The seventh stage of the Morocco Desert Challenge started very promisingly for Erik van Loon and Wouter Rosegaar. In the first real dunes of this rally, they were riding in a strong second place, shortly behind Mitchel van den Brink. But after about 80 kilometers, disaster struck: the gearbox broke down, bringing their day to an abrupt end.
“This is really galling,” Erik tells us. “We started off really strong, were tight, and the pace felt good. Just today, in the sand we had been looking forward to for days, we were less than half a minute behind Mitchel. The podium was within reach, which makes it extra sour. But we also got a lot of confidence from how we rode this week.”
After the breakdown, Erik and Wouter stood still in the sand for a long time, waiting for assistance. Whether they will be able to start tomorrow's final stage is uncertain at this point.
The final day of the rally consists of two shorter specials, connected by a long liaison. The route takes them over mountainous terrain, vast plains, and some technical sections. Erik and Wouter hope to still appear at the start and conclude this rally in a fitting manner.
Artificial/Automatic Translation
Source Van Loon Racing
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