After a very complicated opening stage, the duo Mário Franco/Daniel Jordão from Franco Sport, driving the Yamaha YXZ 1000R Turbo T3 that competes in the Challenger category, performed excellently in the 2nd stage of the 2024 Dakar Rally, completing the 470 km timed stage. which linked Al Henakiyah to Al Duwadimi in a magnificent 9th place, despite the numerous overtakes of slower competitors that it was forced to do in the first half of the selective sector. A result that allowed them to climb six positions in the Challenger classification where they now occupy 16th place.
“Now we understand what our pace could be. It could have been better if we had taken a 32” wheel, but it was still a very good ride, penalized in the first part of the stage by the many overtakes we had to make with many trucks and cars. The result of this stage is very important because it allows us to start tomorrow much further ahead, in the group of those starting 1' apart and alongside faster competitors. Of course, the further ahead we get, the route we will find is less marked and the navigation demands increase, but Dani behaved very well today”, explained Mário Franco after arriving at the bivouac in Al Duwadimi, at the end of this second stage.
For Daniel Jordão this “was a very funny stage with a lot of navigation. It was, unlike yesterday's stage, a stage that seems more normal to me for a Dakar. After what happened to us yesterday, we tried to manage the issue of punctures from the beginning of the stage. The kilometers passed and we had some difficulties passing slower competitors, but who started ahead of us. Then we managed to increase the pace and the last kilometers, so without so much fear of getting a puncture, were really fast. Mário always went on the attack and I had a lot of fun, although it required even more of my navigation, but I think I responded. This stage left very good indications for what follows.”
The third stage of the Dakar 2024 that takes place tomorrow marks the first marathon day of this edition of the toughest off-road competition in the world. The first special will be made up of a mix of rocky trails, vast expanses of sand and dune chains. Finding the right pace will not be an easy task due to the alternation between fast and slower sections and uneven terrain. On this day, competitors complete a timed 440 km and mechanics will have just two hours to work before the machines enter parc fermé.
Automatic translation of the Portuguese version available on www.todoterreno.pt
Source: Franco Sport's official press release
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