The first half of the 44th edition of the Dakar has left a bit of everything, as in a pharmacy, to the members of the ‘Spanish armada’. Lorenzo Santolino and Joan Barreda are in the fight for the ‘Touareg’ on motorcycles, in the same way that Armand Monleón as Lucio Álvarez’s co-driver is in a position to get on the podium in the car category. Other tricks to victory such as Carlos Sainz or Nani Roma have suffered problems that have separated them from the final fight, even if they have achieved stage victories and remarkable partial results. The good performances of Óscar Fuertes, Laia Sanz or Cristina Gutiérrez They contrast with the abandonments experienced by Toni Vingut or Jesús Calleja in this Dakar.
Lorenzo Santolino is the best Spanish ‘motard’ in the classification at the halfway point of the test. The man from Salamanca is sixth overall, 18 minutes and 22 seconds behind the leader. The Sherco pilot is immersed in the fight for the ‘Touareg’, same as Joan Barreda. However, a shoulder injury could weigh down the Spaniard in the second week of the Dakar. Joan Pedrero appears in 23rd place, with a somewhat discreet performance. Albert Martín is the best ‘Rally2’ driver of the ‘Spanish armada’ from 59th place. Newcomer and competing in Original by Motul, Albert is pulling the TwinTrail Racing Team car, a structure in which Isaac Feliu and Carles Falcón also compete, both also in the race.
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Marc Calmet ranks 64th, while Sandra Gómez ranks 77th in the general and is second in the female classification. Sara García is third in the female category from 87th overall position, which leaves Eduardo Iglesias and José Arvest as the last Spanish ‘motards’ within the ‘top 100’. Rachid Al-Lal Lahadil and Javi Vega are still in the race, not so José María García. On quads, heads and tails. Toni Vingut suffered a fall in which he fractured his jaw. For its part, Álex Feliu is still in action and is eighth in the general classification of the quads classification.
The two main Spanish tricks to the ‘Touareg’ in cars are out of the game. Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz have been victims of navigation failures and the youth problems of the Audi RS Q e-tron. For its part, Nani Roma and Álex Haro were also out of the game in the fourth stage with a rollover and mechanical problems. For this reason, the Spanish hopes of achieving a good result go through Armand Monleon as co-pilot of the Argentine Lucio Álvarez. For now, they are fifth. What’s more, Dani oliveras as co-driver of ‘Orly’ Terranova he occupies eighth place overall after achieving his first stage victory.
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With an excellent Dakar, Óscar Fuertes is the best Spanish rider from 24th place, although just behind is Carlos Sainz. The Catalan Laia Sanz occupies the 26th place, just ahead of Isidre Esteve. Along with them would be Carlos Checa if he had not had a spectacular turnaround. However, the former MotoGP rider has rejoined the race, just like Jesús Henriquez. Jesus Calleja is out of the test after suffering mechanical problems and Manuel and Mónica Plaza after being dressed by a truck. Jordi Quiralto, José Manuel Salinero and Santi Prado have had the same luck.
Cristina Gutiérrez is in the fight for the podium of the T3 category, like Fernando Álvarez. In addition, Santi Navarro and Marc Sola occupy seventh place, while Xavier Blanco has led Camelia Liparoti up to eighth place. Jordi Segura, Merce Martí, Javier Herrador and Pedro Manuel Peñate are still in the race, but not the co-driver Oriol Vidal and Xavi Foj, who in their category change has not had much luck. In T4, Gerard Farrés bid for the podium, like Oriol Mena as co-pilot of Rokas Baciuska. All the members of the Spanish army are still in the fray. By last, the eight trucks with Spanish participants are still in the race, highlighting the performance of Pau Navarro as co-driver of Pato Silva and the indefatigable Jordi Juvanteny.