The 2024 Dakar has practically come to an end, with Ross Branch unable to beat Ricky Brabec in the overall classification, despite winning today’s Stage 11. The pilot congratulated his rival and acknowledged the need to continue working to improve.
On the official competition website, the Hero pilot stated: ‘It was much better than the same stage last year. I really enjoyed it, it was a lot of fun. It was a difficult stage and very, very rocky all the time, but I enjoyed it and tried to close the gap. I think I left it a little too late,’ he said before praising his main opponent and most likely winner of the Dakar:
– Ricky is having a fantastic race and deserves to be where he is. We just have to keep fighting and see what we can do for tomorrow, for the last day. I definitely lost time in the camel grass.
Next, he talked about his own performance and how he can improve things: ‘I have some work to do in the sand and off-road. I’m not confident and fast enough. I know where I lost it and that gives me motivation to go back home and have another year to work on it. The first thing on the list is to go to the sand and train there. It’s always good to know that we have someone behind us with the same bike, if we need anything they are quickly there, but I don’t think it changed the race, I don’t think it changed the strategy.’
And he continued: ‘We gave our best throughout the day, every day, and I am proud of the team, who worked very hard. Finishing will be a great bonus for us. If we can get on the podium, it will be great for all of us. They worked hard and I take my hat off to them, with the endless hours they put in. I also worked hard and everyone at home, for all the support, has been incredible. There is still one day left, 180 km of the Dakar 2024, so let’s make the most of it. I’m not sure about the times, I’m not sure what happened to [Jose Ignacio] Nacho [Cornejo]. We didn’t get on the bike to finish in second place. So, let’s do our best and hope for the best’.
