Reigning champ Toby Price is out of Dakar

MASSIVE CRASH BEFORE THE END OF STAGE 4 HAS LAST YEAR'S WINNER TOBY AIRLIFTED BY MEDICAL TEAM

Dakar can be unpredictable in the most extreme way. After securing a fourth place yesterday, Toby Price (KTM)was leading today’s stage when he crashed 50 kilometres before the finish. Toby sustained a fracture in his left femur bone and had to be airlifted by medical personnel to the closest hospital. The crash ends all hopes of winning the Dakar for the champ and paves the way for Joan Barreda who was twenty minutes ahead of the rest. Joan comfortably won the stage but was penalised a 1hr 1min which pushed him to seventh place. This penalty was levied an all Honda riders Michael Metge, Ricky Brabec and Paulo Goncalves as they have refuelled in a prohibited zone in the stage. The end section of Stage 4 also meant doom for Alessandro Botturi (Yamaha) who fell 30km before the finish and sustained minor head injuries but couldn't finish the race.

Today’s stage is a 512km long one starting from Salvador De Jujuy to Tupiza. The timed 416km stage will take the riders out of Argentina and have them climbing up through the Bolivian Andes, The competitors will also have to tackle sand dunes and river crossings at this stage.

Matthias Walkner (KTM) won the stage but was penalised five minutes effectively handing over first place to Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna). Sven Svitko (KTM) and Sam Sunderland (KTM) rounded up the top five.

The Stage was a tough one for Sherco TVS rider Joan Pedrero who had bike problem and had to be towed by fellow team mate Adrien Metge across the finish line. Metge finished in 39th position while Pedrero finished in 63rd position followed by CS Santosh (Hero Speedbrain) in 64th place. His teammate Joaquim Rodrigues did well and finished todays stage in 12th place.