The 813km fourth stage from Wadi Ad-Dawasir featured long winding tracks all the way to the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh.

After a tough third stage Burgess was pleased to be feeling better and back on two wheels.

"We had a long liaison to start the day (476 km) and many of the riders missed a turn so I ended up riding with Pablo Quintanilla (CHL) for part of it," Burgess said.

"The stage was quite fast and I knew the boys in front of me would pull away and that's exactly what happened.

"That was no problem as now it was just myself and a roadbook.

"The wind was bad so there was no clear tracks to follow so I really had to use my roadbook."

Burgess then made a routine stop for petrol and a quick chat with fellow Dakar riders.

"I rolled into the first fuel stop and had a chat with another racer, but this time it felt different," Burgess said.

"He had pulled three minutes on me and passed two riders.

"As he lined up to take off he came over and said 'be safe' we punched fists and off he went."

After a quick rest Burgess was back on two wheels powering towards Riyadh.

However, after around 10km in Burgess came across a scene "no one wants to see".

RELATED: Rider flown to hospital after Dakar crash

CS Santosh (IND) was airlifted to hospital in Riyadh after a crash during the fourth stage.

The 37-year-old who has completed three Dakar rallies before is reported to have suffered an impact to the head and is in a stable condition under observation.

Burgess then powered on with the rest of the stage.

"My thoughts weren't really with where I was at but I got the job done and that's it," he said.

"In the five days I've experienced most elements of Dakar and it's a rude shock to how harsh it really can be.

"Sure, there is a good side to it for sure.

"But days like this make you want to be beside your family."

Burgess finished the fourth stage in 34^th position (03H 18' 37''+ 00H 31' 47'') and is now 38^th in the overall standings (17H 40' 23''+ 02H 39' 58''00H 10' 00'')

Xavier De Soultrait (FRA) is the current overall leaders in the bikes class.

The competitors are now preparing for the 624km 5^th stage from Riyadh to Al Qaisumah.

This leg of the 2021 rally is said to be the toughest and will include plenty of dunes and tracks littered with stones.

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