This year’s Dakar Rally has thrown up all sorts of surprises and upsets but for Yamaha mounted rider Helder Rodrigues all the signs are showing for it to be another successful showing as he now aims for his second straight podium is this monstrous race. The 33rd Dakar rally is firmly on the return leg as the riders and drivers of this historic and prestigious competition will soon dip into Peru for the first time since the rally shifted continents and head onwards through almost 4000km to reach the finish line in Lima.
Rocky Road: Rodrigues will hoping to keep the number three on his bike
Red Bull Yamaha TMN Team’s Helder Rodrigues has so far managed a solid and effective trek amidst Argentina and Chile to hold third position on his WR450F and consolidate his position with a 47 and a half minute deficit to Cyril Despres in second place and twenty minute gap over fellow Yamaha pilot David Casteu in fourth. The Portuguese (pictured) has marked 15th, 12th, 4th, 4th, 14th and 4th from the eight stages so far. Today he rides a two-part 550km special from Antofagasta to Iquique; the latter landscape having already formed one of the memorable features of the 2010 edition. The sixth day of the Dakar was cancelled due to poor weather over the Andes and across the Chilean border.
Rodrigues, who won third position and stood on the Dakar podium for the first time almost twelve months ago now faces the journey up through Chile into Peru and the ‘home straight’ to Lima.
“It’s a difficult Dakar. I’m feeling a bit tired, but everybody is in the same situation,” he said. “I’m still here and I’ve not suffered. I’m on top form and I can go on the attack when I want, and that’s what I’m going to do. I want to go head to head with the leading two. I’m third in the general standings, which is great.”