Rafa\u0142 Sonik ended the second stage of the Dakar Rally on the sixth place, only six and a half minute behind Ignacio Casale. It would seem that this is nothing to be so happy about, and yet the Polish champion was overcome by optimism at the finish line of the special stage. \u2018I was certain that I was at least 25 minutes behind the leaders, and it turned out that the loss is minute,\u2019 he explained, smiling.<\/p>\n
After the first stage was cancelled, the competitors started the second, shortened special stage in the order that was determined by the prologue. It meant that Rafa\u0142 Sonik will have 13 rivals on quads and a lot of bikers ahead of him to take over. \u2018I was driving behind Keese Koolen for some 30 km, and then behind Daniel Mazzuco. The dust was huge, and I promised myself not to do anything stupid and to keep a wide safety margin. Despite that, I took over eight quad riders, I think, and twice as many bikers. Bikers took me over on straight sections, but then I left them behind me on the more winding parts of the route,\u2019 said Sonik.<\/p>\n
The ORLEN Team champion was not able to guess how many minutes he lost while driving in the clouds of dust behind his rivals, often on the second or third gear, like strolling in the park. \u2018I was afraid that the leaders will run too far ahead. Luckily, the loss was much smaller than I feared. I have to say I was surprised, because I didn\u2019t press too hard,\u2019 he explained. <\/p>\n
Like with cars, there was a lot of mud along the route of this stage. \u2018We managed to drive through the worst sections, but everybody were covered in mud from head to toe. I reached the bivouac on a clean quad, because my service team did a quick wash-up of my ride after the stage,\u2019 laughed Sonik. <\/p>\n
On Tuesday, the Dakar\u2019s column is to reach the mountains \u2013 and this is good news for the Polish champion, who loves the curvaceous and technical sections. \u2018Importantly, I\u2019ll have a decent starting place and I won\u2019t have to take over so many bikers. So, tomorrow might be better \u2013 and the competition among the leaders should be more interesting,\u2019 concluded the winner of the last year\u2019s Dakar Rally. <\/p>\n
PKN ORLEN supports Rafa\u0142 Sonik’s participation in the rally.<\/p>\n
Results of the second stage:
\n1. Ignacio Casale (CHL) 04:10.47
\n2. Brian Baragwanath (ZAF) + 3.49
\n3. Alejandro Patronelli (ARG) + 3.58
\n\u2026
\n6. Rafa\u0142 Sonik (POL) + 6.35
\nGeneral classification:
\n1. Ignacio Casale (CHL) 04:18.01
\n2. Brian Baragwanath (ZAF) + 4.00
\n3. Alejandro Patronelli (ARG) + 4.06
\n\u2026
\n6. Rafa\u0142 Sonik (POL) Yamaha + 6.58<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Rafa\u0142 Sonik ended the second stage of the Dakar Rally on the sixth place, only six and a half minute behind Ignacio Casale. It would seem that this is nothing to be so happy about, and yet the Polish champion was overcome by optimism at the finish line of the special stage. \u2018I was certain […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n