The sunset is enchanting. The photographers wait patiently for the right moment when the sky turns orange, with the Red Sea on one side, the desert on the other, and the Dakar field in the middle between natural lights and shadows.
The show invites you to leave for a moment the needs of an adventure that does not allow you to leave anything to chance to contemplate a unique sky here in the Middle East. As soon as you look down, the relentless pace of the Dakar continues its march. Each team is gearing up ahead of the vertigo and action to kick off next Saturday when Dakar 2023 officially kicks off.
Between 3000 people that make up this traveling city, is Juan Manuel Silva, the ‘Duck’the champion of many categories in Argentina, who maintains his “love story” with the Dakar, in which he participates in a category that can accelerate.
In the last edition, the driver from Chaco addressed the problems faced by a Dakar aboard a truck. And this time, through the Puma Energy Rally Team, he has called on his old relationship with the light vehiclesand was placed in the T4 category.
“It is my thirteenth Dakar, the fourth in Saudi Arabia. In this case I’m in a Sude by Side, category where I worked as a navigator. And now I’m in command of this vehicle. I feel very comfortable in this team”commented a clarion in the Yanbu field.
“We have to go slowly. I have a French co-driver. Let’s hope we don’t discuss football and that it takes me on the right track,” joked Silva, to the laughter of his navigator.
“We will get to know each other and know the limitations of the vehicle. These cars have developed a lot since I’ve been racing,” Silva warned in his dialogue with clarion at Yanbu Marine Camp.
“My goal is to have a good race and be a protagonist. Obviously I have a structure that allows me to dream of being far ahead. It won’t be easy to be in the top 10 group, but we aim to be as high up as possible,” commented Silva.
At Ezeiza airport, Pato Silva experienced a very particular moment. While embarking for Spain, the first stop to reach Saudi Arabia, he met the technical director of the Argentina national team Lionel Scaloni.
“I found it at the airport and it was a great satisfaction for me. I wanted to make it happen and express my gratitude and admiration to him for the great work he has done. And ask him to pass me some of his magic. Seriously speaking, he has built a great team and a great group.”he remembered.
The Chaco rider was surprised when he met the world champion trainer: “When I went to say hello to him I waited for him because obviously there were people who wanted to say hello to him, I approached him and without introducing me he said to me ‘Pato, look where I’ve come to meet you’. For me it was a big surprise and I understood that he is a big fan of motorsports, a fan of Ford and he knew me. He really filled my soul.”.
All ready to face a new challenge. El Pato Silva, a historical Dakar, the great adventure which presents problems, hardships and extreme challenges, but which traps each of the components of an extreme and captivating activity.
The first Argentine victim
Although the Dakar 2023 has not started, there are already some news. In fact, an Argentinian driver will not be able to be present due to a health problem.
The pilot of Río Cuarto, Córdoba, Julius Caesar Estanguethe suffered a thrombosis in his right leg on the flight to Saudi Arabia, and after being treated and evaluated by local professionals, he was told by the Dakar Medical Board that he must continue to rest for five days, so he will not be able to be in 31 December for the start of the race.
On the last night, her health had improved. With medical attention, the swelling in his right leg subsided. However, the severity of the diagnosis calls for caution.
“I never imagined I’d find myself in this situation. We had prepared ourselves physically, mentally and logistically for what would have been my last quad race”said the pilot. “I’m sorry for myself, for my team here, my family, friends and sponsors, and also for everyone who supports me through this.”
He also added: “Today is a very sad day for me, but I thank you all for the support given at this time,” said the pilot.
The doctors, for their part, told him to wait a few weeks before resuming his flight.
The rapid evolution of his inflammation and the improvement in these hours encourages the rider to at least be able to be in the fields of the Dakar during his recovery and experience this edition of the most difficult race in the world up close.
Yanbu, Saudi Arabia. Special for Clarion.
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.