Dakar Rally 2021 has begun! And what a start to the world’s most challenging race on earth with official opening ceremony presenting all competitors to fans watching. With Prologue completed, riders, drivers, Teams, crew and officials are set for what must be THE epic Rally to kick-start a New Year!
Covering all Women racing Dakar Rally, MXLink will break-down happenings through-out the 12 Stage race across Bike, Car, Light Prototype and SSV categories starting with results from Prologue on January 2nd. Competitors made test run over 11kms timed section from Jeddah-to-Jeddah determining start positions for Stage One tomorrow.
Bike category consisted of Laia Sanz (Gas Gas Factory Team) who completed timed Prologue in 32nd position with time of 07′ 03″ a difference of 1 minute 2 seconds from pole position set by 2020 Dakar Rally winner Ricky Brabec.
Rookies Audrey Rosset (Team RS Concept) and Sara Jugla (Team Baines Rally) completed timed section in 83rd and 93rd positions respectively. Original by Motul rider Sara Garcia (Pont Grup Yamaha) stands in 96th Overall – 29th in Unassisted class.
Sara: ‘We’ve completed 11 kms timed to define the order of departure for the morning stage. My first shot of contact with the moto, staying calm to take in all sensations and above all refresh the use of the GPS navigation system of the @dakarrally, which has not been touched since the previous edition! Very emotional to be back on the presentation podium for another year. Now to rest for tomorrow we start the first leg, more than 700 km’.
Great run by South Africa’s Taye Perry who pairs with Bryan Baragwanath (Century Racing) in Car category coming in 2nd position. Although tied in time with 05′ 48″ Overall, Taye and driver Bryan really have all determination to race for the win. Monica Plaza pairing with her father/driver Manolo Plaza (Sodicars Racing) set target for the Opening Stage starting 10th within T1.3 2-wheel drive category, making impact on improving results from completing Dakar Rally 2020.
The only female duo in Dakar Rally- Camelia Liparoti and Annett Fischer have sights set on out-doing their performance in Dakar 2020 along with show-casing Yamaha’s powered X-Raid Team prototype YXZ1000R. Competing in same category- Lightweight Vehicle Prototypes, Cristina Gutierrez and co-pilot Francois Cazalet (Red Bull Off-Road Team USA), made their mark on starting position finishing Prologue in 7th position- 07’01”.
Super congratulations to Kristen Matlock racing under Team USA Polaris RZR Factory Racing finishing 23 out of 61 entries in SSV category. Paired with co-pilot Max Eddy, Kristen competes her first Dakar with the Team’s 2 other competitors: husband Wayne Matlock and co-pilot Sam Hayes.
Stage One January 3rd starts from Jeddah- Bisha comprising a liaison of 345kms and timed section of 277kms. The route will traverse sandy tracks- rocky- protection of tyres will be key.
Words: Sharon Cox.
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