• Dakar: The pilot Paulo Gonçalves dies in a "too fast" stage
  • Chronicle: The saddest victory of Carlos Sainz in the Dakar

To Fernando Alonso, like the rest of the Dakar caravan, the death of Paulo Gonçalves during the stage left him frozen. "It's the same people who are here with you competing in the race for passion, for wanting to do it right, and not only share the stage, also moments in the camp and in the meetings. It is hard to believe that these things happen, they leave you with few you want, "he said as soon as he got out of the car.

Alonso acknowledged that when a tragedy like Gonçalves occurs "it is very difficult to turn the page because it is a sport, but life is above anything, and not because it is the Dakar or a hard race you have to turn the page." "At each stage and in each test you run risks. It is a risky modality to the unknown, not only because of the terrain that you are encountering, but also because of the places you pass, which are usually inhospitable and perhaps does not have the comforts of a circuit or another more controlled modality, "he explained.

"Whatever happens at the stage there is no commissioner ten meters from you. You are aware of the danger and always try to have it under control, but in the motor world you will never be able to have it 100%," he added.

Laia Sanz: "The worst stage of my life"

The Spanish pilot Laia Sanz (KTM) was dismayed by the tragic news and acknowledged that it was "the worst stage" of her life. Laia said the Portuguese was "an example and an authentic Dakarian."

"What a hard day! The worst stage of my life. I still can't believe it. One of the best of the bivouac - camp -. An example and an authentic Dakarian. Everyone loved you, Paulo! A hug to family and friends, "he said in statements provided by one of his sponsors, Soficat Xerox.

Sanz and Gonçalves, who was currently running with Hero MotoSports, shared a team in 2015, when they both played for Team Honda HRC.

Sainz: "The stage was too fast"

Carlos Sainz (Mini) said the stage was too fast. Sainz considered that "it is a sad day for the Dakar" and said that he had "a bad taste in his mouth" to know the death of Gonçalves, even though he won his third stage in this Dakar.

"We have already seen that something serious had happened because there was a lot of activity on one site, with two helicopters. I send a big hug to Paulo's whole family," added the Madrid pilot.

Sainz commented that "the stage was very very fast, with some cordon of dunes that lowered the average" of speed, and that of not having had it, it would still have been higher. "The average speed has been too fast for my taste," he reiterated.

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