Ross Branch na Rallye Dakar | photo: Reuters
The results of the motorcycle category were marked by additional penalties and time adjustments. Initially, the fastest Chilean was Pablo Quintanilla, but after the addition of six penalty minutes, he dropped to seventh place. In the end, defending champion Kevin Benavides from Argentina claimed the stage lead.
Michek was also in sixth place at the control intervals, in the second half of the stage from Davadmí to Salamíj, during which 438 sharp kilometers awaited the competitors, but he dropped slightly. The rider of the Orion Moto Racing Group team was ninth in the original results, eventually overtaken by Australian Toby Price and Skyler Howes from the USA, who helped Sebastian Bühler from Germany after his fall and their time was subsequently adjusted by the organizers. However, the penalized Spaniard Joan Barreda fell behind Michek.
One of the favorites in the motorcycle category, Sam Sunderland from Great Britain, retired from the rally, he was eliminated by technical problems. Jaromír Romančík, who already had big problems on Sunday and has not passed a single control point on Monday, seems to end up next to the two-time winner of the Dakar.
Among the cars, according to the unofficial results, the fastest was Brazilian Lucas Moraes, who finished third at his Dakar premiere last year. The third Rajhi became the new leader today, overtaking Carlos Sainz from Spain. Prokop finished just behind the elite ten, losing 14:55 minutes to Moraes.
The champion from the previous two years, Násir Attíja from Qatar, had problems and after three punctures he completed the measured section with only three wheels and on the rim. Considering the fact that the 3rd stage is a so-called marathon, his mechanics will only have two hours to repair the car. Attíja still set the fourth time and is currently fifth.