Jamie McCanney sixth on 2020 Dakar Rally stage 11

With just one-day remaining in the 42nd running of the Dakar Rally, Monster Energy Yamaha Rally’s Jamie McCanney recorded his best result of the event so far, placing inside the top-10 in the motorcycle class aboard his WR450F rally machines.
Finishing the two-day marathon stage in style, Dakar rookie McCanney continued his good form and secured his best result of the rally to date in sixth.
Starting from the remote bivouac in Shubaytah, like all competitors McCanney competed in today’s stage on the exact same bike on which he completed stage 10. With outside assistance forbidden during the two-day marathon stage, each rider worked on their own bikes ahead of the start, riding today’s stage on the same tyres used on stage 10.
With his confidence notably boosted following his seventh-place finish on stage 10, Jamie McCanney was the seventh rider to start today’s special stage. Initially dropping a handful of positions, the Manxman improved his pace throughout the sandy stage to pass through the 271-kilometres marker in sixth.
With just one stage of the event remaining, McCanney tonight sits 15th in the provisional overall standings, and as the second-best Dakar newcomer.
McCanney heads into tomorrow’s final 374-kilometre special stage confident of a positive final result. McCanney will be hoping to improve his position in the overall standings but will need to rely on their navigation skills to ensure a good result.
“Today was everything I hoped the Dakar Rally would be – a really enjoyable stage that was slow and safe and a lot of fun,” said McCanney.
“Yesterday was a strange day but it set me up for a good day today – being closer to the front and among faster riders was cool. A few riders passed me but when Quintanilla came passed, I followed him to the finish.
“I felt like I rode well and really enjoyed the dunes. It was cool to experience a true marathon stage and to then follow it up with my best result of the rally so far. I’m looking forward to the final day now.”
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