Brabec wins Dakar Stage 1 | Worth P3 & Sanders P5

2023 Dakar Rally – Stage 1
Sea Camp – Sea Camp

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It was a great begin to the 2023 Dakar Rally for Monster Vitality Honda Staff’s Ricky Brabec who inherited the Stage win after Aussie Daniel Sanders was hit with a two minute penalty for dashing, knocking him down the opening stage rankings.

Fellow Australian Toby Worth put in a robust efficiency to kick off his Dakar within the first full stage, after claiming the Prologue win by a second from Sanders yesterday, heading into Stage 2 in third, behind second-placed Kevin Benavides.

Stage one on the Dakar Rally 2023 introduced 369 kilometers of particular motion all through sandy and stony tracks, with begin level and arrival on the Sea Camp bivouac – near Yanbu (South Arabia).

Joan Barreda leaves Stage 1 in fourth after additionally receiving a penalty – one-minute, with Sanders fifth as a result of his two-minute penalty, Sanders demonstrating he’s comfy working a number one tempo.

It was disappointment for fellow GASGAS rider Sam Sunderland, whose race got here to a untimely and irritating finish, the Brit crashing simply 52 kilometers into stage one.

Main the particular briefly earlier than the incident, the Pink Bull GASGAS Manufacturing facility Racing star was airlifted to hospital in Yanbu the place he was recognized with a damaged shoulder blade. Again ache after the crash necessitated the airlift out.

Sam Sunderland – Withdrawn

“Thanks for all the sort messages, I’m kind of okay, a damaged shoulder blade, huge hematoma on my again and a concussion, I really feel fairly embarrassed to be laid right here typing this out, being out of Dakar on day one is a troublesome tablet to swallow, I need to first categorical my disappointment for my group who’ve labored so laborious to offer me the instruments to defend this #1 and deserve way more, additionally to my companions that help me. These moments are what make the victories so particular, I felt actually good this morning and was main for the quick a part of the stage I rode then I’ve missed a stone below the sand in a river mattress and had a reasonably violent crash. Thanks Matthias Walkner for stopping to assist me and to the Dakar Rally medical crew for ensuring I used to be protected. I’ll attempt to be taught from this and I hope my teammates can convey dwelling the consequence the group deserve. Thanks.”

Outdoors the top-five the rankings heading into Stage 2 see Mason Klein in sixth, adopted by Pablo Quintanilla, Adrien Van Beveren, Skyler Howes and Matthias Walkner.

Ricky Brabec – P1

“Objective primary was to not open the stage. I really feel fairly effectively and assured after at this time, however I’ll simply attempt to go daily, maintain tempo and keep within the Prime 10. It’s going to be laborious to be out of the lead – like we noticed at this time – however we now have to see the way it goes till the remaining day. Right this moment was pretty easy, no stress, it was an important day!”

Kevin Benavides – P2

“I had a great day at this time – it’s all the time encouraging to begin the rally with a robust consequence. It felt like a really lengthy day, however I believe day-after-day main as much as the remaining day can be related. I’m proud of my consequence, I got here second, however lower than a minute or so behind the stage winner. It doesn’t give me the most effective begin place for tomorrow, however I’ll goal to chase down the man forward. Total, I’m blissful to get the rally underway and looking out ahead to the remainder of the race.”

Toby Worth – P3

“Stage one has gone okay for me. I noticed Sam (Sunderland) had crashed out at round kilometer 70, and it’s by no means good to see one in every of your mates go down like that. After that I simply centered on my highway ebook and made certain I didn’t make any huge errors on the way in which to the end. It’s an extended race and we now have a really lengthy approach to go. My aim proper now’s to say protected and constant.”

Daniel Sanders – P5

“It’s been an extended previous 12 months since I’ve raced and it was nice to be again on the market at this time. Early on I caught as much as Kevin Benavides and for a lot of the stage we simply rode collectively, clicking off the kilometers. I actually loved the terrain. It was my first correct stage on the brand new technology bike, so every part was fairly new for me at this time and it was nice to get a good stage end in early. I’m so pumped to be again right here on the Dakar and I’m wanting ahead to taking every day because it comes.”

Pablo Quintanilla – P7

“We have now began the morning with quick valleys and river beds with many stones, so the primary part was fairly difficult. I loved the second half, after the primary neutralization the place we had sooner tracks and sand within the open desert. I felt good, fairly quick and with a great rhythm.”

Adrien Van Beveren – P8

“In the beginning of the stage I used to be struggling to take a look at the stones type of hidden within the sand. Within the second a part of the stage I used to be actually higher – I’m proud of my efficiency and need to maintain using this manner alongside the rally.”

Skyler Howes – P9

“Actually, I used to be fairly nervous heading into stage one at this time. You spend the entire 12 months making ready for this occasion, and beginning out at this time, I had loads of butterflies. It was a bit of traumatic at first as a result of I knew I might be proper close to the entrance, however the rider forward did an important job of opening the stage, so I used to be capable of calm down a bit of. I made a few small errors with my navigation, however aside from that, the day went rather well. The Dakar is all about managing no matter is thrown at you and so I’m proud of how the race has began – the bike feels nice, I’ve a great begin place for tomorrow and I’m excited to proceed.”

Matthias Walkner – P10

“That was a very powerful stage, particularly as I haven’t raced for such a very long time. My day didn’t have an important begin both after discovering Sam (Sunderland) crashed in one of many extraordinarily rocky river sections. It’s by no means good to see a buddy in a scenario like that. I stayed with Sam till the medics arrived and after that I used to be simply on the market alone. It was tough to gauge my tempo and so I aimed for a great strong end. The bike is working rather well, I simply must proceed doing my finest and taking every day because it comes.”

Luciano Benavides – P14

“Day one has not been the most effective for me. Issues have been going effectively, and I used to be feeling good on the bike, however round kilometre 55 I made a small mistake and missed one piste. That ended up in me circling round to seek out my method once more. Sadly, it meant I misplaced virtually 10 minutes and needed to discover my focus once more. I managed to up my tempo on the second half of the stage and get a while again. However as we all know at Dakar, it’s a really lengthy race and this stuff occur. Fortunately, to take some positives from the day, the bike carried out rather well, and I felt comfy pushing laborious. We’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

José Ignacio Cornejo – P15

“Right this moment was a day that might have gone actually unhealthy, as a result of I needed to open the stage. I did my finest and ultimately the result was nice. I appreciated the navigation, I used to be not too assured as a result of if you end up you can also make errors – in order that was a great spirit and approach to face these circumstances.”

The second stage from this 12 months’s Dakar Rally will go away the Sea Camp within the route of Al-Ula. This particular stage can have 430 kilometers of closed tracks demanding nice dealing with expertise, so riders will get primarily dust tracks (59%), stones (26%) and just a bit style of sand (14% sand tracks and one % of dunes).

Apart from this aggressive part, there may be additionally one other 159 kilometers of liaison. Navigation can be key as individuals attain the sumptuous canyons and exquisite landscapes close to the end.

In line with the ASO organisation, the stage can be selected the dunes, with a number of the majestic Nabataean temples seen on the panorama.

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2023 Dakar Rally Stage 1 Total Rankings

2023 Dakar Rally Stage 1 Provisional Outcome

 

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2023 Dakar Rally Schedule

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