Dakar 2018, Stage 4: KP loses ground, Santosh recovers

The 330 km special around San Juan De Marcona (Peru) made life difficult for the competitors, with hidden waypoints and tricky terrain characterising the route.

Sherco TVS’ KP could only muster the 44th fastest time of the day, 58m42s down on stage winner and new standings leader Adrian van Beveren (Yamaha).

However, the result had a much smaller impact on his overall ranking, the 30-year-old losing only four places to drop down to 33rd.

Hero rider and India’s first Dakar finisher Santosh was back on pace after losing an hour on Monday due to a loosely-fitted fuel cap.

However, he suffered a nasty crash in the second part of the stage, leaving him 56th in both the stage and the general standings.

“I knew it was going to be a tough day because I was starting with a lot of riders in front of me,” he said.

“I tried to push myself hard and did all I could and so I managed to cross a lot of riders. Dune section was really long and difficult but I managed that well.

“Towards the end I had a massive crash because of a rock hidden inside fesh-fesh, but I am ok and the bike is ok so we live to fight another day.”

Elsewhere, Joan Pedrero continued his fine form aboard Sherco TVS’ RTR 450 to move up to 17th in the overall order.

He is now the highest placed rider on an Indian bike after Hero’s Oriol Mena lost time finding a way point. The Spanish rookie is currently classified in 24th place, 25m15s behind Pedrero.