall in 56th place.
The stage offered a changed landscape and a different kind of start, organisers opting for a mass start on the beach with 15 bikes per set. After a beach sprint, the competitors had to tackle one of the longest sandy sections in the history of the Dakar, a total of 100 km with dunes of all sizes making up a total stage run of 444 km including the special stage of 330 km.
The rally will next move to Arequipa where competitors will tackle the sands of Tanaka.
Said Santhosh: “I knew it was going to be a tough day because I was starting with a lot of riders in front of me. I tried to push and did all I could and managed to cross a lot of riders. The dune section was really long and difficult but I managed that well.”