​Emanuel Gienes (Autonet Motorcycle Team) took 39th place in the first stage of the Dakar Rally in the motorcycle class, which was held on a distance of 414 kilometers between Al-Ula and El-Khenakiyya.

Emmanuel Gienes, 39th in the first stage of the Dakar Rally.

“Mani” finished in five hours 59 minutes 23 seconds.

American Ricky Braback won the stage, followed by his compatriot Mason Klein and South African Bradley Cox.

The second stage will be held on Sunday between Al Henakiya and Al Duwadimi at a distance of 463 kilometers.

At the Dakar rally, a car hit a spectator

A spectator was hit by a racing car at the start of the first stage of the Dakar on Saturday in Al-Ula, Saudi Arabia, and was taken to hospital, organizers announced, postponing the start of the rally in the car class, writes News.ro.

“The start of the first car, originally scheduled for 10:15, was postponed to 11:15 (local time) due to an incident with a spectator about 200 meters after the starting line. The injured spectator was taken by the medical service and taken to the nearest hospital,” said the organizer of the ASO rally.

The stage was also marked by falls in the motorcycle class. Joaquim Rodriguez fell after 82 kilometers of the special section. The Portuguese pilot from the Hero team was conscious when the medical team arrived, who suspected a fracture. He is in a stable condition and was also airlifted to a hospital in Al-Ula.

The winner of Friday’s moto prologue, Tosha Sharein, was eliminated. The 28-year-old Spaniard, who finished 13th last year and was competing in his third Dakar, fell at kilometer 240 and suffered a fractured forearm, organizers said.