TVS talent Harith Noah completes Dakar Stage 3 successfully; Hero’s JRod wins maiden stage

Al Qaisumah (Saudi Arabia), 4 Jan. 2022: Harith Noah KV of Sherco TVS Rally Factory team finished another day successfully at the gruelling Dakar 2022 with a creditable 29th position completing the shortened Stage 3 at Al Qaisumah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday. The steady ride today helped him improve his Overall ranking to 31st in RallyGP class, the premier category in the Moto section, where 142 bikes took the start.

Portuguese rider Joaquim Rodriques of Hero MotoSports Team Rally won his maiden Dakar stage. Noah, the lone rider representing India, clocked 12 hours, 29 min. and 46 seconds.

“It was a technically tough ride and I am happy to have finished it. After the crash on the first day, it was pretty cool with navigation yesterday and I finished safe and sound. The marathon stage was cancelled today, and it was a good day for me. I did the shorter special section without any hiccups and I am taking it day by day,” said Noah on Tuesday in a voice message from Saudi Arabia.

Starting on a loop around Al Qaysumah, the TVS talent initially took the 214-km link section to take the start of the 255-km special but lost a few minutes after the first way point. However, astride a Sherco 450 SEF rally, he made up many places with steady navigation in the next Special Sections, and consolidated his position before returning along a 166-km link route for a respectable 29th.

Nine more stages will be run with a rest day on Jan 8. In Dakar, every finisher is a winner and Noah, who became the fastest rider at Dakar from India, is looking for a safe finish. The 28-year Sports Science graduate from Kerala, who made his debut in 2020, is on his third Dakar campaign. His best, an Overall 20th, came last January.