Hero MotoSports Team Rally posted a steady performance in the penultimate stage of the Dakar Rally 2021. Both riders are now in the Top-15 in overall rankings.

The riders tackled the stage confidently and completed it without any major incident. Sebastian Buhler kept it steady and concentrated hard to avoid any mistakes at this critical juncture in the rally. He got rewarded for his discipline and perseverance with a 12^th place finish. 

Joaquim Rodrigues also started the stage really well to get into a good pace and rhythm until right at the very end of the stage he missed a waypoint. Besides losing time, he also attracted a time penalty for missing it, thereby finishing the Stage 11 on 26^th place.

With only the last stage separating it from the finish line at Jeddah, Hero MotoSports Team Rally is poised for a strong finish with both Joaquim and Buhler placed on 12^th and 15^thplaces respectively in the overall standings.

The last stage of the Dakar Rally 2021 tomorrow will provide one last opportunity to riders, albeit a shortone at 225 competitive kms, to make one final dash to the finish line in Jeddah.

Joaquim Rodrigues (Competitor No. 27) said, “I tried to take it easy and make it to the finish line as we are very close to completing the rally. Everything was going good for most part of the stage, I had good pace and rhythm. But just 20km before the finish I couldn’t find a way point. I kept looking for it till I reached a point where I started running low on fuel, and then I decided to move on. Lost a lot of time there but I made it to the finish so I am happy with that.”

Sebastian Buhler (Competitor No. 24) said, “Today as a very long stage with some difficult and dangerous zones. So, I tried to relax myself and concentrated on not making any mistakes. Towards the end there was a difficult navigation where I just slowed a bit and tried to focus on doing everything right which worked well for me as I didn’t lose too much time there. For the last stage, my plan is to approach it like the first stage because the race is not done until you cross the finish line.”

Provisional Rankings – Stage 11

1.Sam Sunderland                 RedBull KTM Factory Team                                    04h 35m 12s

2.Pablo Quintanilla                Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Team           +02m 40s

3. Kevin Benavides                Monster Energy Honda Team                                 +06m 24s

12. Sebastian Buhler         Hero MotoSports Team Rally                              +23m 49s

26.Joaquim Rodrigues       Hero MotoSports Team Rally                                          +57m 30s

Provisional Overall Rankings at the end of Stage 11

1. Kevin Benavides                Monster Energy Honda Team                                             45h 01m 44s

2.Sam Sunderland                 RedBull KTM Factory Team                                    +04m 12s

3. Ricky Brabec                      Monster Energy Honda Team                                 +07m 13s

12.Joaquim Rodrigues       Hero MotoSports Team Rally                                          +02h 38m 58s

15. Sebastian Buhler         Hero MotoSports Team Rally                              +03h 48m 33s