The 44th edition of the Dakar Rally offers a moderately positive balance for the interests of Spanish motorcycling. Joan Barreda and Lorenzo Santolino have been protagonists of the event, while Joan Pedrero has scored a ‘top 20’ that he knows very well. The newcomer Sandra Gómez has been second in the women’s classification and three of the four drivers who competed without assistance in the Original By Motul category have managed to reach the finish line. Things have gone worse in quads with the double retirement of Toni Vingut and Álex Feliu, casualties to which must be added those of José María García and Isaac Feliu on motorcycles.
Joan Barreda has fought for the ‘Touareg’ until the penultimate day, hampered by a collarbone injury suffered in the middle of the rally due to a fall. Nevertheless, the Honda rider has offered his best version and only a misunderstanding by Honda and a sanction have left him off the podium of the race. For its part, Lorenzo Santolino has been eleventh in the general, with an engine change -fifteen minute penalty- that has separated him from the ‘top 10’ of the rally. For its part, Joan Pedrero has sneaked into the ‘top 20’ with certain difficulties, although it has not been an easy Dakar for the Catalan.
With outstanding casualties in the ‘Spanish army’ such as those of Jaume Betriu, Tosha Schareina, Oriol Mena or Laia Sanz, the latter two in other categories, the next Spanish ‘motard’ in the standings was Marc Calmet after finishing in 52nd place. The Catalan, partner of Joan Pedrero, has not been able to enter the ‘top 50’ due to his problems in the fourth stage. Sandra Gómez finished ten places behind in her rally debut. The Madrilenian has curdled a great performance that has served her to finish second in the women’s classification, just ahead of Sara García despite occupying 75th place overall.
Carles Falcón has slipped between the two, first of the TwinTrail Racing Team drivers and of the Spaniards who competed without assistance in the Original By Motul category, in which he was 16th. Three places behind in the general rally and 17th in the classification of this same class, Albert Martín finishedCarl’s partner. Both have wanted to dedicate their success to their teammate Isaac Feliu, who retired on stage nine due to a fall and who is still hospitalized in Saudi Arabia. The other driver without assistance, Javi Vega, finished 87th overall.
Eduardo Iglesias has finished a few places ahead of the man from Madrid finishing in 78th place in a rally in which José Arvest (92nd) and Rachid Al-Lal Lahadil have also seen a goal. On the contrary, José María García, the only ‘motard’ at the controls of a BMW after causing loss in the third stage. The two Spanish representatives in the quad category were also out of the race. Toni Vingut had a spectacular fall in the second stage in which his jaw was fractured, while Álex Feliu retired after the ninth stage due to a broken engine on his quad.