Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team Complete 2020 Dakar Rally Stage Nine

14-01-2020

Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team Complete 2020 Dakar Rally Stage Nine

Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team riders Franco Caimi and Jamie McCanney have both successfully completed stage nine of the 2020 Dakar Rally – the longest of the event at a whopping 886 kilometres. Returning to competition following the cancellation of stage eight, which was abandoned in memory of Portuguese rider Paulo Goncalves who lost his life on stage seven, stage nine was a challenging one for many reasons. In finishing in 11th and 20th positions respectively aboard their WR450F Rally machines, Franco and Jamie are both now ready for tomorrow’s first leg of the event’s marathon stage.

With much of the day’s route extremely high-speed, Franco Caimi opted not to take any unnecessary risks ahead of the marathon stage, which starts tomorrow. Initially picking up places during the slower speed, more technical start of the stage, once average speeds increased the Argentinian settled into a safe rhythm and completed the 410-kilometre special stage in a time of three hours and 40 minutes. Franco holds eighth in the provisional overall standings.

Jamie McCanney completed yet another Dakar stage today, somewhat hampered by dust but like his teammate Caimi, he also chose not to take any risks during the high-speed leg. Pleased to have reached the end of the stage without notable problems, he now looks forward to the first day of the marathon stage, which will see riders camp overnight in a bivouac in Shubaytah, where no outside assistance is allowed.

With nine days of the 2020 Dakar Rally now complete, racers next head to Shubaytah in the south-east, close to the Abu Dhabi border. Leaving Haradh for the second-longest special of the event, it ends with 30 kilometres of sand dunes.

Franco Caimi – Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team

11th Stage 9

Today was a long one, almost 900-kilometres so like everyone I’m feeling tired. Although we had a day with no racing yesterday, today was not a normal day – dealing with the emotions you have after losing one of the Dakar family takes time. I really tried to keep my focus and concentration as much as I could. I felt good during the first half of the stage, which was technical and with some tricky navigation. I was with the top four guys. The second half of the stage had more or less 230-kilometres of super flat and straight terrain, which wasn’t the best for me. Myself and my bike are in perfect working order, so I’m looking forwards to tomorrow’s stage.

Franco Caimi – Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team

Jamie McCanney - Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team

20th Stage 9

It was definitely a stage of two halves today. The morning was great, a lot like the riding I’ve done in Morocco. It was a lot slower and more technical and I was able to catch and pass some riders. The conditions soon changed, and it was pretty much flat out all day. I got into another rider’s dust and couldn’t get close enough to get ahead, so I settled back. After the refuelling I was able to get ahead, but it really was just flat out all day. I don’t mind riding fast, but I didn’t want to risk anything, so I just rode sensibly. It’s the same for everyone, but I hope there’s a little more technical riding tomorrow.

Jamie McCanney - Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team

Alexandre Kowalski - Yamaha Europe Off-Road Racing Manager

We can say that today was a stage without any big stories for our riders. The stage was heavily modified because of rain here, which is why the last 200 kilometres were so fast. Franco started really well today, putting in a great performance early in the special. Then he lost some time in the faster section. We have to remember that riders were racing again after the difficult loss of Paulo Goncalves on stage seven and also today was the day before the start of the marathon stage – so ensuring that they reached the end of today without technical issues or damage to their bikes was super important. The next two days will be difficult, it looks like there’ll be a lot of sand. Both riders feel good and are looking forward to the marathon stages.

Dakar Rally 2020

Stage 9 Provisional Classification

1. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 3:30:33
2. Toby Price (KTM) 3:32:27 + 0:01:54
3. Joan Barreda (Honda) 3:33:15 + 0:02:42
4. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 3:34:28 + 0:03:55
5. Ross Branch (KTM) 3:36:03 + 0:05:30
6. Kevin Benevides (Honda) 3:36:23 + 0:05:50
…
11. Franco Caimi (Yamaha) 3:40:01 + 0:09:28
20. Jamie McCanney (Yamaha) 3:46:46 + 0:16:13

Dakar Rally 2020

Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 9)

1. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 31:59:29
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 32:20:22 + 0:20:53
3. Toby Price (KTM) 32:26:12 + 0:26:43
4. Joan Barreda (Honda) 32:27:45 + 0:28:16
5. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 32:28:58 + 0:29:29
6. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 32:36:45 + 0:37:16
…
8. Franco Caimi (Yamaha) 33:20:33 + 1:21:04
21. Jamie McCanney (Yamaha) 35:37:34 + 3:38:05

Dakar Rally 2020

Race Schedule

Stage 1 | Jan 5 | Jeddah to Al Wajh | Total: 752 km | SS: 319 km
Stage 2 | Jan 6 | Al Wajh to Neom | Total: 393 km | SS: 367 km
Stage 3 | Jan 7 | Neom to Neom | Total: 504km | SS: 427 km
Stage 4 | Jan 8 | Neom to Al Ula | Total: 672 km | SS: 453 km
Stage 5 | Jan 9 | Al Ula to Ha’il | Total: 564 km | SS: 353 km
Stage 6 | Jan 10 | Ha’il to Riyadh | Total: 830 km | SS: 477 km
Rest Day | Jan 11 | Riyadh
Stage 7 | Jan 12 | Riyadh to Wadi Al Dawasir | Total: 741 km | SS: 546 km
Stage 8 | Jan 13 | Wadi Al Dawasir to Wadi Al Dawasir | Total: 716 km | SS: 477 km
Stage 9 | Jan 14 | Wadi Al Dawasir to Haradh | Total: 886 km | SS: 410 km
Stage 10 | Jan 15 | Haradh to Shubaytah | Total: 608 km | SS: 534 km
Stage 11 | Jan 16 | Shubaytah to Haradh | Total: 744 km | SS: 379 km
Stage 12 | Jan 17 | Haradh to Qiddiya | Total: 447 km | SS: 374 km