The natural disasters of two days ago in Jujuy and the cancelation of the ninth stage yesterday are now history and today the Dakar Rally was back on its scheduled route. In the suffocating regions of La Rioja and San Juan, the Monster Energy Honda Team grabbed the glory with a stage win.

The Dakar got back to relative ‘normality’ with a full-length stage, free from diversions or detours. The 449 kilometres against the clock on the route from Chilecito-San Juan turned out to be the longest one disputed so far in the 2017 edition of the race. With baking 45-degree temperatures – even reaching 50 in the saddle – riders had to endure one of the most physically gruelling stages, as well as having to deal with highly demanding navigation over the opening stretches of the stage. The second section – finishing in San Juan – was a speedier affair, albeit with technical complications. Riders will try and rest tonight in the heat of the El Zonda racing circuit.

Joan Barreda opened the track throughout the day with near-flawless navigation except for a very slight deviation at kilometre 53. Luckily, team-mate Michael Metge was on hand to confirm the correct direction. Both, with the Honda CRF450 RALLY, were soon spearheading the field towards the destination in San Juan. Metge scored the day’s best time, clinching his first Dakar stage win in the process; although later he was sanctioned for having missed a waypoint. The French rider’s route is currently being subjected to scrutiny.

The penalty means that the day’s top honours fall on Joan Barreda, who consequently collects a third Dakar 2017 stage victory and the second in succession. The Monster Energy Honda Team rider is fifth in the general standings, less than an hour behind the overall race leader.

Paulo Gonçalves dropped precious time whilst searching for one of the more elusive waypoints in this Dakar. Once verified, the Portuguese put pedal to the metal in an attempt to make up the lost time. By the end of the special he had finished some eight minutes adrift of the winner on the day.

Ricky Brabec was unable to finish in the way he had hoped. After starting the day out from behind and immediately pulling pack several positions, the American maintained a scorching pace and at one time even led the race. An apparent radiator problem put an end to his intentions and the Californian was forced to slow the pace down and eventually made it back to the bivouac with a tow from another rider.

Barreda’s third win, together with the triumph of Brabec in the seventh stage, means the Monster Energy Honda Team tally rises to four victories – half of the stages disputed so far.

 


TOMORROW’ STAGE

Friday, January 13
STAGE 11 SAN JUAN – RÍO CUARTO
SELECTIVE SECTOR 288 km TOTAL 754 km
A SURPRISE IN CÓRDOBA?
The San Juan dunes, which will come in the first 50 kilometres of the special stage will be the final to surf on the 2017 Dakar. Those who best handle sliding and the racing line will be right at home on the WRC like tracks of the Córdoba region. Everyone knows that a surprise can come at any moment.

Check the Stage 11 maps here.

Joan Barreda

STAGE: 1st, 5:49'45 OVERALL: 5th, +57'43

Today has been a very good stage. In the first part, where I had to be very careful, something wasn’t right. Several riders got lost in an area with a ford where one of the notes indicated a dead-end. I was trying it out until Michael Metge showed up and confirmed the position. I did a little cross country before I found the right route. From there we pushed hard and the last part of the day featured a bumpy track in the style of American Bajas. It was great fun.

Paulo Goncalves 17

STAGE: 8th, +8'43 OVERALL: 7th, +1:00'11

Today has been a pretty full day. The first part of the stage - over 270 kilometres - had a very technical part, with a lot of trial and a lot of very complicated navigation. We did several kilometres in an area of trial and I lost some time finding the right course. The second part was faster but more intense technically. I tried to push to pull back some time. We have two days to try to do the best we can.

Michael Metge 15

STAGE: 24th, +59'05 OVERALL: 17th, +2:35'33

Well, today was difficult. Very difficult. I would say that today we have ridden the most technically complicated stage in this Dakar. There was an initial part with quite a lot of navigation, alongside a river, where it was very hot and a very trial-like area. I found Joan and two KTM riders who are lost. Joan opened track and I followed. When I saw that there were two of us, I tried to speed up the pace in the second half. We were counting the kilometres and in the end I achieved the goal. I'm super happy to win my first stage of the Dakar.

