Hero MotoCorp participated for the first time in Dakar this year and the rally has been quite exciting due to uneven weather and landslides. Even some top competitors had to retire due to mechanical failure and inevitable crashes. Last year’s winner Toby Price also crashed and broke his femur. However, this is what Dakar is famous for fearless riders testing their fast vehicles in inhospitable terrain.
Well, some conquer Dakar, some don't and some actually go ahead and win it. Like Sam Sunderland (KTM) who racked up his first win ever since he participated and that has been a good four times. This Dakar has been a bad one for Honda team riders, especially Joan Barreda who would have comfortably won this year had it not been for the one-hour penalty given for refuelling in a restricted area. Barreda had to settle for fifth place. The penalty was a crushing blow for fellow HRC rider Paulo Goncalves who missed a podium spot and had to settle for sixth place.
This year was a good one for KTM as they swept the podium. KTM factory rider Mathias Walkner finished the final stage trailing Sunderland by 32 minutes while KTM privateer Gerard Farres Guell came third, 35.40 minutes behind Sunderland closely followed by Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha).
The 2017 Dakar was a good year for the Indian contingent especially, Hero Speedbrain who were on their very first outing here with two entries of which both managed to finish the rally. Even better news is Hero rider Joaquim Rodriguez managing to secure a tenth place finish. Fellow Indian rider, CS Santosh too finished the rally in 48th position, a commendable feat.
The other Indian manufacturer participating in the rally was Sherco TVS who had three riders competing. Unfortunately Indian rider and Dakar debutant, Aravind KP had to retire after two crashes in which he fractured his hand and shoulder. His fellow teammates meanwhile completed the rally. Juan Pedrero (Sherco TVS) finished the Dakar in 13th position while fellow teammate Adrien Metge finished in 22nd place.
Lady rider Laia Sanz (KTM) finished in 16th place, an admirable feat. This year, Dakar lived up to its legacy by being tough, challenging, inhospitable and above all unpredictable to both the spectator and the participant. But this is Dakar and despite all the tribulations, it keeps pulling participants back. It's a drug. Like the Everest which even if you scale it once, will make you want to scale it again.
Source: BikeDekho.com
