Dakar Stage 11 (Thursday) overview, outcomes and one other new race chief

2023 Dakar Rally – Stage 11
Shaybah – Empty Quarter Marathon

Photos by Rally Zone

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Thursday’s Stage 11 of the 2023 Dakar Rally noticed Luciano Benavides win the day forward of Aussies Daniel Sanders and Toby Worth.

Riders competed the primary of two marathon levels on Thursday, protecting a 273 km selective part with 151 km of liaison, primarily throughout dunes.

Rivals could have zero exterior mechanical help tonight earlier than Friday’s Stage 12 that sees one other dune battle over 185 km heading to the bivouac at Shaybah.

Because the twelfth rider into the 274-km timed particular, Sanders benefitted from chasing the main riders, advancing to seventh within the provisional standings on the again of being second quickest on Thursday.

Daniel Sanders – P2

“As we speak wasn’t too dangerous. It took a short while for me to rise up to hurry after which at round km 40 there was a tough notice within the roadbook. I slowed up a little bit to verify I used to be on course after which pushed on to refuelling. After that I rode with Luciano Benavides for the remainder of the stage which was good, and it was a very good gauge of figuring out the pace up entrance. Second’s respectable sufficient forward of tomorrow’s shorter stage. I’ve simply checked the bike over, all of the fluids and all the pieces, and it’s in nice form so I’m wanting ahead to getting again on the market tomorrow.”

Toby Worth was the nineteenth rider to enter at this time’s particular, making regular progress, in the end posting the third-fastest time for the stage, just below two-minutes down on the chief, bumping Worth again as much as second total within the provisional standings.

Toby Worth – P3

“I feel the stage went nicely for me at this time, I used to be capable of get a little bit little bit of time again and that places me in good rivalry for the rostrum locations nonetheless. I’m feeling in fine condition and the bike is ideal, so no points there. Beginning again a little bit bit undoubtedly helped at this time. I did make a little bit mistake early on, like a few the blokes in entrance I feel, however was capable of right it fairly shortly and keep on. I simply took it fairly regular at this time – pushed the place it was secure to take action after which eased off a bit to verify I didn’t make any errors. I’ll be third away for tomorrow, which isn’t too dangerous, so I’ll carry on combating and see the place we find yourself.”

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On a massively profitable day 11 within the Saudi desert for Husqvarna Manufacturing facility Racing, Luciano Benavides has claimed his third stage win of the occasion. Crew-mate Skyler Howes rode to a formidable fourth, making for 2 Husqvarna Manufacturing facility Racing riders within the prime 4.

Luciano Benavides – P1

“It was a very, very nice stage. I loved racing by means of the dunes and was capable of make up good time, too. There was a wide selection at this time, a number of the dunes had been actually large and in between the bottom was very onerous to guage as nicely, with plenty of softer areas that would catch you out. The navigation was not too troublesome at this time, the problem got here from looking for the quickest line by means of the dunes. I did a very good job and was capable of make up some extra time, which is nice. I’m main out once more tomorrow and I’m actually wanting ahead to the problem.”

Skyler Howes – P4

“It was a very quick stage at this time with plenty of dunes – plenty of large dunes! I discovered a very good rhythm on the market and was making good progress. I did get caught within the mushy sand on a few dunes and needed to flip round to assault these once more. There was one waypoint that I needed to circle round to get correctly as nicely. The bike is in nice situation, which is nice for the marathon stage, I simply want to remain targeted as a result of the occasions within the standings are actually shut. I feel it’s going to be like this all the best way to the end, which makes it fairly thrilling.”

The very best Monster Power Honda Crew rider was Pablo Quintanilla, fifth, 2min54s off the tempo.

Pablo Quintanilla – P5

“It was not a simple day, the sand was too mushy and typically it was onerous to climb the dunes. Anyway I used to be at a very good tempo and I feel I did a very good stage. The primary a part of the marathon stage is finished and my Honda CRF 450 Rally is with none injury, so I’m able to proceed tomorrow.”

Sebastian Buhler was sixth for the day, simply over five-minutes off the lead, adopted by Romain Dumontier, Lorenzo Santolino and Franco Caimi.

In distinction to his team-mate Toby Worth, Kevin Benavides set off close to the entrance of at this time’s stage, and with little in the best way of tracks forward of him, the Argentinian needed to fastidiously navigate his approach by means of the dunes of the particular however nonetheless managed to complete tenth on Thursday’s stage.

Kevin Benavides – P10

“One other robust day and the primary a part of the marathon stage at this time. I began in fourth place and tried to push right away. I did a very good job, I caught the blokes in entrance after refuelling, and from there we rode collectively for the final 80 km or so. The bike is all prepared within the parc fermé and I’ve a very good begin place for tomorrow, so it’s only a case of making an attempt to make up time and keep within the struggle.”

Daniel Jager was eleventh, Tosha Schareina twelfth and Matthias Walkner was thirteenth for the stage.

Matthias Walkner – P13

“I had a very good stage at this time. It was good enjoyable driving within the Empty Quarter for the second day and it definitely lived as much as its identify as there was nothing to see for miles round. I made a little bit of a mistake early on that value me some minutes, however then I managed to get caught in a pocket of soppy sand that took a short while to get out of. There is no such thing as a distinction in any respect within the desert and also you by no means know when one thing like this can occur. I pushed onerous after refueling to make up time, and that was nice enjoyable leaping off the dunes. It actually was an exquisite stage. I’ve a very good begin place for tomorrow, so I’ll intention for a top-three end.”

José Ignacio Cornejo completed the day in 14th, with team-mate Adrien Van Beveren seventeenth, +8m36s and +9m10s off the stage’s main tempo.

José Ignacio Cornejo – P14

“I made some navigation errors and misplaced round eight minutes. I’m not pleased about that, however that’s what it’s. I’ll keep targeted on climbing on the general standings and preserve combating till the top. That is Dakar and I’ve to keep up my aim.”

Adrien Van Beveren – P17

“It was a very good day, I caught Ross at km 40 then I opened nearly all of the stage. I really feel good and I really feel quick on this terrain however whenever you open you at all times lose time. For positive I’m doing my greatest daily and each minute and we’ll see the way it goes.”

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Rankings after Dakar Stage 11

Skyler Howes has moved into the general lead after the provisional Stage 11 outcomes, with Toby Worth shifting as much as second outright and solely 28s off the lead. Wednesday’s chief Kevin Benavides dropped to 3rd, trailing by 2m44s.

Pablo Quintanilla now sits a extra distant fourth (+14m14s), Adrien Van Beveren fifth (15m24s), Luciano Benavides sixth (18m06s) and Daniel Sanders has moved up seventh from ninth (+21m04s).

Jose Cornejo, Mason Klein and Matthias Walker spherical on the top-10, with Walkner 44m45s off the lead.

Stage 12 Route

The second a part of the marathon stage will happen on Friday with the return to Shaybah on stage 12. Alongside the 185 km of this selective part (added by a liaison of 188 km) there can be a give attention to the tactical acumen of the riders. With simply three days to go on this Dakar Rally 2023 it’s definitely time to assault in each dune!

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Stage 11 Highlights Video

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2023 Dakar Rally Stage Outcomes (Provisional)

2023 Dakar Rally Total After Stage 11 (Provisional)

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2023 Dakar Rally Schedule

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