Despite the handicap, Santosh rode for more than 150km holding the navigation instrument cluster with one hand to complete the Jujuy-Jujuy marathon stage.
Santosh had to stop several times to carry out repairs to the electrical wires that supply power to the various navigation and safety equipment that are mounted on a tower in front of the handle bar. After he managed to cross the final time control of the special stage, the entangled wires short- circuited the bikes electricals causing terminal stalling of his bike.
In the third 190-km special stage from Termas Rio Hondo to the Argentine border town of Jujuy, Santosh rode out of his skin to gain 36 places to finish in 61st place that pushed up his standing to 82nd in the general standings.
"It was not in my imagination to end the Dakar this way. It's real shame that it happened. I was riding well before the navigation tower broke and was hoping to make some more places on today's stage," said visibly disappointed Santosh after arriving at the bivouac.
He had finished 36th overall in his maiden appearance last year.
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