Dakar 2022: Harith Noah continues his learning curve

The
stunning
performance
by
28-year-old
got
him
into
the
top-20
in
stage
10
rankings,
but
his
bravery
will
not
be
counted
for
the
final
classification
as
he
moved
to
the
Dakar
Experience
class,
after
the
mishap,
to
log
more
kilometres
and
experience.

The
stage
was
won
by
Argentina’s
Kevin
Benavides,
who
also
moved
to
Dakar
Experience
class,
after
his
pull
out
on
Wednesday
(January
12).

Dakar
2022:
Despite
broken
ribs
and
loss
of
rear
brakes
Harith
Noah
keeps
fighting
all
the
way

But
the
biggest
achievement
for
India
on
Thursday
(January
13)
was
the
stage
podium
finish
by
Hero
MotoSports
Joaquim
Rodrigues,
who
came
third
behind
Sam
Sunderland
of
Great
Britain.

Noah
began
the
day’s
Stage
11
on
an
aggressive
note
zooming
into
the
sixth
place
at
the
first
WayPoint
after
48kms.
Later,
he
lost
some
ground
in
the
next
120kms,
but
stepped
up
the
pace
and
was
running
at
17th
position
for
long,
before
settling
for
19th
position
in
Stage
11,
equalling
his
best
stage
performance
at
Dakar
in
2021.

The

Dakar
Experience
is
a
new
class,
introduced
a
few
years
back,
as
a
second
chance
for
those
who
are
forced
to
quit
the
main
race.
It
helps
participants
to
experience
the
Dakar
Rally
and
gain
valuable
seat-time
and
log
mileage
to
prepare
for
the
future
races.
However,
the
riders
will
not
be
classified
for
Rally
GP
class
and
will
finish
under
‘Dakar
Experience’ arch.

Noah’s
Sherco
team-mate
Lorenzo
Santolino
continued
his
good
show
finishing
the
stage
in
18th
place,
just
a
position
ahead
of
the
Kerala-based
rider
while
the
other
Sherco
TVS
rider
—
Rui
Goncalves
was
placed
30th
in
the
stage.
Santolino
was
12th
and
Goncalves
was
24th
in
the
overall
general
rankings.
Rodriguez
is
14th
overall
and
Aaron
Mare,
who
finished
the
day
25th
was
16th.

“It
was
an
ideal
day
and
I
had
good
fun.
But
alas,
it
won’t
be
counted
for
the
ranking,”
said
Noah,
the
Sports
Science
Graduate
from
Shoranur.

The
bikes
covered
a
strenuous
501kms
from
Wadi
Ad
Dawasir
to
Bisha.
The
loop
around
Bisha,
had
the
potential
to
turn
shake
the
best
riders
with
huge
dunes,
as
it
provided
the
biggest
technical
challenge
to
many
a
rider.

Noah
spent
about
half
of
the
stage
time
on
the
dunes
of
all
shapes
and
sizes
including
the
softest
ones
that
the
desert
had
in
store,
but
his
exploits
could
only
get
him
rich
experience
in
preparation
for
future
rally-raids
and
no
reward
for
his
hard
work.
Undaunted,
Noah
vows
to
come
back
stronger
next
year.

The
final
timed
Special
Section
on
the
last
day
will
be
from
Bisha
to
Jeddah,
a
distance
of
680kms
including
liaison
section.
And
the
scene
is
set
for
the
last
big
fight
on
Friday
(January
14)
as
the
ceremonial
finish
off
the
2022
FIA
Dakar
Rally
is
slated
to
be
held
at
the
Red
City
of
Jeddah.
Bring
it
on!