The ultimate endurance challenge Dakar 2022 kicked off today for the 44th time from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Stage 1A was the qualification with a total of 614km to cover.
The program for the first part of stage 1 is made up of 595 km of link route and 19 km of special. The classification at the finishing line will determine the starting order for the day after.
The top 15 of the special will get to choose their starting order for stage 1B in the reverse order of the standings. Sandbagging to finish just outside the top 15 is flirting with disaster, as a coefficient of 5 will be applied to the times at the end of the qualifying stage.
In the end of the day it was Daniel Sanders who came on top and made history by winning the first ever stage for Gas Gas Factory. The Australian completed the special in 55’30”. He was followed by Pablo Quintanilla of Honda and Ross Branch of Yamaha as they got P2 & P3.
Competitors linked from Jeddah to Hail today and stage 1B will be a 514km loop from Hail but this time with a special of 333km.
Total distance covered after Stage 1A : 614 KM
Stage 1A Classification
Full Results!
Bike Class Top 3 Highlights
Photo Credits: dakar.com
