After two days of battling health complications, Joan Lascorz completed stage nine of the Dakar 15th on Tuesday.

The past few days have seen Lascorz continuing to compete despite suffering with a urine infection. The Spaniard repeatedly reached the end of each stage with a high fever, however, the cold and tiredness, along with his thermoregulation problems masked the real reason for the discomfort. Monday afternoon brought a clear diagnosis with the team and medication plan taking effect, enabling Lascorz to push through on the ninth stage.

Though technical, Tuesday’s shorter 287 kms special, also allowed the former Superbike rider to regain his rhythm and good feeling behind the wheel. Alongside his co-driver Miguel Puertas, the Buggy Masters Team eventually finished in 15th just 5’06 from the top ten.

With three stages left of the rally, the pair have managed to climb a further place in the overall classification, ranking ninth in SSV T4 with a 40-minute margin over the next classified.

“We have just arrived at the bivouac, the ninth stage is over, one less to go!” Lascorz said on Tuesday’s conclusion. “It’s a great achievement to be here because in the last three days I had arrived at the bivouac with over 40ºC fever and we did not know why. It turned I had a pretty ‘heavy’ urine infection. Last night I started with antibiotics, this morning I continued and it was the first day that my fever did not rise.

“Today I felt fast on the track again. I have no longer seen buggies overtaking me, because in the previous days, when I felt very sick they would overtake me and today I was the one who was overtaking. Because of the dust, we couldn’t do the time I would like, a time to be with the front pack, but I think we had that rhythm to fight with them. I think that in the two long days ahead we are going to make some good results.

“I am very happy today. I have enjoyed driving a little more and physically I have endured. We will continue fighting ... tomorrow it’s the tenth and it’s a long one!”