After Thursday's emotional, and historic, Dakar stage win it was back down to earth with a bump - ▨literally - for former MotoGP rider Danilo Petrucci on Stage 6.

Petrucci's performance meant he set off first on Friday but faced the heavily damaged wheel tracks left by cars, SSVs and trucks that drove the sa♓me routꦰe a day earlier, creating treacherous conditions.

The competitive running was eveꦦntually halted after 101km, only a quarter o🍒f the planned stage length.

“The deterioration of the track dꦍue to the passage of cars and trucks yesterday, combined with recent torrential rains, has made the route impassওable,” announced the Dakar organisers. “The classification for the sixth stage will be established at kilometre 101."

By the time of the stoppage, Petrucc♊i was ranked in just 40th place having lost time ♉in a 'heavy crash' as he finished 12mins 44sec behind stage winner Daniel Sanders (GASGAS).

“Today was the first time in my career that I have opened a stage, and I think it was on one of the toughest stages of this year’s rally because it was used for the cars and trucks yesterday," said Petrucci, riding under the Tech3 KTM&nbs🍸p;Factory Racing banner.

"The team did a good job of wa🀅rning me about the dangers, but I was still surprised to find a big step in the middle of the track. I had quite a heavy crash and the rider behind me crashed too, but luckily, I was able to conꦜtinue.

"I think they made the right decision [to halt the Stage] and now I’m looking𒊎 forward to having one day of𓃲 rest before continuing on Sunday.”

Yamaha's Ross Branch, second to Petrucci yesterday, wasn't so fortunate - also h🍰itting a hidden 'ledge' created by the trucks, ending his rally: "Just two kilometres in I hit a ledge. I tried my best to ride it out but unfortunately I couldn’t. I guess it was the same for everyone but I wasn’t really happy about racing this stage as I know the damage that the trucks can cause. "

Petrucci is out of the overall Dakar running due to an earlier electrical problem, which meant his bike had t💜o be recovered on Stage 2.

Sam Sunౠderland (GASGAS) leads the bike category by 2m 39s from KTM's Matth🌱ias Walkner heading into the rest day.

The Saudi Arabian Dakar concludes on January 14.