
Yamaha’s Adrien Van Beveren set out to negotiate his second attempt at the Dakar Rally with the primary aim to gain more experience and learn more intricacies of the world’s toughest race that passes over 8000km and through three countries in twelve stages. The 26 year old rode superbly through flooded and technical conditions and will ultimately have bittersweet memories of the 39th edition of this famous trek after winning the last stage in Argentina and missing out on the final podium by just 48 seconds.
The Frenchman suffered from several mistakes in the decisive stage ten of twelve to drop behind Spaniard Gerard Farres and a minute’s penalty on the eleventh route caused further frustration for what had otherwise been a superb campaign by the sand specialist. He beat his far more experienced teammate, Helder Rodrigues, and rode with an energy and consistent intelligence to also put other more grizzled rivals firmly in the shade.