Pablo Quintanilla wins on motorcycles and approaches the lead
Chilean Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) today won the ninth stage of the motorcycle in the All-terrain Dakar Rally, the first after Paulo Gonçalves’ death, and recovered almost four minutes to the leader.
It took Quintanilla 3: 30.33 hours to complete the 410 kilometers of the timed special out of a total of 476 that made up the stage linking Wadi Al Dawasir to Haradh in Saudi Arabia.
In second place was the American Toby Price (KTM), 1.54 minutes from the Chilean, and Spaniard Joan Barreda (Honda) was third, at 2.42 minutes, despite a slight fall with no physical consequences.
In the overall standings, American Ricky Brabec (Honda), who was fourth in today’s round, retains the lead, now 20.53 minutes ahead of Quintanilla, after giving up 3.55.
Toby Price climbed to the podium and is already third at 26.43 of the leader.
This Wednesday is the 10th of 12 stages of the race, which this year swapped South America for Saudi Arabia, with a link between Haradh and Shubaytah, with a total distance of 608 kilometers, 534 of them timed.
This will be the first part of a marathon stage where riders will only be able to receive assistance from other competitors, with 30 kilometers of dunes at the end of the course.
