7. Hélder Rodrigues
Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team (#5)
Hélder Rodrigues is another from the veteran ranks who has yet to truly unleash his potential in the Dakar Rally. Rodrigues rounded out the top-five in 2016, but spent much of the race at a significant disadvantage. The Portuguese rider was sick during the first week of the rally, and then popped his shoulder out of joint in the second week. Nonetheless he still made it to the finish and even carded a stage win in what riders agreed was the toughest of the rally.
Rodrigues is tough as nails, and no stranger to the Dakar Rally overall podium (third in 2011 and 2012). He has been instrumental in helping Yamaha develop the WR450F Rally that the four-man team will pilot in 2017. Hélder has a habit of coming on strong late in the race, so even if you don’t see him near the top of the charts early in the rally, expect to see him there near the end.
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