Michael Metge secures his first win ever on a Dakar Stage with Sherco TVS
The 2019 Dakar Rally, completely held in Peru, a first time ever this race is held in just one country, it’s coming to its end tomorrow when riders reach the final podium set up in Lima. The fight for the win on the Dakar 2019 is going to be until the finish line, with KTM rider Toby Price heading into the final stage with a little over one-minute advantage over Husqvarna rider Pablo Quintanilla.
But today’s Stage 9, a loop with start and finish in Pisco, was won by Sherco TVS rider Michael Metge, who completed the 313 km before everyone else. Getting his first stage win on the Dakar, Metge edged out Daniel Nosiglia (Honda) for second spot, with title contender Quintanilla finishing third, closely followed by KTM duo Toby Price and Matthias Walkner.
With these results, Price, who races with a broken hand, holds an important 1m02s advantage over Quintanilla on the overall standings of the Dakar, and Walkner trails the race leader by 6m35s and is still in for the win, unlike fourth fastest on the rally, Andrew Short, Husqvarna second rider, with difference of more than 40-minutes to Toby Price.
Yamaha’s only hope for a great result on the Dakar, Adrien Van Beveren, had to say goodbye to the race with a blown engine on his bike, just 16 km away from the finish line on Stage 9.
Tomorrow’s Stage 10, the final one, will get the Dakar riders from Pisco to Lima. Although Price’s advantage is very small, he will still get the chance to control the race starting the day behind is main rival Pablo Quintanilla. Matthias Walkner will start immediately behind his KTM teammate.