After another very difficult day, which the team managed to overcome by staying in the race, former World Motorcycle Champion Hélder Rodrigues, navigated by Gonçalo Reis, is in Riyadh today for a well-deserved day of rest, preparing to attack the second half of the 2026 Dakar Rally, which resumes tomorrow, with his renowned determination.
"Yesterday we had problems with our engine that forced us to stop in the dunes, and we were only able to get out of the special stage with the help of our colleagues Bruno Martins and Eurico Adão, who helped us get to the bivouac. Many thanks to Santag Racing for all this teamwork. Today, the mechanics are already changing the engine so we can continue in the race. It's another story that will stay with us for life. Many thanks also to Pedro and João for all their work and to my friend Gonçalo, who goes through all these adventures with me," said Hélder Rodrigues from Riyadh on the rest day of the 2026 edition of the Dakar Rally.
The competition returns tomorrow with a stage connecting Riyadh to Wadi ad Dawasir, comprising a selective sector of 462 kilometers, plus 414 kilometers of connections. The sandy sections are relatively fast and sometimes flanked by dense bushes, but do not present any significant dangers.
Official Press
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