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29 seconds in the past | Phrases: Andy Wigan | Images: Husqvarna Bikes
After Husqvarna’s Luciano Benavides received three of the 2023 Dakar Rally’s 14 phases again in January (probably the most of any rider and the primary of his profession!), you bought the sense that the likeable Argentinean had lastly emerged from the shadow of his KTM-mounted brother, Kevin, who was topped Dakar champion in each 2021 and 2023. And positive sufficient, after a calculated second-place end (to Australia’s Toby Value) in Morocco’s Rallye du Maroc, Luciano Benavides has held on by simply 4 factors over the rampaging Value to clinch the 2023 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). Right here’s the PR from Benavides’ Husqvarna workforce, which displays on the gruelling five-round 2023 W2RC collection…
Opening the fifth and last stage of the 2023 Rallye du Maroc, Luciano Benavides delivered one other spectacular efficiency, finishing the quick, 157km timed particular as second quickest. The stage outcome confirmed Luciano as runner-up for the occasion and in flip, the 28-year-old secured the world championship crown.
2023 has been an distinctive 12 months for Benavides. Taking three stage wins on the Dakar Rally, Luciano went on to equal his career-best results of sixth. Runner-up on the Abu Dhabi Desert Problem in early March, he then went on to safe additional podium finishes on the Sonora Rally in Mexico and his dwelling race, the Desafio Ruta 40. In complete, Luciano has claimed a powerful 10 stage wins over the course of the five-round season.
Coming into the fifth and last spherical of the 2023 collection, Benavides loved a nine-point benefit on the prime of the standings over rival, Toby Value. If Value was to win in Morocco, a third-place end or larger could be sufficient for Luciano to safe the championship. The battle went all the way down to the final day, however Luciano held his nerve to ship a real champion’s efficiency whereas opening the ultimate stage, securing second Total within the race and claiming the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship title.
Luciano Benavides: “It’s a dream come true for me! It’s been a protracted journey to get up to now from ending my first rally right here in Morocco in 2017. To complete like this in opposition to Toby on the final day of the rally whereas opening the stage is unimaginable. I can’t thank the workforce sufficient for all of the laborious work and their perception in me. At this time was loopy! The navigation for this stage was tough. I did get misplaced at some factors, however I managed to get again on monitor rapidly and make up time. I beloved opening the stage on the dunes and I knew that I needed to get forward because the others could be catching me up. Lastly, I’ve received my first World Championship! Ready for affirmation of the championship once I completed was tense – 40 minutes felt like 4 hours, however I knew I gave my greatest at present as there was no different possibility. It was actually particular to start out first as a result of I may simply look ahead and get on with it, and nobody caught me, so I completed first too. I need to rejoice and revel in this sense for some time as a result of though it’s wonderful, it’s been a troublesome season and I’ve skilled laborious, so I need to relaxation for per week or two. After that, it’s full fuel once more as a result of I need to maintain the identical rhythm and tempo for Dakar because it’s one other dream for me to win.”
Andreas Hölzl – Rally Group Supervisor: “We’re tremendous, tremendous completely satisfied for Luciano to be topped world champion. It’s nice for a new-generation rider to ship such a constant and profitable season and to be rewarded along with his first world title. The battle right here in Morocco actually went all the way down to the wire, however he was in a position to keep his pace and didn’t falter below stress. The entire workforce have completed an unimaginable job all season and I feel we’ve got a very good set-up as we now sit up for the Dakar.”
Luciano and the Husqvarna Manufacturing facility Racing workforce will subsequent change their focus to the upcoming Dakar Rally, held in Saudi Arabia from January 5-19, 2024.
2023 RALLYE DU MAROC – OVERALL CLASSIFICATION
1. Toby Value (KTM) – 15:56:43
2. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) – 15:59:43
3. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) – 15:59:55
4. Ross Department (Hero) – 16:01:27
5. Tosha Schareina (Honda) – 16:05:23
6. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) – 16:09:42
2023 FIM W2RC – FINAL STANDINGS
1. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) – 100 factors
2. Toby Value (KTM) – 96 factors
3. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) – 76 factors
4. Ross Department (Hero) 58 factors
5. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) – 55 factors
6. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) – 52 factors
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