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Honda rider Joan Barreda pushed his bike to the limit over the 465 kilometres of the longest of the Dakar Rally, finishing stage four with the day’s top time at the finish in Riyadh.

His team-mate, Chilean rider Pablo Quintanilla, put the icing on the cake for Monster Energy Honda Team by clinching the runner-up spot.

The course was 79% dirt, 12% dunes, 7% sand and 2% dried-out lake for the longest stage of the 2022 Dakar Rally, with a 465-kilometre special and a total trek of 707 kilometres.

A trial by fire for all those involved.

There was a mix of different terrain types to be negotiated and some navigation too.

All in all, a high-paced affair that would begin to mark out the riders who will end up in possible contention for the final Dakar prize.

The starting order for this fourth day set the stage for a promising race, particularly for Barreda (pictured here), who came out guns blazing, firmly intent on victory, but also on improving his position in the general standings.

With flawless riding and navigational prowess, the Spanish rider reached the finish-line in Riyadh the clear winner and currently holds seventh position, just over 13 minutes shy of the overall leader, GasGas factory rider Sam Sunderland, from Britain, who managed sixth overall in stage four.

For the next stage, Barreda will open the track with his rivals in hot pursuit. Barreda was penalised one minute for exceeding the speed limit in a radar zone.

Quintanilla also performed well. An advantageous starting position also helped him follow the trail of his team-mate.

The Chilean turned out a very steady stage, consistently among the top three, climbing up one position in the order in the latter half of the day.

Quinta’ improves on his position in the table and now lies sixth, 11 minutes and 13 seconds behind Sunderland.

Stage five comprises 214 kilometres of liaison sections, 346 kilometres of special stage, making a total of 560 kilometres on the day.

Starting and finishing at the bivouac in Riyadh, competitors will face a new loop on this Dakar, although it won’t be the last one.

The changes of terrain from dirt to stone-littered tracks will put a strain on the physiques of even the toughest riders in the opening half of the special.

If that were not enough, then 50 kilometres of dunes will divide the wheat from the chaff.

“I’m very happy with today. It was a very good stage and I achieved another win,” said Barreda.

“We did a very good job from the first moment of the special. We had different terrains: sandy tracks, dunes, rocks and with some navigation.

“I tried to keep calm, follow our course, but pushing hard and I think we did a great job and I’m very satisfied and happy with it.”           

Photo courtesy Honda

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