Dakar 2019 Stage 8: Hero And Sherco-TVS Have Brilliant Runs

It is the final few days of the 2019 Dakar and one simply cannot predict which way it is going to swing in the Moto class while it seems all but a decided affair in the Cars class. Even our Indian teams are doing exceptionally well: On stage 8, it was Sherco-TVS Racing’s Michael Metge putting in a stellar performance to finish 11th on the day. Hero MotoSport’s Oriol Mena and Joaquim Rodrigues were just behind the Frenchman and the three were really close to earn a top ten stage finish. Michael’s younger brother Adrien was three spots behind JRod.

It is still Oriol who is the top placed rider of the four as the Spaniard is eleventh overall. Next up is teammate JRod in 18th with the Sherco-TVS pilots, Michael and Adrien, 24th and 26th. The four of them could pick up more places on the final two days of the Dakar. Perhaps Oriol could bag yet another top ten finish.

Stage 7 saw Arvind KP struggle due to navigational issues which hampered his ranking. This time around he found himself fighting the dust left behind by the riders ahead of him. Despite this, he still managed to finish the race in 46th position and the Indian rider is now 47th overall.

Get latest updates on
the automobile community

Login Now

Dakar is known to be cruel. With everything seemingly going in his favour so far, Honda’s lead rider Ricky Brabec was forced to retire as the engine of his CRF450 Rally fell apart. Brabec was leading the rally up until the point he retired and thus will be devastated by the DNF. His retirement buoyed KTM’s spirits as they had three riders in the top five on the day. Reigning Dakar champ Matthias Walkner won the stage from the Husqvarna of Pablo Quintanilla, with Toby Price and Sam Sunderland in tow. The other factory Husqvarna of Andrew Short finished fifth. 

This result puts Price in the lead of the rally, making it the first time that KTM have led the 2019 Dakar. He is just a minute ahead of Quintanilla, with Walkner and Sunderland close by. While he is not as close to Price as he would have wished for, Yamaha’s Adrien van Beveren is within an outside chance of bringing home the Dakar trophy as he trails Price by nearly ten minutes.

Nasser Al-Attiyah had much to cheer on stage 8 as the Toyota driver was super consistent yet again. Sebastien Loeb won the stage from the Qatari driver but it was Al-Attiyah who benefitted in the grander scheme of things. His biggest threat, Stephane Peterhansel (who finished sixth), was nearly 24 minutes slower on the day. Peterhansel was not even the top Mini driver on the day, the accolade going to Jakub Przygonski, who took third from Toyota’s Giniel de Villiers.

It seems like he just needs to bring it home in one piece as Nasser now holds a 46 minute 29 second lead over Nani Roma. Roma is 16 seconds better than stage winner Loeb as Peterhansel has now slipped down to fourth. 

The next hurdle in the Dakar Rally would be the 576km-long Stage 8 which includes a 361km special, post which riders will make the final push to Lima.

Dakar 2019 Stage 7: Report 

Dakar 2019 Stage 6: Report 

Dakar 2019 Stage 5: Report 

Dakar 2019 Stage 4: Report 

Dakar 2019 Stage 3: Report 

Dakar 2019 Stage 2: Report 

Dakar 2019 Stage 1: Report