黑料社区

Good samaritan Ross Branch takes Dakar bike stage in 黑料社区

Hero Motosports Team Rally鈥檚 Botswanan biker Ross Branch competes in Stage 1 of the 2024 Dakar Rally, between Al-Ula and Al-Henakiyah, in western 黑料社区 on Jan. 6, 2024. (AFP)
Hero Motosports Team Rally鈥檚 Botswanan biker Ross Branch competes in Stage 1 of the 2024 Dakar Rally, between Al-Ula and Al-Henakiyah, in western 黑料社区 on Jan. 6, 2024. (AFP)
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Updated 06 January 2024

Good samaritan Ross Branch takes Dakar bike stage in 黑料社区

Good samaritan Ross Branch takes Dakar bike stage in 黑料社区
  • Branch was leading when he jumped off his bike to help rival Tosha Schareina

AL-HENAKIYAH,聽黑料社区: Ross Branch of Botswana was handsomely rewarded for stopping to help a stricken rider by emerging as the winner of the opening stage of the Dakar Rally on Saturday.
Branch was leading when he jumped off his bike to help rival Tosha Schareina after the Spaniard鈥檚 race-ending crash.
The 37-year-old, in his sixth Dakar, eventually remounted to cross the line only 16th.
But the Hero factory rider got the 25 minutes he had spent helping Schareina deducted from his time, catapulting him into the early race lead by almost a dozen minutes from Ricky Brabec.
鈥淵ou know, racing isn鈥檛 everything, so when you see one of the competitors lying on the floor, it鈥檚 the best thing to stop and wait with them and make sure that they鈥檙e OK,鈥 said Branch.
He described Schareina as 鈥渁 really good guy,鈥 adding 鈥測ou never like to see your friends like that.鈥
鈥淪o it鈥檚 no problem for me. We had to stop and help, and that鈥檚 what we鈥檙e there for. If it was me that was lying on the ground, I鈥檓 sure he would stop and help me.鈥
While Branch prepares for Sunday鈥檚 second stage, Schareina must wait another year before resuming his connection with motorsport鈥檚 toughest test.
The works Honda rider, who had won Friday鈥檚 prologue, had to be airlifted to an ambulance at the start line.
He recounted afterwards: 鈥淚 was riding so slow... I tried to pass Toby (Price) and I think I hit something with the rear wheel. I was going slow, but I broke my wrist.鈥
The car stage was won by Belgian Guillaume de Mevius (Overdrive) with Carlos Sainz second in his Audi hybrid.
The day proved tough going for defending champion Nasser Al-Attiyah with the Qatari trailing in 22nd, 25 minutes adrift, after two punctures.