The first leg of the marathon stage produced good results for the riders of TEAM HRC. Sam Sunderland started out in second place with a clear goal: to win the special on the new Honda CRF450 RALLY. He was soon able to overtake yesterday’s stage winner, opening the route for more than two hundred kilometres without any navigational errors, finishing a clear first 249 kilometres later. Hélder Rodrigues looked to make up time today, starting out in seventh position after a misreading cost him a 30’ penalty. But he was unable to keep the pace of his team-mate.
Hélder had to accept the second place some 6’49 behind Sam, although it was undoubtedly a great stage for the two Honda riders. The rest of the pack finished with a deficit of more than fifteen minutes off the Portuguese rider, who now occupies the fifth overall position.
Once back at the camp in the Merzouga dunes, the bikes are not allowed to receive any mechanical assistance. The riders will be sleeping in specially-prepared hammocks before the second leg of the marathon stage begins tomorrow.
