Starting from the remote bivouac in Shubaytah, like all competitors Jamie and Franco competed in today’s stage on the exact same bikes on which they completed stage 10. With outside assistance forbidden during the two-day marathon stage, each rider worked on their own bikes ahead of the start, riding today’s stage on the same tyres used on stage 10.
With his confidence notably boosted following his seventh-place finish on stage 10, Jamie McCanney was the seventh rider to start today’s special stage. Initially dropping a handful of positions, the Manxman improved his pace throughout the sandy stage to pass through the 271-kilometres marker in sixth. With just one stage of the event remaining, Jamie tonight sits 15th in the provisional overall standings, and as the second-best Dakar newcomer.
Franco Caimi quickly put the frustrations of losing time early in stage 10 behind him this morning and delivered yet another solid stage performance. The 15th rider to start, the Argentinian passed the 59-kilometre mark fifth fastest and completed a mistake free special to secure a well-deserved seventh place result. Focused on a trouble -free run through tomorrow’s final day, Franco hopes to bring his WR450F rally to the event’s finish in eight overall.
Both Monster Energy Yamaha Rally riders head into tomorrow’s final 374-kilometre special stage confident of a positive final result. Franco and Jamie will each be hoping to improve their positions in the overall standings but will need to rely on their navigation skills to ensure a good result.
Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team's Jamie McCanney And Franco Caimi Finish Sixth And Seventh On 2020 Dakar Rally Stage 11
Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team's Jamie McCanney And Franco Caimi Finish Sixth And Seventh On 2020 Dakar Rally Stage 11
With just one-day remaining in the 42nd running of the Dakar Rally, Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team riders Jamie McCanney and Franco Caimi recorded their best team results of the event so far, with each placing inside the top-10 in the motorcycle class aboard their WR450F rally machines. Finishing the two-day marathon stage in style, Dakar rookie Jamie McCanney continued his good form and secured his best result of the rally to date in sixth. Just one position behind, Franco completed today’s 744-kilometre stage in seventh.
6th Stage 11
Today was everything I hoped the Dakar Rally would be – a really enjoyable stage that was slow and safe and a lot of fun. Yesterday was a strange day but it set me up for a good day today – being closer to the front and among faster riders was cool. A few riders passed me but when Quintanilla came passed, I followed him to the finish. I felt like I rode well and really enjoyed the dunes. It was cool to experience a true marathon stage and to then follow it up with my best result of the rally so far. I’m looking forward to the final day now.”
7th Stage 11
There is still a very important day ahead of us tomorrow, but it really feels great to have completed the marathon stage and be just one day away from the finish of the 2020 Dakar Rally. The last two days have been tough – I made a navigational mistake yesterday and lost around 20 minutes, so that was super disappointing. But today I felt good – I rode with a good rhythm with no crashes, so to finish seventh was really good. Now it’s a big focus on the final day, in some ways the most important day. It’s been a tough rally for everyone but I hope tomorrow to finally reach the finish.”
Both Jamie and Franco did well during the marathon stage. For Jamie it was a very important stage today – starting together with riders that are much faster than many that he has ridden with so far during this rally was a new experience for him. He did very well because this change of pace is not always an easy one to make, especially on your first Dakar. It’s very positive for him, the team and our bike. Two top-10 results in his first Dakar so far is very promising. Franco also had a good day – he is really focused on finishing the race and did very well after his disappointments during stage 10. It’s a shame he lost time yesterday, but we know he will give his all to the end of the rally. The whole team is looking forward to the final stage – a long stage where we have to remember that Dakar is never finished until it is truly finished.”
Stage 11 Provisional Classification
1. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 4:09:22
2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 4:09:31 + 0:00:09
3. Luciano Benevides (KTM) 4:12:10 + 0:02:48
4. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 4:12:15 + 0:02:53
5. Toby Price (KTM) 4:15:11 + 0:05:49
6. Jamie McCanney (Yamaha) 4:15:44 + 0:06:22
…
7. Franco Caimi (Yamaha) 4:16:27 + 0:07:05
Overall Provisional Classification (after stage 11)
1. Ricky Brabec (Honda) 38:33:28
2. Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) 38:47:24 + 0:13:56
3. Toby Price (KTM) 38:56:02 + 0:22:34
4. Matthias Walkner (KTM) 39:03:21 + 0:29:53
5. Joan Barreda (Honda) 39:03:37 + 0:30:09
6. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) 39:06:04 + 0:32:36
…
8. Franco Caimi (Yamaha) 40:12:42 + 1:39:14
15. Jamie McCanney (Yamaha) 42:09:30 + 3:36:02
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
