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 | Dakar Rally 2013: Biker Joan Barreda - "Impossible to overtake Friday".
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Husqvarna Speedbrain´s Joan Barreda and Paulo Goncalves, both set off from behind and had to put up with an enormous amount of dust throughout the day. Both chose not to take risks. Barreda finished a dust-filled day with very little overtaking, in 21st place, and Goncalves came in 26th.
"It was impossible to overtake Friday in the special, because there really was so much dust" said Joan Barreda.
"I took it easy as my hand was causing me problems and I didn’t want to mess everything up before Saturday. The evening I will take something for the swelling, because I want to be in good shape for Saturday’s important stage."
Paulo Goncalves added: "I tried to get past the slower riders who started ahead of me but it was really tricky. It was just too dusty and dangerous. I managed to overtake three riders, but then I decided it was better not to take any chances, and so I sat in behind the group."
Jordi Viladoms had a bad day at the office, when during the transfer he stopped at the Lama pass border crossing some 4500 meters above sea level, where for reasons of fatigue was forced to seek aid from a medical car, and was given oxygen. Viladoms managed to restart and compete in the special.
Matt Fish got back to the bivouac this morning after working on his bike in the neutralization zone yesterday, and headed out on the second special in the dark. Fish didn’t throw in the towel as he realises how important it’s going to be for his team-mates to have his support over the next few days.
"It was a fairly calm stage, even if it was very long" reportet Alessandro Botturi. "I didn’t take any risks and didn’t push too much, as we were at such a high altitude and it wouldn’t have been right to overdo things. Starting out tenth suits me fine for tomorrow’s stage as it’s an important one and I want to attack."
The seventh stage of the Dakar has been marred by the death of the young French rider, Thomas Bourgin, 25, involved in a fatal accident during the long transfer. The Husqvarna Rallye Team by Speedbrain sends condolences to the family.
2013/01/12 | 16:39 CET | ARTICLE: MR/HS/SPEEDBRAIN
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