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Collin Matiza Sports Editor
JUST call him a Real Warrior!
Zimbabwe’s motorbike rider Ashley Thixton really showed that he’s got some nerves of steel when he survived the two legs of the 48-hour Chrono Stage at the on-going Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia yesterday.
With 626 kilometres in total to travel across two days in the softest of Saudi’s sand dunes, Stage Six (part A) on Thursday was a hard day on a bike by any measure. It was clearly brutal on the body – six days into 12 in total don’t forget.
Racing close to the Saudi border with Oman, the Empty Quarter is larger than France but is said to have less than 100 people resident in it…except these two days of racing at least.
The riders, including Thixton, rode 625km of dunes over two days with camping military style at the end of day 1 was no joke adding on top of that the stress of trying to make the fuel stops without running out.
After having escaped unscathed in the opening leg of the 48-hour Chrono Stage on Thursday, and after a night under the stars, Thixton yesterday geared up for the second leg of this epic adventure knowing that another smart ride will firmly put him on course for his main aim of being among the finishers of the toughest and most challenging motor rallying event in the world.
And he did it in style by shepherding his Husqvarna 450R bike out of the dunes yesterday and he just couldn’t hide his excitement.
In fact, Thixton has managed to negotiate his way past week one of the Dakar Rally in one piece and he’s still looking strong ahead of week two which gets underway tomorrow.
“That’s a wrap for the 48-hour Stage 6!
“Can definitely say I am ready for a rest day, it’s been intense but wow what an experience, something I will never forget!
“Happy to be at the finish line in one piece.
“Provisionally positioned 37th for the stage’s general standing,” Thixton said as he prepared for today’s traditional rest day.
After one of the longest stages he’s ever done on Thursday and after a long day it was really cool to camp out with the boys for Thixton yesterday.
Yesterday morning was 113km of soft dunes so he just tried to look after the bike and get to the finish.
And he met with no hitches. He is looking forward to a day off today before he gets going with week two tomorrow.
With Day 7 and Stage 6 completed, Thixton is still in the mix and could find himself on the podium at the business end of the 2024 Dakar Rally on January 19.
Big stages are still to come out of Riyadh tomorrow, then seven more days of Saudi Desert.
One day at a time and the finish line is now the goal for our Zimbabwean Warrior.
Now that the toughest stage of the Dakar is complete, the riders are on their way to Riyadh.
In fact, yesterday marked the end of the first week of a very tough Dakar Rally. The Rest Day follows today after which six more stages will bring the event to the coastal city of Yanbu, where the winners will be crowned on Friday, January 19.
Online Reporter