Private: Roberto Boasso

Team Manager

I'm very happy. It was a really nice day after the mechanics have worked all night like crazy on the bikes after what has happened over the previous stages, where they didn’t have much time off either. Achieving this result is very satisfactory: Mika has been extraordinary and Joan, fabulous. We will continue working and fighting until the end. Thanks to all team members for the efforts they have made despite the problems day after day.

2017 Dakar Rally
Stage Round DAK17 , 10   Dakar

Results Stage 10

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Barreda Joan SPA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda 5:49'45
2 Svitko Stefan 2 SLO Slovnaft Rally Team KTM +0'24
3 Caimi Franco 67 ARG Honda South America Rally Team Honda +3'48
4 Renet Pierre-Alexandre 31 FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +4'21
5 Rodrigues Helder 5 POR Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team Yamaha +5'46
6 Cervantes Iván 25 SPA Himoinsa Team KTM +7'15
7 Metge Adrien 26 FRA Sherco TVS Rally Factory Sherco +8'18
8 Goncalves Paulo 17 POR Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +8'43
9 Klymciw Ondrej 45 CZE Klymciw Racing Husqvarna +9'22
10 Walkner Matthias 14 AUT Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +12'53
11 Salvatierra Juan Carlos 32 BOL Duust Rally Team KTM +14'57
12 Sunderland Sam 16 GBR Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +17'06
13 Farres Gerard 8 SPA Himoinsa Team KTM +21'25
14 Sanz Laia 19 SPA KTM Factory Racing Team KTM +21'39
15 Gyenes Emanuel 29 ROU Autonet Motorcycle Team KTM +23'32
24 Metge Michael 15 FRA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +59'05
2017 Dakar Rally
Stage Round DAK17 , 10   Dakar

Provisional Standings after Stage 10

Pos. Rider Num Nation Team Constructor Time/Gap
1 Sunderland Sam 16 GBR Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM 28:07'59
2 Walkner Matthias 14 AUT Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team KTM +30'01
3 Farres Gerard 8 SPA Himoinsa Team KTM +38'43
4 Van Beveren Adrien 6 FRA Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team Yamaha +41'57
5 Barreda Joan SPA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +53'47
6 Renet Pierre-Alexandre 31 FRA Husqvarna Factory Rally Team Husqvarna +55'24
7 Goncalves Paulo 17 POR Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +1:00'11
8 de Soultrait Xavier 23 FRA Viltais Racing Team HFP Yamaha +1:32'55
9 Caimi Franco 67 ARG Honda South America Rally Team Honda +1:37'57
10 Svitko Stefan 2 SLO Slovnaft Rally Team KTM +1:48'45
11 Rodrigues Helder 5 POR Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team Yamaha +1:51'25
12 Salvatierra Juan Carlos 32 BOL Duust Rally Team KTM +2:04'38
13 Klymciw Ondrej 45 CZE Klymciw Racing Husqvarna +2:08'55
14 Rodrigues Joaquim 27 POR Hero Motorsports Team Rally Hero +2:09'09
15 Cervantes Iván 25 SPA Himoinsa Team KTM +2:22'04
17 Metge Michael 15 FRA Monster Energy Honda Team Honda +2:35'33

Dakar 2017 Stage 10 Monster Energy Honda Team

Dakar 2017 Stage 10 Monster Energy Honda Team


Dakar 2017 Stage 9 (recap Stage8) Monster Energy Honda Team

Dakar 2017 Stage 9 (recap Stage8) Monster Energy Honda Team

Location Information

The greatest and toughest rally in the world, the Dakar’s history has been written in the heart of some of the world’s most stunning deserts and belongs to the world of the greatest sporting challenges of our time. Both a motor race and an orienteering challenge, the Dakar Rally pits… read more.

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