Dakar Stage 14 (Closing) Riders replicate on Dakar 2023

2023 Dakar Rally – Stage 14
Al-Hofuf – Dammam (Closing)

Photos by Rally Zone

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Kevin Benavides has received the 2023 Dakar Rally, the forty fifth working of the long-lasting occasion! Simply 12-seconds separated Australia’s Toby Value and Pink Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing teammate Kevin Benavides heading into the ultimate spherical, nevertheless when the mud settled after the ultimate 136 km dash, Benavides had claimed a 43-second lead, after over 44 hours of specials raced. That hole was the narrowest successful margin ever witnessed on the Dakar.

The end result marks KTM’s nineteenth victory on the iconic rally-raid occasion and makes it two Dakar titles for Kevin Benavides – 2021 and now 2023.

The beginning order was reversed for the ultimate day of racing from Al Hofuf to Dammam, the 2 KTM 450 RALLY racers setting off proper from the again – Benavides three minutes forward of his teammate. The ultimate timed particular had been considered a comparatively easy dash to the end, the 136 km of gravel tracks, sand, and dry lake beds however threw up a substantial problem to all riders.

Kevin Benavides – P1

“It’s been an incredible day! I simply targeted on each km from the primary to the final. I didn’t take into consideration the place or the end result I simply gave my 100% over the entire stage and tried to benefit from the day. The particular was actually quick and difficult, and so muddy – fortunately I didn’t make any large errors, however it will have been simple to have a problem on the market right this moment. I’ve labored so onerous for this. This yr’s rally has been one of many closest ever and there wasn’t a single day the place you could possibly afford to ease off. I couldn’t have performed it with out the assist of my group, and all my household and associates. It’s going to take a short while to sink in, I can’t describe this sense proper now.”

Toby Value was the final rider to enter the particular, nevertheless a few points early within the stage value the Aussie the precious seconds he wanted to remain in entrance, and regardless of clawing again shut to at least one minute on the latter half of the particular, it wasn’t fairly sufficient to overtake the flying Benavides.

Toby Value – P2

“So, so shut. Yeah, an amazing job from Kevin, he did rather well right this moment. I knew it was going to be tight, and naturally I pushed proper from the beginning all via the stage. I simply missed three waypoints by nearly meters, and it dropped me again. Clearly, the objective is to win, and it’s irritating to overlook out by such a slender margin. However I’m match, wholesome, and I’m going dwelling with a trophy, in order that’s an important factor. I’m prepared for one more one subsequent yr.”

Husqvarna Manufacturing unit Racing’s Skyler Howes battled via 14 phases of intense racing to complete the 2023 Dakar Rally in a wonderful third place, together with main the race for a complete of six phases. He completed the occasion simply 1m31s off successful tempo.

In just some years, the 30-year-old has gone from promising privateer to top-three Dakar racer. His podium at this yr’s occasion added to his glorious 2022 season outcomes bode effectively for Howes as he now appears to be like forward to the remainder of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship season.

Skyler Howes – P3

“I’m so completely happy! It’s been an unimaginable race with highs and lows, and it’s come proper right down to the wire on this last day. I knew the fellows behind me could be pushing so onerous right this moment, and to enter this last day lower than two minutes behind after effectively over 40 hours of racing is unimaginable. I arrived on the end safely, and it appears like a dream come true and such an honour to share it with two legends like Toby (Value) and Kevin (Benavides). Everybody is aware of what you must undergo to get thus far, and in any case that arduous work, it makes this second really feel so candy. After all I wish to come again and see what the opposite two steps of the rostrum really feel like. However to now be certainly one of 5 People to achieve the rostrum at Dakar, it feels superb.”

The Monster Power Honda Staff completed the race with three of its 4 riders, since American and Dakar winner Ricky Brabec needed to abandon the race at stage three. Pablo Quintanilla was the quickest among the many group, with third place on this final stage (03:quarter-hour hole) – a end result that put him in fourth place total. Adrien Van Beveren was eightt (04:51 minutes hole) and completed the Dakar in fifth place.

