DAKAR 2024

Ross Branch survives a hellish first stage

Many things were expected to happen at the start of the Dakar... and so it has. The first stage of the 46th edition of the Arab rally has turned the race forecasts upside down... and they have not exactly been positive for Spanish interests.

Because our best asset, Tosha Schareina, has been left out of the race after breaking her wrist as a result of a fall when he was trying to pass Toby Price in a slow zone. Honda's fittest driver says goodbye prematurely to Dakar 2024.

Ross Branch wins the stage...In a very hard day of more than five hours of competition on the motorcycle (plus the links), the Botswanan Ross Branch, Barreda's teammate in Hero, has taken the victory in the stage, 414 kilometers of route against the clock between Al-Ula and Al-Henakiya.

The 'Ferrari of the Kalahari', as the smiling Branch is nicknamed, adds his fourth stage victory and shows that Barreda will not be alone to defend Hero's colors. The two had to stop today to attend to different injured companions (the Botswanan accompanied Schareina and the Castellón-born Joaquim Rodrigues) and both have had a good stage, which keeps the results provisional until their time is returned. The organization has confirmed the victory of Branch (who entered 16:10 behind Brabec but was detained for more than 25 minutes). This also makes him the leader of the general classification, although with the differences yet to be established.

A day in which the young Mason Klein (Kove) has shone, who despite opening the track has finished third, behind Branch and Ricky Brabec (Honda). Also Lorenzo Santolino, who has been with the best with the Sherco.

The 'Ferrari of the Kalahari', as the smiling Branch is nicknamed, adds his fourth stage victory and shows that Barreda will not be alone to defend Hero's colors. The two had to stop today to attend to different injured companions (the Botswanan accompanied Schareina and the Castellón-born Joaquim Rodrigues) and both have had a good stage, which keeps the results provisional until their time is returned. The organization has confirmed the victory of Branch (who entered 16:10 behind Brabec but was detained for more than 25 minutes). This also makes him the leader of the general classification, although with the differences yet to be established.

Criticisms of the route...Some who did not do well, like Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) was amazed at the end of the day with the characteristics of the stage: "It's crazy that they put us here, I didn't like it for nothing. It was more like a 400 kilometer trial, very slow and technical, almost impossible to pass on the motorcycle. There have been many falls, which is not pleasant either. I hope the next stage will be different. At least, we are whole."

And he wasn't the only one to criticize the route. Daniel Sanders (GasGas) also considered a stage too demanding to be the first day... of a two-week race. His teammate, Sam Sunderland, described the second part as "the worst I've done in a long time, it was very dangerous and not fun at all. But it's the Dakar and it's supposed to be hard."

Toby Price had even more problems as his KTM stalled in fourth gear and lost some time in the final 200km, while reigning champion Kevin Benavides overcame a difficult day fantastically due to his broken fibula without finishing. welding since he finished eighth.

Enrique Naranjo