Merzouga Rally: Stage 4 Results

The 233km-long fourth stage of Afriquia Merzouga Rally proved exhausting for both, TVS Sherco and Hero MotoSports

The treacherous dunes of the Moroccan desert were filled with surprises and obstacles. In spite of the tussle, factory TVS rider Martin Diego Duplessis managed to clinch a commendable 10th place finish, followed by fellow teammate Joan Pedrero finishing 15th, despite a minor fall during the stage. Pedrero clocked a total time of 14hr 13m 47s. That’s 46m 58s behind the rally leader, Joan Barreda (Honda). Factory TVS rider Vanni Cominotto, on the other hand, finished 36th in the fourth stage.

Commenting on his performance, Joan Pedrero said, “I started at a good pace but a minor crash slowed me down for the rest of the race. This stage had many obstacles but I am satisfied with my performance.”

It wasn’t smooth sailing for Hero MotoSport either, with both riders facing a tough time towards the end of the stage. Oriol Mena started off fairly well, but unfortunately had to ride the rest of the race at a cautious pace as the lower part of his bike faced a heavy blow while descending a dune. He lost even more time while trying to find his way to the last waypoint through the maze of trails along with some other riders. Meanwhile, CS Santosh had a great run, cruising over the dunes and faster sections, only to find himself in the same predicament as Mena, which cost him a lot of time.

Mena finished the stage at 40th place, which takes him to an overall ranking of 17th, while C S Santosh finished 37th, retaining the 20th spot in the overall standing.

The final motocross stage will showcase 49km of fast paced action, where riders would be seen battling it out for the win. Pedrero has a good chance of claiming overall victory tomorrow, despite finishing 15th in Stage 4.

Source:ZigWheels.com