Defending champ Sonik forced to pull out of Dakar Rally
PR dla Zagranicy
Nick Hodge
08.01.2016 14:43
Poland's Rafał Sonik has had to pull out of the Dakar Rally after his quad's engine exploded in the fifth stage of the epic off-road race.
Polish quad-biker Rafal Sonik during the fifth stage of the Rally Dakar 2016 between Jujuy, Argentina, and Uyuni, Bolivia, 07 January 2016. EPA/FELIPE TRUEBA
'SuperSonik', as he has been dubbed, came a cropper 215km into the 327km stage.
“Despite battling and showing determination our driver failed to finish the fifth stage,” his Orlen Team declared in a statement.
Sonik had been placed sixth overall after Stage 4, and had looked set to advance further had he not run into technical difficulties.
Meanwhile, in the car category, Jakub Przygoński is currently the highest ranked Pole overall, in 14th position.
Former ski jumper Adam Małysz is in 20th place. (nh/pk)