Bikes News from Dakar stage 12 15.01.2016: 16:20 : Bikes: Meo fell! Towards the end of a faultless stage on which it was difficult to imagine

    16:20 : Bikes: Meo fell!

    Towards the end of a faultless stage on which it was difficult to imagine the Frenchman taking the slightest risk whilst escorting his team leader Toby Price, Antoine Meo suffered a fall towards the end of the special.


With an injured hand, the KTM rider had to finish the stage at a slow pace whilst gritting his teeth.


    16:13 : Bikes: Meo loses 38 minutes!!!

    Stopped at less than 50 kilometres from the finishing line, before resuming the race, Antoine Meo has just crossed the finishing line 38 minutes behind the stage winner, a cruel disappointment for the KTM rider…



    15:54 : Bikes: Van Beveren fourth!

    The young Frenchman taking part in his first Dakar has put in a major performance. Encouraged by the pace of his team leader and the day’s winner, Helder Rodrigues, Adrien Van Beveren picks up a very fine top 4 finish on today’s special.



    15:44 : Bikes: Helder Rodrigues wins

    The Yamaha team leader has done it: Helder Rodrigues has won today on the longest stage of the Dakar. The Portuguese rider had to go on all out attack to try and grab fifth place in the overall ranking and has stepped up to the plate. Now we will have to wait for the arrival of Kevin Benavides (Honda) to see if Rodgrigues’ gamble has paid off.



    15:18 : Bikes: Meo stops!

    What has happened to Antoine Meo less than 40 kilometres from the finish? The Frenchman stopped for at least five minutes before resuming racing. This will be a blow to Meo’s hopes and a paltry reward for the ‘sacrifice’ he has made today by escorting his team leader Toby Price.


The five times enduro world champion, who had gained third place in the overall ranking could lose more than one position. Watch this space…



    14:41 : Bikes: all gone wrong for Quintanilla

    There has been a development at Way Point 9. Pablo Quintanilla, who had not left the front of the race, has suddenly slipped down the day’s rankings. After 344 kilometres, the Chilean is in 6th position with a lead of only 1’10’’ over Antoine Meo, who is now in virtual overall third place by 23 seconds.


    14:33 : Bikes: hats off for Duclos

    Alain Duclos, twentieth in the overall ranking, has had a very bizarre setback. After a minor fall, the Frenchman removed his helmet to get up and repair his bike. When he was about to resume racing, his helmet had disappeared!!!


The Sherco rider has therefore stopped at the side of the tracks after around 290 kilometres and is hoping to find a solution quickly. But what sort of solution? Without his helmet, he cannot resume racing for obvious safety reasons.



- ASO -