Petrucci smashes truck windshield and comes in sixth

After finishing the Prologue in 13th place, Italtrans' all-Italian crew - with Claudio Bellina driving for most of the special and Danilo Petrucci navigating - ended the 413 km of the first Bisha to Bisha stage in an excellent sixth position, less than half an hour from the top. The IVECO prepared by MM Technology with Prometeon tires, unlike the competition that mounts Goodyear, defended itself very well in direct confrontation with trucks of the same brand.

"At kilometer 90, Claudio was driving, and a branch broke our windshield. At kilometer 220, it finished breaking, and we removed it. From there, I drove to the end, and we recuperated six positions, traveling with a podium pace and finishing sixth," the SBK rider wrote on his Instagram page.

Setting the pace in the category was Mitchel Van den Brink on IVECO Powerstar. He was already leading the pack on Friday and, consequently, ahead of everyone in the overall standings. A great Dakar expert like Ales Loprais followed behind the 22-year-old Dutchman. Off by just 1'40 from the day's winner, the Czech charged ahead as soon as he discovered the difficulties Vaidotas Zala was having as he struggled with a puncture that cost him more than 22 minutes and a better placing than the actual fifth.

Third, on IVECO, was Martin Macik, with Martin Soltys, who returned to competition driving a Tatra Buggyra EVO3 after being forced to forfeit in 2024 due to a skiing accident.

Completing the domination of the Italian manufacturer, Richard De Groot, is the father of this Saturday's best, Martin Van den Brink and also Kees Koolen, while Maurik Van den Heuvel in a Scania Lovesar rounded out the Top 10.

Dakar 2025, Stage 1, Bisha -Bisha Ranking

1. Van den Brink Mi.-De Pol-Torrallardona Iveco Powerstar 5.11'09"
2. Loprais-Valtr jr-Stross Iveco Powerstar +1'40"
3. Macik-Svanda-Tomasek Iveco Powerstar +2'29"
4. Soltys-Miksch-Sikola Tatra Buggyra Evo 3 +8'18"
5. Zala- Van Grol-Fiuza Iveco Powerstar +22'27"
6. Bellina-Petrucci-Arnoletti Iveco Powerstar +27'55"
7. De Groot R.-Van der Vaet-Hulsebosch Iveco Powerstar +28'14"
8. Van den Brink Ma.-Van Heun-Mouw Iveco Powerstar +29'15"
9. Koolen-Kozlovsky-De Graaf Iveco Powerstar +31'56"
10. Van den Heuvel-Van Oort-Van Rooji Scania Lonestar +36'44"