Teruel, July 21. (EFE)- The first day of the Baja Aragón 2023 left the Spanish Tosha Schareina, on motorcycles, and the Brazilian Lucas Moraes (Toyota Hilux), in cars, as provisional leaders of the general classification in a classification that had variations with respect to the first provided by the organization due to the sanction of the Swede Mattias Ekström (Audi Sport).
Moraes, who took third place in the last edition of the Dakar Rally, was the fastest to cover the 180-kilometre stage between Bañón and Cuevas Labradas and climbed to first position overall with a time of 2:12:04.
The standings have been affected by the 3-minute penalty for the Swede Mattias Ekström, which has dropped him to eleventh place to the benefit of the rest of the drivers, including Nani Roma (Ford Ranger), who has gone from sixth to fifth place, and Carlos Sáinz (Audi Sport), who has risen from twelfth to tenth place.
Only 21 seconds behind the leader is the current champion of the test, the Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota GR), at 1:51 is the Portuguese Joao Ferreira (Mini Cooper), at 2:02 is the Lithuanian Vaidotas Zala (Mini Cooper) and at 3:18 Nani Roma; while Carlos Sáinz is 10th at 8:22 and Isidre Esteve (Toyota Hilux) 16th at 11:18.
In motorcycles, Tosha Schareina (Honda CRF) has made good the forecasts that placed him as favorite after achieving victory last year, and he has won both the morning prologue stage and this afternoon’s special, for which he is at the top of the general classification with an overall time of 2:27:39.
In second position is the Spanish Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco 450), at 3:49 minutes, while the third overall is the Portuguese Rui Gonçalves (Sherco 450) at 5:26. The fourth position is occupied by the Spanish Sergi Sangrà (KTM 450) at 8:47 and fifth is the French Neels Theric (Kove Rally) at 9:15.
Two stages will be held this Saturday. The competition will begin with a 171-kilometre morning ride between Monreal del Campo and Gea de Albarracín and starting at midday the riders will have to travel 155 kilometers between Bañón and Celadas.