Second start, second podium – Rafał Sonik comes back strong

If you want to come back to sports after a serious injury, you’d better do it right. After a seven-month break, Rafał Sonik took on a challenge of participating in two intimidating rallies in South America. The Polish racer finished the Desafio Ruta 40 with the third place, his second podium within two weeks.

During the last day of competition across Argentinian wilderness, the quad riders were cautious, Nicolas Cavigliasso, Aleksander Maksimow, and Rafał Sonik crossed the finish line, keeping the order established after four days of racing. „It didn’t make any sense to try to push forward more, even if only as training. My knees and legs are totally beat; I would be only hurting myself. Luckily, it is only the pain of overload and it should pass after an adequate regeneration time,” commented the Polish racer, obviously satisfied with his final result.

The 6-time FIM World Championship winner can indeed leave South America with pride. Coming back to racing after a complicated injury and a long break, he was able to show his class and endure what other, well-prepared and fully capable, competitors couldn’t.

„We must admit that this year’s Desafio Ruta 40 was exceptionally demanding. Neither an athlete like Gaston Gonzalez nor Jeremias Gonzalez Ferioli and Pablo Copetti, who both know this area inside out, were able to defeat it. Aleksander Maksimow, who dropped off the Atacama Rally after a crash, barely made it after another accident. I suppose we will feel that desert in our bones for at least a couple more weeks,” said the Polish racer.

The finish line in San Juan provided a space for refections. „While traveling to South America, I didn’t know what I could really achieve there. I wasn’t even sure if I would be able to compete in Argentina after the Chile Rally. I was going to check my abilities and do my best racing against the fastest quad riders in the world. I was also quite anxious about not aggravating my previous injury. I only hoped I would be able to get somewhere around the fourth place. In the end, I claimed the podium twice, collected points in the FIM general ranking, and became the leader of FIM Veterans. Clearly, my team and I achieved more than we had expected. Now we are optimistic about the next starts,” concluded Rafał Sonik.

There is one more FIM World Championship round ahead, the Morocco Rally, which takes place during 3-9 of October. Rafał Sonik has got a strong chance to retain a place on the podium in the general classification and keep his leading position among veterans. „I’m not allowing my emotions to get ahead of me, but it’s good to feel the thrill of competition for the first spots,” admitted the quad champion.

Stage V results:
1. Nicolas Cavigliasso (ARG) 2:41.51
2. Aleksander Maksimow (RUS) +12.20
3. Rafał Sonik (POL) +17.40
FIM General Ranking:
1. Nicolas Cavigliasso (ARG) 21:48.05
2. Aleksander Maksimow (RUS) +1:18.06
3. Rafał Sonik (POL) +2:19.40

World Championship Ranking
1. Aleksander Maksimow (RUS) 77
2. Nicolas Cavigliasso (ARG) 56
3. Kees Koolen (NLD) 51
4. Rafał Sonik (POL) 38
5. Jeremias Gonzalez Ferioli (ARG) 26

FIM Veteran Ranking:
1. Rafał Sonik (POL) 56
2. Kees Koolen (NLD) 47
3. David McBride (GBR) 28
4. Alejandro Aros (CHL) 23
-. Richard Brewer (NLD) 23

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