Dakar goes back to Mali !
A short stage of 275km to help you to catch your breath, with a complete change in scenery, as we go from the Sahel to tropical black Africa with its laterite tracks.
The day's difficulty : the appearance of laterite tracks which need a change in driving style. No plane mechanics allowed.
TODAY
Motorcycles: Solidarity between fellow competitors : Morgan's first question on arriving at the bivouac was for news of Ian Graham. The Carrickfergus fish an chips shop owner had dislocated his shoulder in a fall the previous day and was riding in considerable pain. He completed the last stage with a group of other riders whose priority is to get to Dakar, and finished 5 hours slower than stage winner Orioli.
Both Morgan and Graham are trying to be the first Briton to complete the Dakar on a bike, but there is certainly no rivalry between them. Morgan's mechanic, Daryl Chadwick, is also helping Graham fettle his KTM.
The Italian Davide Trolli won today's stage with a
lead of 7'44 on Jordi Arcarons.
Cars :Citroen driver Philippe Wambergue suffered less from his sore thumb and was able to score fastest time. This makes his second position safer. Fontenay (Mitsubishi)arrived second. Overall leader Pierre Lartigue came home safely in third today.
