Brilliant 24th by Harith Noah in Stage 1: Dakar 2023
Yanbu (Saudi Arabia), 1 Jan 2023: TVS Racing team’s Harith Noah, the only Indian at Dakar 2023, began the gruelling Dakar with a brilliant 24th position in the first stage here on Sunday. The Sherco TVS Factory team rider clocked 4 hours, 39 min and 08 seconds astride a Sherco 450 in the Rally GP class. He was 24min, 58 sec behind the Stage winner Ricky Brabec of USA after his training partner Mason Klein (USA), who was leading much of the time, was penalised.
The 29-year TVS talent finished in 24th position. A good result for the only rider from India, a five-time National champion. Starting 3rd this morning, with no tracks to guide him, he had excellent navigation and was able to make wise choices while remaining consistent throughout the stage.
The first real day of racing for this 2023 Dakar occurred on the day after the prologue. A 603 km stage around Sea Camp included 368 km of special that alternated between rocky technical sections, sandy tracks, and dunes. This was the first of the 14 stages of the event that is being held for the fourth consecutive year in Saudi Arabia. Many riders received penalties for speeding in the open connecting sections.
The contrast between the prologue on the beach and the first stage could not be starker. Today’s special followed the outline of the coast from 30 km inland on its way to Yanbu and beyond. The entire field was on high alert in the first part of the 368 km course, featuring the scattered rocky sections where defending champion Sam Sunderland crashed out of the race. From there on, the faster stretches between valleys and sandy tracks enabled Carlos Sainz and Daniel Sanders to let their raw speed do the talking. As a reward for their efforts, the drivers, riders and crews are taking the coastal route back to the Sea Camp for more than 200 km.
Testing competitors right from the off, the 368-kilometer timed special comprised a challenging mix of terrain, made up predominantly of gravels tracks, but with some sand and dunes thrown in to give riders a true taste of conditions at this 2023 event.
The Redbull rider, Noah, is sponsored by TVS, Sherco, Scott India and Camelbak India.
After the first stage Harith Noah said: “I started 3rd, it was the first time I started so upfront with just two lines in front. I am happy to have finished and not get lost a lot. Respect to all the riders opening the stages. Not easy.
“I am going to change the suspension setup a little for tomorrow on the bike. Will be a long day with 430km SS,” he added.
Yesterday, the 29-year from Shoranur said: “The Dakar 2023 officially started, I was full of focus and will do my best for another season. It was a 13-Km prologue day to define the starting order of phase 1. In P47, felt good to get the first race nerves out the way. Took it easy and safe. The first Stage will have a special stage of 367 km. It will be interesting as I will be starting at the very front, hope I don’t get too lost.”
The 2023 Dakar Rally continues tomorrow with the 589-kilometer stage two. Riders will face another long timed special, with 430 kilometres raced against the clock.
Lorenzo Santolino finished in 11th place. Confident from the start this morning, he was able to make the most of his Sherco 450 and rode a good part of the day with the leaders.
“A very nice and fast mixed stage starting at the seaside, then it moved on to a sandier area of open desert and canyons with rocky and technical tracks, the last part of the special consisted of dunes.
“I felt very good, I managed to pass several riders, I tried to not waste too much time overtaking them in the dust and concentrated on keeping a good rhythm. I’m happy to have reached the finish line, I was confident in my navigation, however I’m still a bit lacking in riding rhythm in the dunes”.
Rui Goncalvez was less fortunate than his two partners. A clutch problem penalized him on the many technical parts of the stage, he gave everything he had in the special to limit the loss of time, compensating for the mechanics with pure physical effort, he arrived at the finish very tired. He had to draw on his reserves. The instruction for tomorrow will be to ride clean and save his energy, the race is still very long. He is 41st.
Sherco Factory team Classification day 1 :
Lorenzo Santolino: P11
Harrith Noah: P24
Rui Gonçalvez: P41
