Sherco TVS Rally Factory team rider Joan Pedrero of Spain was more or less gifted the opening stage win in the 2017 Dakar Rally, which kicked off in Asuncion, Paraguay, today.
Pedrero finished second on the clock after the short timed special from Asuncion to Resistencia, while Frenchman Xavier de Soultrait put his Yamaha WR450F Rally into the stage lead. However, de Soultrait was found to have exceeded the speed limit on the link stage, and instead of earning his first career stage win, he was dumped to 10th place in the stage and in the overall standings. That was good news for Pedrero, who was credited with a winning time of 28 minutes, 22 seconds over the 39-kilometer special.
Meanwhile, American rider Ricky Brabec got off to a good start on his Monster Energy Honda, losing just 12 seconds to Pedrero while leading teammate Paulo Goncalves to the finish and netting the runner-up spot. Goncalves was third.
“I think that today was a bit of a shakedown for the riders, the machines and the crew,” Brabec said. “The racing hasn’t really begun yet. Tomorrow I think will be different. The humidity and the heat here are insane. You walk outside for thirty seconds and you think that you are melting. It’s taking its toll on the body and, for sure, on the machine too, as you are really pushing it. The heat is a really big factor. It will all come down to saving yourself and saving the machine, to get through the extreme heat and high elevation.”
Reigning Dakar Rally Champion Toby Price finished outside the top 10 today but is expected to be in the hunt for the overall lead tomorrow during Stage 2, which transitions the field into Argentina via a 284-kilometer special from Resistencia, Paraguay, to San Miguel de Tucuman, Argentina.
2017 Dakar Rally
Stage 1
Asuncion to Resistencia, Argentina
Results:January 2, 2017 (stage 1 of 12)
Stage 1
1. Joan Pedrero (SPA)-Sherco TVS Rally Factory, 28 minutes, 22 seconds
2. Ricky Brabec (USA)-Monster Energy Honda, +00:00:12
3. Paulo Goncalves (POR)-Monster Energy Honda, +00:00:26
4. Sam Sunderland (GBR)-Red Bull KTM, +00:00:28
5. Joan Barreda (SPA)-Monster Energy Honda, +00:00:30
6. Matthias Walkner (AUT)-KTM Factory Racing, +00:00:40
7. Gerard Farres (SPA)-Himoinsa Team KTM, +00:00:46
8. Michael Metge (FRA)-Monster Energy Honda, +00:00:46
9. Iván Cervantes (SPA)-Himoinsa Team KTM, +00:00:54
10. Xavier De Soultrait (FRA)-Yamaha Racing, +00:00:58
2017 Dakar Rally Overall Standings (after 1 of 12 stages)
1. Joan Pedrero (SPA)-Sherco TVS Rally Factory, 28 minutes, 22 seconds
2. Ricky Brabec (USA)-Monster Energy Honda, +00:00:12
3. Paulo Goncalves (POR)-Monster Energy Honda, +00:00:26
4. Sam Sunderland (GBR)-Red Bull KTM, +00:00:28
5. Joan Barreda (SPA)-Monster Energy Honda, +00:00:30
6. Matthias Walkner (AUT)-KTM Factory Racing, +00:00:40
7. Gerard Farres (SPA)-Himoinsa Team KTM, +00:00:46
8. Michael Metge (FRA)-Monster Energy Honda, +00:00:46
9. Iván Cervantes (SPA)-Himoinsa Team KTM, +00:00:54
10. Xavier De Soultrait (FRA)-Yamaha Racing, +00:00:58
Your Privacy Choices