Terranova wins Dakar Rally third stage, motorcyclist Hernik dies
Xinhua, January 7, 2015 Adjust font size:
Orlando Terranova claimed his second stage win on Tuesday by winning 2015 Dakar Rally third stage, however the race was overshadowed by the death of Polish motorcyclist Michal Hernik.
The 39-year-old Hernik was found dead on the selective section of the third stage of the rally between San Juan and Chilecito at kilometer 206, according to the organizers. The circumstances surrounding his death have yet to be determined, as the competitor did not show any external signs of an accident.
His death was the fifth on the gruelling off-road race since it was moved to South America in 2009 due to the unstable safety situation across the Sahara Desert. It was the 24th death since the rally began in 1979.
Home boy Terranova maintained his sound form behind a Mini, though he crashed at the end of the special on Monday, the Argentinean fought back during the 542km third stage as he produced a sterling effort in the second part of the 284km special.
Terranova claimed his second stage win with two hours, 57 minutes and 28 seconds. South Africa's Giniel de Villiers from Toyota ranked second, lagging behind Terranova one minute 54 seconds, while another Toyota driven by Saudi Arabia's Alrahji Zayed placed third.
With this win Terranova moves to third overall in the standings led by teammate Nasser Al-Attiyah. As the 2011 champion and winner of Monday's stage, Al-Attiyah finished fifth in Tuesday's stage. Giniel de Villiers stays second overall.
As for the Peugeot team, Spaniard Carlos Sainz seems to be getting the hang of the new car and improving in performance terms with the day's fourth place, while fellow Peugeot veteran Stephane Peterhansel finished seventh in the stage.
In the motorbike section, Austria's Matthias Walkner, was a surprise winner of his first Dakar stage, ahead of KTM teammate and reigning champion Marc Coma and overall race leader Joan Barreda Bort of Spain.
Wednesday's fourth stage will start from Chilecito in Argentina and end in Copiapo in Chile. This year's event, the seventh in South America since its enforced transfer for security reasons from Africa, is the 37th of all time. Endi
