ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA’S RUBEN FARIA THIRD IN DAKAR STAGE 4
VERY STRONG COMEBACK FOR PABLO QUINTANILLA
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Ruben Faria proved he is a Dakar rider of resilience and experience on Wednesday when he made a strong recovery to finish second in Stage 4. Faria was just 2 minutes 35 seconds behind stage winner and fellow Portuguese Paolo Goncalves. Both riders advanced two positions in the results after the original leader Joan Barreda picked up a 5-minute speeding penalty.
With this result Faria has put a difficult day in Stage 3 behind him and is now fifth in the overall standings. He is 7 minutes 21 seconds off the leading time but there is a long way to go in this 5,592mi journey.
Factory teammate Pablo Quintanilla of Chile was tenth in the stage and is currently eighth overall. He will be working hard to trim the 9.05 gap to the leaders in the coming days.
Quintanilla: “We rode a lot in the Dakar manner if you consider the amount of kilometers, although only on trails and little navigation. My idea was to leave Argentina without making mistakes and I did succeed. I hope that as we enter Bolivia we find more off-road because that is my real strength and I can put on the pressure.”
Unfortunately the stage came to an abrupt end for the team rookie Pela Renet. He started very strongly and rode between fourth and ninth position almost to the end of the special. He then crashed at the 249mi mark, just 18mi from the finish and has had to withdraw from the competition.”
Wednesday was the first half of a marathon stage where riders were not allowed to touch their bikes from the time they entered the bivouac. The stage, which took competitors in a loop around Jujuy, also represented another long ride – a total distance of 391mi. It was also at an average altitude of 11,483ft over a mix of sandy and rocky terrain.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Team Manager Daniel Trauner: “We’re really satisfied with Ruben Faria, who does a brilliant job and was second in this stage. Hopefully he will continue like this for the rest of the marathon stage. Also Pablo, who is not really used to riding the fast tracks, is satisfied with his position. He’s very motivated and confident for the stage tomorrow. He also told us he was able to save the tire. Unfortunately Pela (Renet) crashed today. He has had scans and checks and there is no broken bones.”
On Thursday riders must look after bikes and tires through Stage 5, but there is an additional challenge. The rally enters Bolivia and during the timed special they will climb to 15,092ft altitude. Organizers have also promised that navigation is about to get more difficult so riders will have to concentrate on their road books on the way from Jujuy to Uyuni, a distance of 399mi, with a timed special of 203mi.
Stage 4 Results Jujuy to Jujuy.
Total distance 390mi; timed special of 267mi
(First half of marathon stage)
1. Paolo Goncalves (POR), Honda, 4 hours 07 minutes 19 seconds
2. Ruben Faria (POR), Husqvarna, +04.24
3. Kevin Benavides (ARG), Honda, + 04.26
4, Joan Barreda (POR), Honda, +3.11 (5-minute speeding penalty after the stage)
5. Toby Price (AUS), KTM, +5.50
6. Antoine Meo (FRA), KTM + 06.04
7. Metge (FRA), Honda +07.09
8. Gerard Farres (ESP), KTM, + 07.12
9. Brabec (USA), Honda, +07.18
10. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI), Husqvarna + 07.41
..
19. Txomin Arana (ESP), Husqvarna, +11.56
24. Jacopo Cerutti (ITA), Husqvarna, +13.38
Overall Standings after Stage 4
1. Goncalves 10 hours 35.17 seconds
2. Benavides + 04.14
3. Barreda +03.03 (Total penalty 6.00)
4. Svitko + 07.19
5. Faria +07.21
6. Walkner + 09.05
7. Price +9.53
8. Quintanilla + 10.19
9. Meo +12.52
10. Duclos + 13.08
www.dakar.com
Second place for Ruben Faria in Stage Four
Quintanilla feeling confident as the rally heads for Bolivia
