Hero MotoSports keeps momentum up in the looped Stage 9 of 2022 Dakar
Stage 9 of the 2022 Dakar was quite different when compared to the previous stages. This stage was a 491km loop around Wadi ad-Dawasir where the riders faced mountains, followed by the tracks around the canyons. Even though there were less sand sections when compared to the previous stages, it proved to be difficult from a navigation aspect.
Hero MotoSports had a decent day at the stage. Joaquim Rodrigues dropped on the timesheets by the time he reached the first waypoint, but he improved on every section from there onwards. Despite the difficult terrain, J-Rod rode and finished well and with it, maintained his P14 in the overall RallyGP class standings.
After the stage, he said, “It was a different stage today with a lot of canyons and rocks, but still a fast one. I wasn’t feeling very comfortable today and wasn’t riding very fast. Anyhow, I was able to finish the stage, and I look forward to continuing the good performance till the end of the race.”
His teammate Aaron Maré finished the stage in P20. Aaron was performing with a better pace when compared to the previous stages. He did have a minor navigation mistake and a fall cost him some valuable time.
Aaron said, “I enjoyed my pace in this stage and felt comfortable riding in this terrain. Early on, I caught up with a rider in front and we ended up making a navigation error, and lost some time there again. Later, after refuelling I had a small fall while in the dunes and lost some time. This threw me back by a few positions on the table. At the end of the stage, I’m happy to have finished yet another stage without any injuries, and look forward to the last three days of the race.”
Stage 10 is a 374km stretch with some scenic views but at the same time it is expected to be the fastest special sections of this season. Starting from Wadi Ad-Dawasir, the competitors will ride a total of 757km to reach the bivouac at Bisha. For more news and updates from the world of motorsport, stay tuned to evo India!
