It will be third appearance for Santosh at this rally but first with a factory team. Joaquim will make his debut at the Dakar, having delivered impressive finishes in the Merzouga Rally and Oilibya Rally of Morocco in his rookie year on the rally-raid circuit.
"Since the last race in the Oilibya Rally of Morocco in October 2016, which was the final stop for the team before the Dakar Rally, it has been a race against time for the technical team to get the bikes ready for the Dakar," a release said.
The Rally will travel across Paraguay, Argentina and Bolivia on a 9,000-km journey out of which more than 4,000 km will comprise timed sections that have been divided in 12 special stages, including one marathon stage during which no assistance will be allowed to the riders at the end of the day's run.
For the first time in the history of the rally, the participants will make crossings above 5,000 metres over the high passes in the Andes en-route to Bolivia.
Joaquim Rodrigues his Co-rider said,"I am extremely excited about the start of my first Dakar. Everything has been good and the preparations have been perfect so far. After arriving at bivouac, everything feels just right. I am charged up and hopeful that I will put-up a great show at my first Dakar."
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