Pablo Quintanilla – P4

“I’m fairly completely happy to have the ability to end this Dakar Rally 2023 in Saudi Arabia. After all this was not the end result we have been trying to find however the feeling is nice. I do know that I gave 100% day by day so I simply wish to say I’m grateful for all of the assist from the group and this doesn’t go solely to the Dakar – it’s a yr lengthy job. Generally you win, typically you don’t – it’s a part of the race.”

Adrien Van Beveren – P5

“It’s good to be on the end, I’ve to be completely happy even when this isn’t a dream end result. To complete the Dakar Rally is all the time a victory and now I bear in mind different instances the place I might end because of crashes after I was on the hospital trying on the different on TV. We had a very sturdy race, I’ve to keep in mind that. I can’t level out one large mistake I made, the race was a dash nearly on a regular basis.”

With three stage wins at this yr’s occasion – essentially the most of any rider at this yr’s race – Luciano Benavides loved a constructive and rewarding time on the Dakar, using largely error-free all through the 14-day occasion, the Argentine was rewarded with sixth total to equal his career-best end result from 2020.

Luciano Benavides – P6

“I’m actually, actually completely happy to achieve the end line. It’s been a loopy, powerful, and extremely rewarding Dakar and I’m simply over the moon to be right here safely after what needs to be among the finest races of my life. Due to my group for all their onerous work, and it’s due to them we completed the race actually strongly. I got here into this yr’s rally and not using a Dakar stage win, and now I’ve three. It’s actually given me motivation for the long run and I’m trying ahead to the season forward much more now.”

Pink Bull GASGAS Manufacturing unit Racing’s Daniel Sanders introduced his RX 450F dwelling safely to safe a gritty seventh place total end result, which was not a foul efficiency in any respect, particularly when you think about that Sanders underwent at least six operations within the final yr following his crash on the 2022 Dakar, in addition to getting fairly sick midway via this yr’s occasion.

Daniel Sanders – P7

“It was going to be tough right this moment to make up any time however I did what I might and simply missed out on the stage win, however total, I’m tremendous completely happy. It’s been an extended highway to get right here. After crashing right here final yr I’ve had six operations, which actually restricted my preparation, so it’s been nice to bounce again and be aggressive. It’s been an unreal expertise and hopefully subsequent yr I can are available stronger and fitter and be extra able to go. The group has been superb as all the time and I’m tremendous completely happy to be right here on the end line in a single piece.”

José Ignacio Cornejo confronted some difficulties after being trapped within the mud and ended within the thirty fourth place for the ultimate stage, however regardless of this adversity, the Chilean was in a position to safe eighth place total.

José Ignacio Cornejo – P8

“So right here we’re on the end line this yr, I’m completely happy to achieve the top of this Dakar Rally. This one was for positive one of many hardest ones I’ve ever raced. The end result was not what I anticipated, however I do know I did my finest at each stage. Now I wish to thank the group, household and my followers for all of the assist.”

Sherco Manufacturing unit racer Lorenzo Santolino completed the occasion in ninth, whereas Hero Motosports Staff Rally’s Franco Caimo rounded out the highest 10.

Lorenzo Santolino – P9

“Ninth for the Dakar Rally 2023! It hasn’t been a straightforward rally, we’ve given it our all, and we’ve managed the previous couple of days with my Sherco Racing Manufacturing unit bike to complete within the prime ten. Now trying ahead to getting dwelling to benefit from the household, to speak about how this nice Dakar has been.”

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Dakar DNF’s 2023

Sam Sunderland, the defending champion, known as it quits in stage 1. The subsequent day, it was Ricky Brabec who additionally fell, adopted by Joan Barreda in stage eight. Mason Klein, the highest rookie in Jeddah in ninth place, had seized the lead in stage 2 of this Dakar, however threw within the towel in stage 13, whereas Walkner, on the rostrum final yr, crashed on the eve of the end.

Three different works riders discovered themselves on the receiving finish of the Dakar’s ruthlessness. Hero’s Joaquim Rodrigues and Sherco’s Harith Noah have been added to the casualty record in stage 4. The Indian’s teammate, Rui Gonçalves, retired in stage six.

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Stage 14 Highlights Video

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2023 Dakar Rally Closing RallyGP Rankings

2023 Dakar Rally Stage 14 RallyGP Outcomes

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2023 Dakar Rally Schedule

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