Bikes news from Dakar stage 11 14.01.2016: Dakar Rally 2016 January 14th - stage 11 - 431km La Rioja to San Juan 15:40 : Bikes: the special is stopped

Dakar Rally 2016
January 14th - stage 11 - 431km
La Rioja to San Juan



15:40 : Bikes: the special is stopped at CP2!

The exceedingly difficult weather conditions caused by the extreme heat and the large number of riders in difficulty means that, for obvious safety reasons, the special has been halted at CP2 (after 243 km). However, the car and truck races will continue until the end of the special.




14:53 : Bikes: Yamaha in 4th and 5th

At the finishing line in San Juan, Helder Rodrigues and Adrien Van Beveren have finished wheel to wheel in 4th and 5th place on the day’s special, giving the Yamaha team a more than respectable grouped finish.



14:47 : Bikes: Meo climbs onto the virtual podium

Antoine Meo has accomplished a superb feat in the general standings thanks to his victory today. Having started the day 1’15’’ behind Pablo Quintanilla, he regained 2’48’’ on completion of the 430 kilometres of the day’s special stage. As a result, the Frenchman climbs onto the bottom step of the provisional podium in the general standings with a lead of 1’33’’ over the Chilean.


But that’s not all: taking advantage of Stefan Svitko’s below par performance, 12’29 behind the stage winner, Antoine Meo is now only 8’23’’ behind the Slovak who occupies second place in the general standings. The battle over the last two days of racing promises to be exciting!



14:18 : Bikes: Meo by a whisker

Antoine Meo has soared over the end of the day’s special to win the stage by right at the death. The Frenchman triumphs ahead of general standings leader Toby Price by 18 seconds. After this excellent performance, the Frenchman will now have to wait for the arrival of Pablo Quintanilla to find out if he has managed to take third place in the general standings from him.



13:57 : Bikes: Price rockets to CP4

After 396 km (CP4), general standings leader Toby Price (KTM) is strengthening his position as the stage’s quickest man. With less than 40 kilometres before the finishing line, the Australian has been credited with the best time ahead of Antoine Meo (KTM). More importantly, KTMs leading rider has opened up the gap on his closest rival, distancing Stefan Svitko by more than 10 minutes.


13:23 : Bikes: wrong way for Benavides

Shortly after CP3, Kevin Benavides has headed in the wrong direction. Having taken an incorrect track Honda rider number 47 has resumed the correct route but will have lost some time.



13:16 : Bikes: Quintanilla and Meo battling hard

At CP3 (after 348 km) the battle between Antoine Meo and Pablo Quintanilla is hotly contested. The Frenchman continues to take time off the Chilean who now only has a lead of 1’22’’ with a little more than 100 kilometres before the finishing line.



13:00 : Bikes: Meo claws back a little time

Antoine Meo (KTM) appears to be speeding up again towards the end of the stage. Although Pablo Quintanilla has been credited with the best time at Way Point 8 (after 325 km) Antoine Meo is keeping up with his pace and has clawed back 1’27’’ on the Chilean since CP 2.



Dakar Stage 11 result (provisional)

1    049    MEO (FRA)    KTM    005:19:08        00:00:00

2    003    PRICE (AUS)    KTM    005:19:26    00:00:18    00:00:00

3    004    QUINTANILLA (CHL)    HUSQVARNA    005:21:56    00:02:48    00:00:00

4    007    RODRIGUES (PRT)    YAMAHA    005:25:10    00:06:02    00:00:00

5    042    VAN BEVEREN (FRA)    YAMAHA    005:31:17    00:12:09    00:00:00

6    047    BENAVIDES (ARG)    HONDA    005:31:21    00:12:13    00:00:00

7    005    SVITKO (SVK)    KTM    005:31:37    00:12:29    00:00:00

8    106    BLYTHE (USA)    KTM    005:40:36    00:21:28    00:00:00

9    011    VILADOMS (ESP)    KTM    005:44:37    00:25:29    00:00:00

10    023    FARRES GUELL (ESP)    KTM    005:46:15    00:27:07    00:00:00

11    048    BRABEC (USA)    HONDA    005:47:13    00:28:05    00:00:00

12    061    METGE (FRA)    HONDA    005:47:39    00:28:31    00:00:00

13    050    CERUTTI (ITA)    HUSQVARNA    005:53:32    00:34:24    00:00:00

14    029    VOGELS (NLD)    KTM    005:54:57    00:35:49    00:00:00


- ASO -