Hero MotoSports Team Rally, the motorsports team of Hero MotoCorp – the world’s largest manufacturer of motorcycles and scooters has completed the ninth phase of the Dakar Rally 2022 with yet another strong result.
Continuing his consistent performance in Dakar 2022, Joaquim Rodrigues finished the stage in 11th place. The Terrain of the day had much more canyons and cliffs than the earlier stages. Despite the rough terrain, the J-Rod rode well and finished well, maintaining its 14th place in the overall RallyGP class standings.
His teammate Aaron Maré finished 17th. Aaron found himself riding at a much better speed than in the previous stage, although the ride took a while for a minor navigation error and a minor fall. His consistent running throughout the rally places him 16th in the overall ranking of the RallyGP class.
The 287 kilometer long Stage 9 was a loop around Wadi Ad-Dawasi, with a change of scenery from the previous stages. This posed new challenges for competitors as riders made their way through narrow passageways, inverted dunes and some steep tracks between gorges and gorges.
Joaquim Rodrigues
“Today was a different stage with lots of valleys and rocks, but still it was fast. I was not feeling very comfortable today and was not riding very fast. Either way, I was able to finish the stage, and I look forward to continuing to do well until the end of the race.”
Aaron Maré
“I enjoyed my speed in this stage and felt comfortable riding in this terrain. Initially, we lost some time due to navigation error. Later, after refueling, I fell a bit in the dunes and there Missed some time. It took me a few positions down the table. At the end of the stage, I’m happy to finish another stage with no injuries, and I’m ready for the last three days of the race.”
Provisional Stage 9 Rankings – RallyGP Class
1 | Jose Ignacio Cornejo placeholder image | Monster Energy Honda | 02 hrs 29 mins 30 secs |
2 | Kevin Benavides | Red Bull KTM Factory Team | + 01 min 26 sec |
3 | Ricky Brabec | Monster Energy Honda | + 01 min 47 sec |
4 | Matthias Walkner | Red Bull KTM Factory Team | + 02 min 06 sec |
11 | Joaquim Rodrigues | Hero MotoSports Team Rally | + 06 min 43 sec |
17 | Aaron Maré | Hero MotoSports Team Rally | + 10 min 35 sec |
after stage 3 Provisional Overall Standing – RallyGP Class
1 | Matthias Walkner | Red Bull KTM Factory Team | 30 hrs 14 mins 03 secs |
2 | Sam Sunderland | GasGas Factory Racing | +02 min 12 sec |
3 | Adrien van Beveren | Monster Energy Yamaha | + 03 min 56 sec |
4 | Pablo Quintanilla | Monster Energy Honda | + 04 min 41 sec |
14 | Joaquim Rodrigues | Hero MotoSports Team Rally | + 58 min 57 sec |
16 | Aaron Maré | Hero MotoSports Team Rally | + 01 hr 16 min 30 sec |
after stage 9 provisional standing– All classes
1 | Matthias Walkner | Red Bull KTM Factory Team | 30 hrs 14 mins 03 secs |
2 | Sam Sunderland | GasGas Factory Racing | + 02 min 12 sec |
3 | Adrien van Beveren | Monster Energy Yamaha | + 03 min 56 sec |
4 | Pablo Quintanilla | Monster Energy Honda | + 04 min 41 sec |
15 | Joaquim Rodrigues | Hero MotoSports Team Rally | + 58 min 57 sec |
17 | Aaron Maré | Hero MotoSports Team Rally | 1 hour 16 minutes 30 seconds |
.