Campbell consolidates Rally2 lead on demanding marathon stage

Holding the provisional overall lead in the Rally2 category upon arrival yesterday at the marathon bivouac, Preston Campbell was well rested after a night in a tent and ready to reinforce his position at the top.

The 371 km special stage threw riders straight into the sand, with further challenges emerging throughout the day.  Dry riverbeds, camel grass and complex navigation combined with punishing stony terrain placed heavy demands on both rider and machine.

Free from tyre issues, Campbell kept his head down on the run to Hail.  Although he finished just over five minutes behind stage winner Neels Theric, another solid third-place result allowed him to maintain his Rally2 lead, extending his advantage to 20 minutes.  While the gap is healthy, the Dakar rookie knows the priority is consistency and avoiding any major mistakes.

After mechanical problems on the previous day’s very rocky stage, Martim Ventura faced a long night at the marathon camp repairing his Honda CRF450RX RALLY.  With limited options available, the Portuguese rider focused on simply reaching Hail so the bike could be handed back to the Monster Energy Honda HRC team for full repairs.

A determined ride to sixth place saw Ventura climb to eighth overall.  Although he now sits one hour and 38 minutes behind his teammate, he continues to gain valuable experience on his first Dakar, with stage victories still very much a target.

Stage six tomorrow is the final test before the rest day and also the longest of the rally.  Riders face a massive 920 km in total, including a dune-heavy special across the Qassim region to Riyadh, where competitors will finally enjoy a well-earned pause after an intense opening week.