The duo Mário Franco and Daniel Jordão completed the eighth stage that took place today at the Dakar 2024 in 12th position in the Challenger ranking among a total of three dozen teams, and just under 20 minutes from the TOP 10, which will allow them to leave tomorrow for the 9th stage from a more favorable position.
In their debut race at the controls of a Yamaha YXZ 1000R Turbo T3, the Franco Sport team spent 04h09m56s competing in the 458 km selective sector of this stage with a total of 678 km between Al Duwadimi and Hail characterized by a mixed route that alternated between sand and stone.
“Today was another day without major incidents. We started the stage with a sand part until kilometer 130 where we had a neutralization. A few kilometers before we had a puncture. We chose to do the last 15/20 km ‘holey’ until the transfer zone. I think it was a correct decision because the time we lost there 'punctured' was less than if we had stopped to change the wheel. After the neutralization, the track became a little faster and at the end there was an area of stones. Then we got a flat again, we ran out of spare wheels and in the final part we slowed down to try to manage the race so we didn't run the risk of getting a flat again. It was a positive day and we are looking forward to tomorrow”, reveals Daniel Jordão, team navigator, at the Hail bivouac at a time when Franco Sport is ranked 21st in the Challenger Ranking.
The next stage will take Hail's entourage to Al Ula. The special will be 417 km long and 222 km long. Few, if any, of the main competitors will have time to appreciate the magnificent landscapes of this stage, which will push them to the limit. The start of the special will appear to be quick, but this idea will quickly give way to a very different idea: The existing tracks will make navigation even more complicated. Confidence and skill will be very important to find the right rhythm on the rocky plateaus.
Automatic translation of the Portuguese version available on www.todoterreno.pt
Source: Franco Sport's official press release
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