Thixton ‘two shots’ away from Dakar Rally glory
IT’S firmly on the horizon!
Zimbabwean motorbike rider Ashley Thixton is only “two shots” away from writing his own fairytale at this year’s Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia.
Thixton had another smart ride in yesterday’s Stage 10 where he came home safely for an overall position of 39th going into the penultimate round of the race today.
Thixton was happy with his overall performance yesterday and is looking forward to clearing the last two stages today and tomorrow in order to join the Dakar Rally immortals.
“I can’t believe we only have two stages left! Stage 10 is out the way and I am pleased I managed to climb up a few spots after yesterday’s mishap.
“With only two days left, I am just focused on keeping it tidy and getting to the finish line.
“I really appreciate my sponsors,” Thixton said after another good day at the office in the Saudi dunes yesterday.
Thixton only needs to come out with a clean bill of health in today’s Stage 11 of the toughest and biggest motor rallying event in the world to write his own piece of history.
Clearing the hurdle in today’s penultimate day of the 12-stage rally, which began on January 5, will most likely see Thixton joining the finishers of the event when the curtain finally comes down on the 2024
Dakar Rally tomorrow.
This will see Thixton becoming the second Zimbabwean motorbike rider to last the distance at the Dakar Rally after Graeme Sharp who achieved this feat in 2020 when the event was moved to Saudi Arabia.
Reaching the podium tomorrow will certainly turn Thixton into a local motorsport hero and he will become a legend of the sport in Zimbabwe.
The finish line is now the goal! Competing in this year’s Dakar Rally for the first time in his glittering motorcycling career was a character building for Thixton deep in the Saudi trenches!
He deserves a hero’s welcome upon his return from Saudi Arabia on Sunday.
Even with a day left in the race, Thixton has already won the hearts of thousands of motorsport enthusiasts and the general public back home in Zimbabwe with his resilience during this year’s tough Dakar Rally in the Saudi dunes.
Meanwhile, Thixton will put his helmet up for a “silent auction” once he ends his participation at the 2024 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia tomorrow.
Thixton’s stunning Alpinestars custommade Dakar helmet is up for auction to assist with paying the many bills that are still outstanding.
Speaking from Saudi Arabia, Thixton said: “Due to an increase in demand about people asking about my helmet after the Dakar and due to a lot of bills that I have to pay, I’ve to put it (the helmet) up for auction.
“The auction will be open until I land back home in Zimbabwe on January 21 at about 12:30pm.
“Ready to go for some more serious fun in the desert. Big thanks to all my sponsors and partners and all of you for the support.
“Helmet auction is sitting at US$3 500, which is incredible. Thank you and let’s do it . . . ”
He was speaking to Zimpapers Sports before heading back west to Al Ula, the location of the start of this year’s Dakar Rally.
This is how the auction will be conducted:
◆ Message name and bid to +263778559972 ◆ This will all be recorded down and at the end of the day, Thixton will post what the highest bid is currently sitting at
◆ One can change their bid as many
times as you please
◆ Bidding starts at US$100
◆ Bidding ends at 12:45pm on the Sunday 21 January, on his touch down back home.
“Or if you would just like to make a donation of any kind to assist in covering those few unforseen costs that come from a race like this then just add #Donation #AshShouldKeepHisLid to your message.
“Ready, steady . . . GO!!! #3MoreSleeps,” Thixton’s handlers added.
Meanwhile, riders of the factory Honda team made a hat-trick for the second day in a row in yesterday’s Stage10 — American Ricky Brabec, Chilean José Ignacio Cornejo and Frenchman Adrien van Beveren took the first three places on the special stage.
For Brabec, who has been leading the overall standings for five days now, it was the first stage win at this year’s Dakar.
In the overall standings, leader Ricky Brabec increased his lead to almost 11 minutes — a really big gap with only two days left to the finish of the marathon. Botswana’s Ross Branch (Hero), who is second, is now under huge pressure, with Adrien van Beveren (52 seconds behind) and José Ignacio Cornejo (less than three minutes behind) close behind.
The biggest surprise yesterday belonged to India’s Harith Noah (Sherco TVS Rally Factory), who finished fifth on the special stage and won the stage in the Rally2 category.
Stage 10 (moto)
1. Brabec (Honda)
2. Cornejo (Honda) +0:02
3. Van Beveren (Honda) +0:20
4. Sanders (GasGas) +0:47
5. Noah (Sherco) +1:55
Overall (moto)
1. Brabec (Honda)
2. Branch (Hero) +10:54
3. Van Beveren (Honda) +11:46
4. Cornejo (Honda) +13:48
5. Benavides K. (KTM) +32:43