The Red Bull KTM Factory Team quartet of Toby Price, Antoine Méo, Matthias Walkner and Jordi Viladoms all put in a solid shift to stay in touch of race leader Paulo Gonçalves in Stage 4 of #dakar2016 today.
Price bounced back to take 6th in Stage 4, just behind teammate Antoine Meo in 5th. (Note- there are some conflicting reports here, however as this is posted, the Official Dakar Website states Meo 5th and Price 6th).
This moves Price and Meo up to 8th and 9th respectively in the general standings.
Lots of action for Stage 4 – with Barreda Bort initially claiming Stage victory, before being hit with yet another penalty for speeding (his second in two days).
KTM’s Laia Sanz showed what true sportsmanship is today, stopping to help injured rider Pela Renat for over half an hour until medical evacuation arrived. Reports are Pela Renat sustained several injuries, including a head injury, however his condition is stable and not serious. Organisers have adjusted Laia’s time, so she takes 15th for the stage and sits 18th in the general standings.
Stage 4 marked Part I of the first marathon stage of the Dakar, which sees mechanics prohibited from working on cars, trucks, bikes and quads tonight as the riders and drivers are left to fend for themselves. Competitors must make sure everything is running smoothly before they set off on tomorrow’s route – crossing the border into Bolivia and racing at an ear-popping altitude of 4,600 metres above sea level!
Antoine Meo – “It was a very long stage —my first marathon stage. It was a bit hard because I had to save my tyres, so I never went over 150 km/h. As a result, I lost 6 minutes to the winner, but I’m quite happy because my tyres are still in good condition. I rode within my limits today. The Honda guys have water carriers, so they can push much harder because they’ll change their tyres. It’ll be quite something if I manage to stay at the front every day. Navigating wasn’t too difficult and I was in the mix every time, so I’m happy with how it went today.”
Photo Credits: Red Bull Content Pool / Bauer E./RallyZone
STAGE 4:
1st – GONCALVES
2nd – BENAVIDES
3rd – FARIA
4th – BARREDA BORT
5th – MEO // KTM
6th – PRICE // KTM
7th – BRABEC
8th – FARRES GUELL // KTM
9th – QUINTANILLA
10th – METGE
11th – WALKNER // KTM
12th – JAKES // KTM
15th – SANZ // KTM
22nd – CERVANTES // KTM
23rd – VILADOMS // KTM
GENERAL STANDINGS (After Stage 4):
1st – GONCALVES
2nd – BENAVIDES
3rd – BARREDA BORT
4th – SVITKO // KTM
5th – FARIA
6th – WALKNER // KTM
7th – QUINTANILLA
8th – PRICE // KTM
9th – MEO // KTM
10th – DUCLOS
17th – CERVANTES // KTM
18th – SANZ // KTM
24th – VILADOMS // KTM
