Harith Noah has finished P20 in the overall rankings at the 2021 Dakar. This is the highest-rated finish ever for an Indian rider at the toughest race in the world. The TVS Racing-sponsored privateer had been consistently in the top 25 since proceedings reopened post the rest day at Ha’il, and his P20 finish in the ultimate stage (P19 in the Stage 12 rankings) comes off the strong placing he secured yesterday, where he closed at P22 in the overall standings (despite losing time due a navigation error as well as inadvertently riding slow in a speed zone that wasn’t showing on his roadbook).
The 2021 Dakar rally has been full of twists and turns, whether it is Ashish Raorane’s maiden Malle Moto attempt coming to an abrupt end (and his subsequent entry into the Dakar Experience class), or C S Santosh’s crash, due to which the Hero MotoSports Team Rally rider is still in critical condition. Therefore, this marvellous finish to his second Dakar outing is exactly the element that Indian motorsport enthusiasts crave!