Santosh crashes out, Aravind in 53rd spot

AREQUIPA,PERU: The marathon stages of the Dakar Rally are known to take a toll on man and machine and it proved so as India’s CS Santosh crashed out after a fall in the 776 km fifth stage from Moquegua to Arequipa on Friday.

Britain’s Sam Sunderland was awarded the stage, moving up to second overall behind American Ricky Brabec. He lost more than 10 minutes after stopping to help Honda rider Paulo Goncalves, who suffered a head injury and fractured his right hand in a crash. But the time was adjusted for his gesture, putting him on top. Santosh, 35, one of three Hero Motosports Team Rally riders, crashed between Waypoint 4 and 5, suffering back and hip injuries. He was airlifted to a hospital in Tacna. His condition is stable and he is currently in a hospital here. Hero Motosports Team Rally manager Wolfgang Fischer said: “We’re happy he is doing okay.”

The presence of fesh-fesh (powdery substance on the desert) impaired the visibility of the riders and stones hidden on the route made it more dangerous. Santosh’s teammates — Spaniard Oriol Mena and Portuguese Joaquim Rodrigues — both crashed once. Mena clocked (4:24.47), finishing the stage at 16th to be overall 12th. Rodrigues (18th - 4:25.36) is 28th overall.

KP Aravind, the TVS rider and only Indian left, finished the stage at 53rd (5:59.48). He received a 30-minute penalty, after being penalised six minutes earlier. He is ranked 54th.