Branch leads rookies at Dakar Rally

Local biker, Ross Branch is having a dream debut at the Dakar Rally as he leads the rookies, and sits in 18th spot overall, after stage seven. He leads this year's rookies with German, Sebastian Buhler and Antonio Miao of Portugal in second and third. The duo is in overall position 20 and 21, respectively. Branch finished the 387km stage in 04:16:19 hours, 24:38 minutes behind overall leader, Sam Sunderland. The defending champion finished in a time of 3:51:41 hours while South Africans, Kenneth Gilbert and Stuart Gregory are in 29th and 78th positions respectively.