After the transitionary day which took the Dakar caravan from Bolivia to Argentina, the race was resumed with one of the most complex stages in this 40th edition of the toughest motorsports event in the world. Extreme navigation and some treacherous terrain has caused a true revolution among all the favorites.

A scenario in which experience and impeccable technique allowed biker Gerard Farrés to shine bright and ride an exceptional stage. Despite struggling during the first part of the special to keep up with the very high pace of the official motorcycles, has applied all his knowledge in navigation and as well as the aeronautical techniques he was taught by the team director, Lieutenant Colonel of the Air Force, Miguel Puertas, to finish 3rd on the day and take a giant leap in the general classification climbing up to 4th position.

"It was a very complicated day and from the beginning I knew that it was going to take a lot of work to keep up with the factory bikes," said Gerard Farrés after the stage. "However, I stayed calm and tried to manage my race, blindly trusting in my navigation and applying everything I have learned with our director, Miguel Puertas, including orientation techniques used by fighter pilots to navigate through clouds. This technique, when it was very difficult to read the terrain, has helped me enormously to reach the finish line without making any mistakes. I am very happy to enter the fight for the podium, but still nothing is decided and there are still very complicated days ahead."

Like Farrés, the rest of the Himoinsa Team riders stood out in this very complicated stage, with Dani Oliveras in 8th position, Marc Solà, 16th and Iván Cervantes in 24th place. Meanwhile, Rosa Romero continues unstoppable quest towards Córdoba’s finish line and has completed a new stage.

Photos: Himoinsa Team

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