Sonik fighting for lead in Dakar Rally
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
13.01.2015 11:09
Quad-rider Rafal Sonik slipped into second place in the overall standings of the Dakar Rally on Monday after finishing eighth in Stage 8 of the world's toughest off-road event.
Polish rider Rafal Sonik of Yamaha competes during the eighth stage of the Rally Dakar 2015 running between Uyuni, Bolivia, and Iquique, Chile, 12 January 2015. EPA/MARIO RUIZ
''No more joking around,'' Sonik quipped on his Facebook profile, with five more stages still to go.
''Tomorrow will see a fight till the last drop of.... petrol,'' he added.
''SuperSonic'', as he has been dubbed, was knocked off the top spot by Chilean Ignacio Casale, who is on home territory at present, before the rally returns to Argentina.
Of the 45 quad-riders who began the epic race on 4 January, only 22 are still in the running. Most were obliged to pull out owing to technical problems with their vehicles.
Sonik has taken part in the rally six times, during five of which he finished in the top five. His best performance to date was last year, when he came second, and in 2013 he came third.
Besides the quad category, truck-drivers, motorcyclists and car-drivers are also taking part.
Pole Krzysztof Holowczyc is currently 4th in the overall rankings in the car category.
The 36th Dakar Rally is due to finish in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on 17 January. (nh)