The Australian driver won on a sixth stage of the Dakar 2022 shortened by more than half its distance due to precarious racing conditions. Danilo Petrucci, for his part, fell in the first few kilometers.
The first week of competition for the Dakar 2022 will have ended in trouble, with a stage reduced to around a hundred kilometers, from which the winner emerged. Daniel Sanders. The GasGas driver, who had already shown solid abilities at the start of the course the day before before falling into line, this time held on to score his first victory.
Today's event, which followed the route used yesterday by the four-wheelers on a loop west of Riyadh, was in fact stopped by the organizers in the Motorcycles and Quads categories, due to the ruts dug in the sand by cars and trucks, a phenomenon aggravated by the rains that have fallen in the region in recent days.
Petrucci gets his feet back on the ground
Result of this aborted program: a success for the GasGas team, after that of KTM obtained yesterday through Danilo Petrucci. The Italian saw his hopes of making a double blow evaporate after just three minutes of competition and a fortunately inconsequential fall. The former MotoGP rider was indeed able to restart to finish the stage in 40th position.
At the forefront, Sanders is therefore winning today ahead of the one who consolidates his position as leader overall, namely Sam sunderland (GasGas). A slight consolidation that said for the winner of the 2017 edition, her runner-up Matthias Walkner (KTM) having finished in his wheel, only ten seconds behind. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) and Ricky brabec (Honda) complete the top 5.
Sanders on the provisional podium
Overall, Sunderland therefore continues to lead the race, now 2'39 ahead of Walkner, while Sanders reaps the benefits of his victory today to join the provisional podium, in third position at 5'35. The latter is thus ahead of the French Adrien van Beveren (Yamaha), relegated to 7'43, who could not do better than eighth today.
The competitors will now be able to catch their breath after a grueling first week, with a rest day planned for tomorrow in Riyadh. The competition will resume on Sunday with the seventh of 12 stages on the program, linking the capital of Saudi Arabia to Al Dawadimi, located in the center of the country.
