The ninth stage of the Dakar 2024 once again saw Rui Gonçalves as one of the protagonists in the motorcycle category, finishing in 11th position at the end of the 435 km selective sector.
Another day of intense competition in this Dakar with a demanding selective sector and plenty of navigation.
Rui Gonçalves made a good start to the day, keeping pace with his main rivals over the four hundred kilometers that were timed. When he reached the refueling area, a slight mishap in his navigation caused him to lose some time, which he then tried to recover in the final part of the stage.
In the end, the Sherco rider finished the day in 11th place with 4h49m to go, just over 13m behind the stage leader.
Rui Gonçalves: "Today's stage was 435km on very fast sandy tracks and some rocky areas.
I felt good right from the start, but before refueling I wasted a lot of time looking for a waypoint that didn't validate, and then I had to chase the damage to make up for lost time. I managed to ride at my own pace for the rest of the stage, but that mistake affected the final result.
Even so, it was a positive day because I feel very good physically and my Sherco has been up to the job. We'll stay focused until the end.
Thank you all for your support!"
Stage 10 of the Dakar 2024, which links Alula to Alula in a loop that will cross monumental rock formations, will be 371 km long and will once again be a day of maximum navigation for all the riders.
Automatic translation of the original Portuguese version available on www.todoterreno.pt
Source: Rui Gonçalves's official press release
Photos: Rally Zone
Disclaimer:
As a service to the sport we all love and follow, Rally-Raid Network posts numerous media releases from a wide variety of sources on our website. Due to the large number, and some times short time available, it is nearly impossible to review each public release. These articles are written by reporters or press officers who work for various organizers, teams, drivers, riders, and other parties, and they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rally-Raid Network.
