Jean Turner | January 12, 2016
UPDATE: The KTM Racing News update for Dakar Rally Stage 9 spelled out the circumstances of yesterday’s confusion in the results, clarifying exactly how the final times were tabulated.
Only 12 riders covered the entire distance before organizers called a stop to the stage at the second checkpoint of the special (CP2) citing the extreme heat. There were reports of riders being overheated, dehydrated and getting lost in the dunes. The KTM race report added that “the helicopter could not manage the race.”
But race officials later reviewed the situation (likely at the request of those who had completed the full stage) and adjusted results to include the full stage. As for those who finished at CP2, including HRC’s Paulo Goncalves who suffered a mechanical problem, their times still needed to be adjusted in order to account for the final results of those that reached the finish. To do this, all riders who finished at CP2 were given the time of the slowest of these 12 riders (between CP2 and the finish).
This decision offered a benefit to both the Red Bull KTM and Honda HRC teams, as it allowed KTM’s lead rider Toby Price to extend his lead in the general ranking to 29 minutes, and allowed HRC’s Paulo Goncalves to remain in the race. He now sits third in the overall, 34:01 behind Price.
Temperatures skyrocketed today at the Dakar Rally, where Stage 9 was cut short (we think) on account of the sweltering heat. While the scorching temperatures took its toll on a number of riders in Dakar Rally Stage 9, Red Bull KTM’s Toby Price was once again on point, and took the opportunity to extend his lead in the general ranking.
Stage 9 was a relatively short one, but racers were in agreement that it was the most difficult of the rally. It was an extremely tough day battling the 113° heat (45° C) and the difficult navigation in the mix of sand dunes and off-road terrain. For that reason, a number of riders who ended up racing the entire stage were not happy to see the race retroactively halted at CP2. It seems the decision sparked a controversy among the teams, and is now being re-examined.
A press release from Husqvarna Motorcycles stated, “Some riders completed the whole distance in Stage 9, but it was later shortened. Discussions about the times are taking place with the organizers and they may be adjusted later.”
KTM’s Toby Price was particularly disappointed to hear that the stage had been shortened after arriving at the finish with a commanding lead. “I get to the finish and then they cancel the rest of it,” Price lamented. “That’s a bit of a shame but that’s the way it is. It’s a bit of a bummer for me. I had to get to the finish and I’ve done that, but they’ve called it. We’ll just have to wait and see what they come up with. As for the lead over Paulo [Goncalves], maybe… maybe not. We’ll just have to wait and see for the decision.”
It appears adjustments have, in fact, been made.
After Dakar Rally Stage 9 results were first publicized today (“provisional at CP2” where the race was retroactively halted), scores indicated Price as the stage winner with Paulo Goncalves falling out of the top-20 completely. Goncalves reportedly hit a branch that punctured his radiator and caused his HRC Honda to overheat in the 113° (45° C) heat. It looked like curtains for the HRC front-runner, who was stranded at CP2, desperately attempting a trail-fix for his busted radiator, but news of the day’s stage being halted at CP2 came as a lifeline to the HRC rider, although his score still wasn’t on the board at that time.
Current results reflect an extra hour of racing time over the original “provisional at CP2” results, with Price still leading – this time by 12 minutes rather than the original 7 minute gap. Only now, it shows American rider Ricky Brabec as second on the day (originally billed as fifth). Score confusion notwithstanding, the young HRC rider had a phenomenal day – his strongest day yet in the rally – and has boosted himself into the top-10 in the general ranking.
Goncalves is now credited with 13th place on the day, 31:56 behind Price. If the whole stage was, in fact, reinstated, it’s a bit unclear how Goncalves reemerged in the results. He was purportedly being towed to the bivouac by a teammate beyond CP2 after being told that the stage had officially ended. Yet he now sits third in the overall ranking behind Stefan Svitko, 34 minutes behind Price who now has a lead of 29 minutes.
We are currently seeking clarification on how the Stage 9 results were calculated, and the standing of HRC’s Goncalves. The official release from Honda came prior to the results being altered, though it did contain a quote from Team Manager Wolfgang Fischer, saying “[Goncalves] wouldn’t have been able to carry on if it hadn’t been for the race authorities’ decision to stop the stage at CP2, which means Paulo keeps his possibilities of continuing open.”
Riders are currently in an isolated bivouac as part of the rally’s second marathon stage, and will face the daunting Fiambala dunes tomorrow. It could likely be another strong stage for desert specialists Price and Brabec, as the 173-mile (278 km) special will contain the longest dune section in Dakar history.
Dakar Rally Stage 9 Results:
- Toby Price (KTM) 3:26:58
- Ricky Brabec (Hon) +12:29
- Antoine Meo (KTM) +13:24
- Stefan Svitko (KTM) +14:45
- Adrien Van Beveren (Yam) +15:54
- Gerard Farres (KTM) +16:38
- Pablo Quintanilla (Hus) +17:15
- Helder Rodrigues (Yam) +19:12
- Armand Monleon (KTM) +21:35
- Kevin Benavides (Hon) +22:08
- Paulo Goncalves (Hon) +31:56
- Laia Sanz (KTM) +54:48
- Alexander Smith (Hus) +2:17:50
- Ian Blythe (KTM) +2:48:40
- Scott Bright (KTM) +2:49:52
- C.R. Gittere (Hus) +5:23:48
General Ranking after Dakar Rally Stage 9:
- Toby Price (KTM) 30:55:54
- Stefan Svitko (KTM) +28:59
- Paulo Goncalves (Hon) +34:01
- Pablo Quintanilla (Hus) +38:41
- Antoine Meo (KTM) +42:08
- Kevin Benavides (Hon) +48:03
- Helder Rodrigues (Yam) +50:03
- Gerard Farres (KTM) +54:10
- Ricky Brabec (Hon) +1:04:08
- Adrien Van Beveren (Yam) +1:09:41
- Laia Sanz (KTM) +2:00:54
- Ian Blythe (KTM) +5:17:39
- Alexander Smith (Hus) +7:03:28
- Scott Bright (KTM) +9:31:32
- C.R. Gittere (Hus) +15:49:36