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Penalty knocks MAZ-SPORTavto's Vyazovich from first to fifth at Dakar 2019 Stage 6

MINSK, 14 January (BelTA) - Sergei Vyazovich's crew of Belarus' MAZ-SPORTavto team were first at Stage 6 at Dakar 2019 but were knocked to fifth due to the penalty, BelTA as learned.

On MAZ-SPORTavto’s Facebook page Sergei Vyazovich said that in general Stage 6 was good for the team as they finished first clocking in 4:28:25.  “The result is really good but there is one ‘but’. On one of the slopes, we failed to keep the truck on the track and had to come down, leaving one of the control points unchecked. For 20 minutes we tried to get back but it was very high. According to the regulations we will be issued an one hour penalty.  Therefore, it is premature to rejoice at the victory at the Special Stage,” he said.

According to the Dakar official website, Stage 6 winner is Iveco driver Gerard de Rooy (4:34:10). Argentinian Federico Villagra (Iveco) is second with the result of 4:34:40. KAMA-Master Dmitry Sotnikoc’s crew is third (4:41:14).

The 2019 Dakar race is run solely in Peru over a total of 5,000 kilometers and 11 days. More than half of the route runs through sandy roads with huge dunes and other obstacles.

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