Confident
from their consistent performance over the last two days, Hero MotoSports
riders Joaquim Rodrigues and Aaron Maré had a field day at Stage 3. Both the
Rally GP class riders made aggressive efforts. Aaron Maréhad enjoyed yet
another mistake free day on the Hero Rally 450 and finished the stage in 18th
position. With this result he continues to be in the top-10 in overall rankings
at the 10th place.
Starting
from Al Qaisumah early in the morning, riders started the race after traversing
214 kms of liaison. The 255 km special section was lined with long stretches of
alternating dune ridges and fast plateaus, and complicated intersections.
Navigating through the terrain was indeed a tough task, but both riders aced
all hurdles to mark a day in history for Hero MotoSports.
The
rally will now present the longest stage of Dakar 2022, a total of 707 kms from
Al Qaisumah to Riyadh, including a special section of 465 kms. Almost 200 kms
of fast tracks, numerous crossings and chains of dunes are on the menu.
Wolfgang
Fischer, Team Manager, Hero MotoSports Team Rally, said, “We’ve made history!
It’s amazing to enjoy the first stage win for Hero MotoSports at the Dakar
today. We’re experiencing the sweet taste of victory after all the hard work a
lot of people have put in over the past few last months and years. It is also
JRod’s first stage win at the Dakar, and he absolutely deserves it. I’m really
happy that he’s the one to have brought home this achievement for Hero
MotoSports. Congratulations to the entire team, and to all our fans around the
globe.”
Provisional Stage 3
Rankings - RallyGP class:
1. Joaquim Rodrigues Hero MotoSports Team
Rally 02h 34m 41s
2. Toby Price Red Bull KTM Factory
Racing + 01m 03s
3. Mason Klein BAS World KTM Racing + 01m 14s
4. Skyler Howes Husqvarna Factory Racing + 01m 26s
5. Daniel Sanders GasGas Factory Racing +
02m 55s
18. Aaron Maré Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 07m 30s
Provisional Overall
Standings after Stage 3 - RallyGP class:
1. Sam Sunderland GasGas Factory
Racing 11h 13m 40s
2. Adrien van Beveren Monster Energy Yamaha + 04s
3. Matthias Walkner Red Bull KTM Factory
Team + 01m 30s
4. Skyler Howes Husqvarna Factory Racing + 03m 55s
10. Aaron Maré Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 18m 41s
16. Joaquim Rodrigues Hero MotoSports Team
Rally + 37m 43s
Provisional Overall
Standings after Stage 3 - All classes:
1. Sam Sunderland GasGas Factory
Racing 11h 13m 40s
2. Adrien van Beveren Monster Energy Yamaha + 04s
3. Matthias Walkner Red Bull KTM Factory
Team + 01m 30s
4. Skyler Howes Husqvarna Factory Racing + 03m 55s
10. Aaron Maré Hero MotoSports Team Rally + 18m 41s
17. Joaquim Rodrigues Hero MotoSports Team
Rally + 37m 43s