Thixton learns lesson in Dakar Rally Prologue
ASHLEY Thixton said he is more than ready for what is to come after he came out unscathed during the Prologue stage of the 2024 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia yesterday.
The 46th edition of the world’s most prestigious rally-raid kicked off with a short 27km timed run in Al’Ula in the western part of Saudi Arabia yesterday, with the entire section run on sandy terrain.
The Prologue, a common feature of Dakar over the years, once again served as a qualifying session of sorts, with the top 10 finishers getting to choose the starting positions of their own choice for the opening stage.
And Zimbabwean motorbike rider Thixton successfully negotiated the opening stage of the Dakar Rally as he was among the riders who returned home safely.
Thixton came home in 105th place out of 147 bikers who took part in yesterday’s Prologue.
Thixton, who is making his debut appearance at the world’s biggest and toughest rally-raid, couldn’t hide his excitement after returning home safely.
He said he learnt a lot of lessons during yesterday’s Prologue and was now looking forward to tackle the Saudi Arabian dunes when proper racing gets underway today.
“Lots of lessons learnt on today’s Prologue!
“But this is just the start and I am more than ready for what is to come,” Thixton said after he successfully shepherded his Husqvarna 450R bike home yesterday.
In the bikes’Rally2 category, Thixton was in the good company of the legendary biker from Botswana, Ross Branch, who came third.
Tosha Schareina of Spain was the first man home. Schareina could not have hoped for a better start to his third Dakar and his first as an official rider.
The man from Valencia has proven to be the quickest on the Prologue to pick up his first stage win on the Dakar.
He has beaten the GASGAS ridden by Daniel Sanders by 12’’ and the Hero ridden by Branch by 19.
Adrien Van Beveren put the second Honda in the rankings into fourth position 24’’ behind the winner.
Luciano Benavides, who won three stages last year, finished fifth, 2’’ behind Van Beveren. His brother, title holder Kevin Benavides, achieved the day’s ninth best time, a little less than one minute behind the winner.
In the quads section, Francisco Moreno of Argentina beat his countryman Manuel Andújar, the winner of the Dakar in 2021, by 28’’.
The double title holder Alexandre Giroud achieved the third best time, 1’14’’behind the day’s winner. As a result, on his 3rd Dakar, Moreno has picked up his 3rd stage win.
During his last appearance on the W2RC at the Deasfio Ruta 40 last summer, the Argentinean finished second just behind Andújar.
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