After the ceremonial start yesterday, Hero MotoSports Team Rally geared up for serious action and started the Dakar 2019 with the first stage getting underway. After a long liaison of 247 kms, the short first special stage of 84 kms was kicked off in reverse order from Lima to Pisco. Indian ace rider CS Santosh made a strong finish on his fifth Dakar outing to finish at 20th position.

The comeback man for the team – Joaquim Rodrigues, was the second to tackle the stage. He kept his focus on finishing the stage safely and crossed the finish line at Pisco in the 23rd position.

Oriol Mena was the last to start for the team. He faced a little touchdown trying to avoid a tricky hole in the first dune that he encountered, but otherwise had a steady start to his Dakar campaign. He finished the stage in 14th position.

With all the riders warmed up to the Dakar and the stage one in the bag, the rally will move to San Juan De Marcona for the first full stage with 552km, including the liaisons, to be done in the heat and dunes.

C.S Santosh (Comp No: 50): “First day out of the books. I had butterflies in the beginning but it is always like this with the first stage of the Dakar. After the riverbed, there was a lot of dust but I got into my own rhythm. I am very happy to bring the bike home in the first stage and hopefully this will continue in the next stages as well.”

Oriol Mena (Comp No: 7): “Good Day today overall except for a small incident where I overlooked a small hole on the other side of the first dune and had a touchdown. Well that’s how this Dakar has started for me, but I am safely back at the bivouac and that’s what matters. Tomorrow will be another day.”

 

Joaquim Rodrigues (Comp No: 27): “Today was an emotional stage for me. Honestly, I was a little bit nervous starting today, as this was the same stage where I had crashed last year. So I rode tight today, may be even breaking too much at times to be on the safer side.  But I am happy to see the first stage behind me and now I can focus on getting into a good rhythm in the next few stages.”

Provisional Stage 1 Results

1. Joan Barreda Bort                      Honda Factory Racing                       Honda                            57m 36s
2. Pablo Qunitanilla                    Husqvarna Factory Racing              Husqvarna                    +01m 34s
3. Ricky Brabec                         Honda Factory Racing                       Honda                          +02m 52s
4. Oriol Mena                           Hero Motosports Team Rally     Hero MotoSports   +07m 07s
5. C S Santosh                        Hero Motosports Team Rally     Hero MotoSports   +09m 13s
6. Joaquim Rodrigues            Hero Motosports Team Rally     Hero MotoSports   +10m 14s

Provisional Overall Results

1. Joan Barreda Bort                      Honda Factory Racing                       Honda                          57m 36s
2. Pablo Qunitanilla                    Husqvarna Factory Racing              Husqvarna                    +01m 34s
3. Ricky Brabec                         Honda Factory Racing                       Honda                          +02m 52s
4. Oriol Mena                           Hero Motosports Team Rally     Hero MotoSports   +07m 07s
5. C S Santosh                        Hero Motosports Team Rally     Hero MotoSports   +09m 13s