Tech3 KTM’s Danilo Petrucci became the first MotoGP rider to win a Dakar stage in Thursday’s 346km special.
Petrucci had already completed the course when the stage five action was curtailed due to “demand placed on the medical aircraft”, crossing the line second and just 4 minutes and 14 seconds behind fellow KTM rider and two-time Dakar champion, Toby Price. The Australian, however, was later hit with a six-minute penalty for speeding - much like Petrux yesterday - awarding the victory to the overwhelmed Italian.
“I’m crying like a baby, I can’t write” Petrucci commented on social media when the news first broke of his momentous achievement, just six days into his Dakar debut.
The close-run yet demanding stage saw the top 20 riders all within seven minutes of each other after 157kms, with the 31-year-old remaining in touch. The twice MotoGP race winner was up to second at the final 310km time check, just two minutes shy of his experienced factory teammate, with the gap doubling by the finish line.
Already pleased with his podium performance, Petrucci was delighted with the victory (not to mention the discovery of his passport) with one stage remaining ahead of the mid-race break.
Friday’s action will see the bike class follow the same route that the cars took today, providing tracks in the sand ahead of him as Danilo opens his first ever rally stage.
“Today was quite a long day,” Petrucci admitted after the 4am start. “I set off this morning and decided I really wanted to learn and improve my navigation, so I didn’t push too hard at the beginning. After one corner there was a large dune with a group of camels on the other side. One big camel came into the track, and I had to avoid it, but ended up crashing after going across a lot of bumps and camel grass. That was my very first crash of this Dakar.
“After that I eased off a bit and Kevin [Benavides] caught up with me and we rode together towards the finish. After catching a few more riders we came across a waypoint that didn’t validate for everyone – I lost some time there. The last 60 kilometres were all dunes and so I was very careful there to make sure I didn’t hurt my ankle. So, it’s been an interesting and tough day, but I have really enjoyed it.”
