NEW DELHI: Leading Indian rider CS Santosh moved up five places to 18th in the overall standings after coming through Tuesday’s gruelling second stage of the Afriquia Merzouga Rally run through the heat of the Moroccan desert.
The Hero MotoSports Team Rally rider, the only Indian to participate in the Dakar Rally, came 21st in the demanding stage but it helped him to move into the top 20 overall.
The 521-kilometre second stage involved two specials sections where the riders raced against the clock for 181 km before completing the remaining distance.
The initial part of the race, run entirely off-road, involved negotiating big sand dunes before the riders got down to tackling 150 km of fast tracks over the plateau between Boudnib and Er Rachidia in Morocco.
Navigation was the key to doing well in the second leg. Santosh, who had finished 17th in Monday’s first stage, said: “Today was one of the longest days of the rally. My navigation was good in the dunes. I paid close attention to the roadbook and that went alright. I got a little lost on two occassions, but the overall feeling remains very positive.”
The team’s managing director, Wolfgang Fischer, said it was a good effort going into the first part of the marathon stage to be held Wednesday where the bikes can only be serviced by the riders on a basic scale.
{{/usCountry}}The team’s managing director, Wolfgang Fischer, said it was a good effort going into the first part of the marathon stage to be held Wednesday where the bikes can only be serviced by the riders on a basic scale.
{{/usCountry}}“I´m confident our boys are mentally and physically ready for the second part of the rally. There are no worries whatsoever regarding the bikes,” he added.