Runner-up at last year’s Dakar Rally, Ricky Brabec finished Top American on Day 4’s marathon stage, despite an untimely speeding penalty. Even with two minutes added to his time, the first American to win Dakar finished in the top 10 and making up for time lost on the first day. “Today’s stage was good. It was the longest stage of the rally and was supposed to be the most difficult, but as it was the longest it was good to make up or lose a lot of time,” said Brabec from the bivouac.
“We caught the front group around the second refueling, so there we rode as a group together. I lost some time to my team-mate Joan who was wild. He was on the gas and him and Pablo are doing great. If we were to delete the first day, I think that the team would be sitting one-two-three. I suffered a speeding penalty today – my mistake. I sped into the speed zone a little bit late. I lost huge on the first day and I’m kicking myself. It’s a long race and we have many days left.”
According to Brabec, a mix of 79% dirt, 12% dunes, 7% sand and 2% dried-out lake were on the menu for the longest stage of the 2022 Dakar Rally, with a 465-kilometer special and a total trek of 707 kilometers… with more of the same on tap for tomorrow. Stage 5: 214 kilometers of liaison sections, 346 kilometers of special stage, making a total of 560 kilometers on the day. Starting and finishing at the bivouac in Riyadh, competitors will face a new loop on this Dakar.
2022 Dakar Rally – Stage 4 Provisional Classification
1. Joan Barreda (Honda) 4:06:06
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) 4:10:43
3. Rui Goncalves (Sherco) 4:14:05
4. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 4:15:02
5. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) 4:16:01
6. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 4:16:21
7. Mathias Walkner (KTM) 4:17:51
10. Ricky Brace (Honda) 4:20:34
2022 Dakar Rally – Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 4)
1. Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) 15:30:01
2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 15:33:01
3. Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) 15:34:55
4. Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) 15:37:08
5. Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco) 15:40:29
6. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 15:41:14
…
8. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) 15:45:17
