Cycle News Staff | January 3, 2017
2017 Dakar Rally Day 2 Results
2017 Dakar Rally Day 2 Results: Heat and hazards were the main factors in today’s second stage of the Dakar Rally in the Argentine ‘Chaco.’ With temperatures well into the 100s, and riders dealing with high speeds, rocks and ditches, and animals that were straying onto the race course, it was a chore just to finish out the 275 kilometer special. John Barreda, of the Monster Energy Honda Team, said he, like many others, had a near-miss with a cow and chose to play it safe the rest of the way.
Australian Toby Price, however, held it wide open to the end, winning the stage and moving into the overall lead.
“It was a really, really fast stage but with no navigation,” said Price. “It was a really long day: we had a 274-km special and we’re at 38 or 40°C right now, so it’s definitely been a hot one on the bike and part of the equipment, but we’re here at the end of day two. Another victory there; I can’t complain—it’s all gone alright. I had a quick look at the time on the thing, but I’m not too sure of the gap. It’s only early days so it’s just nice and smooth and consistent for the rest of the week and looking forward to pushing hard the second week.
“It was really crazy,” he said of the hazards on the route. “There were a lot of cows. It was really hard coming through all the dust there this morning. A couple of them caught me a bit by surprise. You’re going along this roads that aren’t more than a car width’s wide and if a cow steps out from behind one of the trees or the bushes it’s not going to be too pretty, but you’ve already got enough to do than think about that when you’re on the bike in the middle of the stage. But when you’re sitting here right now you just think that was really wild. All is good and I’m ready to go for another day. We have more kangaroos back home than cows, but I’d rather pick on a kangaroo a little bit more than a cow, but all in all, I got through it.”
Honda Paulo Goncalves was second on the day, finishing just under four minutes behind Price.
“We had a really quick part against the clock, filled with a lot of dangers such as animals crossing the track,” said Goncalves. “I’m pleased for the Monster Energy Honda Team: all the riders have arrived safe and in one piece, without having taken any risks; that is the important thing as the race has barely started.”
Frenchman Xavier De Soultrait was third on the day, followed by Great Britain’s Sam Sunderland (Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team) and Chili’s Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna Factory Rally Team).
2017 Dakar Rally Day 2 Results
American Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda Team) had another solid day. He maintained a fast pace and avoided any major troubles, finishing the stage in seventh. The AMA Hare & Hound Champion is now sixth overall, about four and a half minutes behind Price.
“I think that today was maybe the fastest day of the Dakar,” Brabec said. “We really couldn’t go much faster than we went today. It’s crazy, it’s so hot outside and we are trying to save our machines but we are also trying to push them. You don’t want to blow your wheels up and get stuck out there with the cows. I was trying to hit all the mud holes to get cooler water onto the wheels. I got to the finish line safe, rode well and hit all the notes. So, I’m already to go again tomorrow. Tomorrow is 364 kilometres so it would be nice to just hang out and not navigate as much.
2017 Dakar Rally Day 2 Results
- Toby Price AUS Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team 2:37’32”
- Paulo Goncalves POR Monster Energy Honda Team +3’51
- Xavier De Soultrait FRA Viltais Racing Team HFP +4’06
- Sam Sunderland GBR Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team +4’19
- Pablo Quintanilla CHI Husqvarna Factory Rally Team +4’48
- Ricky Brabec USA Monster Energy Honda Team +5’40
RIDER STANDINGS AFTER STAGE 2
- Toby Price 3:07’17
- Paulo Goncalves +2’54
- Sam Sunderland +3’23’
- Xavier De Soultrait +3’41
- Pablo Quintanilla +4’26
- Ricky Brabec +4’29
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