courage that stood out . Not even having to carry out repairs during sandstorms , spending eight hours stuck in a dune under the scorching sun , or experiencing a big crash when another competitor hit him , could dampen his passion and enthusiasm . As the saying goes , “ This is Rally Raid .” Sadly , it was a case of what might have been . Due to not being able to complete Stage 4 , the Spaniard was allowed to continue , but received a 40-hour penalty which effectively ruled him out of the overall classification . Forced to sit out Stage 5 while the team repaired his bike and receiving another 60-hour penalty , he was left frustrated by the cancellation of the two stages , as it would have given him a chance to bounce back , and he was in P2 for the majority of the seventh stage before it was curtailed . Stage 8 gave him a chance to show what he could do , and he didn ’ t disappoint , hitting the final checkpoint at the finish in ninth with a time of 4h 32 ’ 23 ’’, nineteen minutes behind the leading rider . His overall classification after the penalties of thirtieth ( 132h 00 ’ 29 ’’) was not reflective of his pace or the effort he put in , but the future looks very bright for Tarres , and he is already looking forward to the next adventure . After an incredible and emotional Tunisia Desert Challenge , the Yamaha Ténéré World Raid Team , in partnership with Riders for Health , now turn their focus to the Africa Eco Race , which follows the route of the original Dakar rally and covers over 6500km , starting in Monaco and finishing at the legendary Lac Rose in Senegal over October 15-30 .
KIWI RIDER 27