Toby Worth P3 at Dakar Stage 6 | Sanders again in top-10

2023 Dakar Rally – Stage 6
Ha’il – Al Duwadimi

Photos Rally Zone

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Stage Six of the 2023 Dakar Rally noticed heavy rain trigger riders to be rerouted to Riyadh, with the timed particular shortened to 358 km, with complete distance coated being 768 km, about 100 km lower than initially deliberate. Dunes and sandy tracks had been the principle terrain that noticed Toby Worth end third behind the Husqvarna duo of Luciano Benavides and Skyler Howes.

Organisers have additionally now confirmed the Stage Seven particular has been cancelled for bikes and quads as they had been unable to finish set up of the bivouac at Al Duwadimi as a result of climate, additionally citing rider fatigue as an excuse.

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Worth set about chasing down the 2 riders forward of him proper from the beginning of the day’s particular. With the instances among the many entrance runners proving to be particularly shut they navigated their approach by means of the damp dunes of the stage, Worth discovered himself dropping a number of positions as he targeted on his navigation close to the entrance. After the refuelling nevertheless, the Australian pushed on and moved again up the leaderboard to in the end full the stage third.

Toby Worth – P3

“That’s one other day ticked off – it has definitely been an extended one! I had that crash yesterday, so I’ve been a bit of bit sore on my again and took it a contact simpler right now. However all in all, the whole lot goes properly up to now. We’ve obtained the marathon stage tomorrow, so that’s at all times a giant check to take care of your self and the bike. Hopefully it’s not as chilly because it has been over the previous few days, however we’ll do our greatest, get by means of it as at all times, and maintain having enjoyable.”

For fellow Australian Daniel Sanders, power ranges had been slowly recovering after being struck with sickness earlier than Stage 5, and he made it recognized right now that he’s not out of the operating within the race for victory on the 2023 Dakar Rally.

Clocking in because the seventh-fastest rider on right now’s stage six, simply three minutes behind the stage winner, it was an ideal execution of injury limitation by the Crimson Bull GASGAS Manufacturing facility Racing star who stays eighth within the provisional standings.

Daniel Sanders – P6

“Hopefully, I can recover from this within the subsequent couple of days. I’m so sick. It was only a powerful day within the dunes and I’m fortunate it was smoother than yesterday. I attempted to get well final evening as a lot as I may. I simply just about obtained again to the camper and jumped straight into mattress, then slept till this morning after I wakened. I didn’t eat any meals final evening and I solely had a small little bit of breakfast this morning, so it was a troublesome day. However, I simply saved pushing on and made it to the end. I form of felt unhealthy the day earlier than and the opposite evening it simply hit me. I don’t know what it’s. I’ll simply return and recharge once more. It could possibly be meals poisoning or perhaps the thorn I’ve obtained caught in my arm. I feel I’m going to have it minimize out tonight in case it’s poisoning me. We’ll take it out after which solely different factor it may be is meals poisoning, or I obtained some filth or soiled water in my mouth through the race, I’m undecided. It’s a little bit of a bummer, however we’ve obtained an extended race to go. Hopefully, I can recover from this within the subsequent couple of days and are available good for the end.”

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The day was a particularly profitable one within the Saudi desert for Husqvarna Manufacturing facility Racing, Luciano Benavides posted the quickest time on Friday’s 358-kilometre timed particular to earn his first ever Dakar Rally stage win. Ending as runner-up to his teammate, Skyler Howes elevated his lead within the provisional total standings by means of right now’s dunes.

Luciano Benavides’ willpower has paid off with a stage win on the Dakar. Setting off because the twelfth rider into the particular gave the Argentinian the proper alternative to make up time on his rivals forward, and that’s precisely what he did.

Luciano Benavides – P1

“I really feel superb, to take my first stage win on the Dakar means rather a lot to me. It’s a very big day. I knew it could be actually tight right now, so I pushed rather a lot, proper from the beginning. The whole lot went properly, I gave my all, and I used to be in a position to submit the quickest time. It means I’m opening tomorrow’s stage however I’m wanting ahead to it.”

Having fun with the stage and placing in one other robust efficiency, Skyler Howes demonstrated why he at present sits high of the overall rankings. The American navigated his approach by means of the tracks and dunes of the stage to complete slightly below one minute wanting the hard-charging Benavides.

Skyler Howes – P2

“I actually loved right now. The stage was truly actually good enjoyable because the dunes had loads of traction and you may soar off the highest of every one. I knew with the stage being a bit of shorter that instances could be tight, however I simply approached it like each day – do my finest, attempt to minimise any errors, and attempt to stick with a superb, strong tempo. The truth that I’m main the race wasn’t actually on my thoughts, there’s nonetheless alongside approach to go but. It’s been an extended day, with a variety of seat time because of the liaisons, however I really feel good, the bike is performing nice and I’m prepared for the primary half of the marathon stage tomorrow.”

Joan Barreda completed the day in fourth, behind Toby Worth, recovering from his crash, that additionally caught up the Aussie.

The day began otherwise for Kevin Benavides. Third-quickest by means of the primary 100 kilometers, the 2021 Dakar champion dropped a bit of time following a small mistake halfway by means of the particular. Regrouping, Kevin clawed a few of that point again to finish the demanding particular in fifth place. Benavides’ consistency is paying off, ending no decrease than eighth up to now on the 2023 occasion.

Kevin Benavides – P5

“One other lengthy day and one other day of making an attempt my finest on the market. The extent is so excessive proper now so you may barely afford to lose time or ease off on any of the levels. The instances are so shut, however we’re nonetheless early within the race and there’s a actually lengthy approach to go. I’ll try to sustain this tempo and keep constant and hopefully nearer the top, I’ll nonetheless be properly within the struggle for the highest locations.”

Pablo Quintanilla was the quickest Monster Vitality Honda Workforce rider on the chronograph, with a sixth place (2:52s hole).

Pablo Quintanilla – P6

“It was one other very long and hard day, fairly much like what we’ve got confronted yesterday and the day earlier than. Dunes, sandy, piste, vegetation and a few difficult factors for navigation. It was tough for the physique and in addition for the machine. I felt good and will trip all day in a superb rhythm, using alone. So I’ll maintain targeted alone race and do my finest.”

José Ignacio Cornejo was opening the monitor (after he completed second yesterday) and was eighth (3:15s hole) for the day, behind Daniel Sanders.

José Ignacio Cornejo – P8

“At the moment was fairly an journey! We had been opening the monitor and I feel we did an awesome job. We end in a superb place for tomorrow and I’m glad I may face this intense 12 hours in my Honda CRF 450 Rally and be again protected on the bivouac”.

Fortunately regaining his power every day following the crash that injured his wrist on stage two, Matthias Walkner continues to place in strong rides to remain in competition. Delivering one other top-10 outcome on right now’s particular, the Austrian star minimized the time misplaced to the leaders and at present lies simply exterior the highest 10 total in eleventh.

Matthias Walkner – P10

“My wrist is getting higher and higher, which is an enormous aid. However the tempo is so quick proper now, each day I’m giving my all and it’s an actual problem. The Dakar is so unpredictable, and we all know something can occur, you simply should try to be ready as finest as you may when these issues occur. We’re heading into the marathon stage tomorrow, which is at all times a giant check of the rider and their bikes, so I’ll strive my finest as at all times and hopefully we gained’t have any issues.”

Adrien Van Beveren needed to open the monitor after his earlier stage win and had an everyday day, ending eleventh, 4m22s off the lead.

Adrien Van Beveren – P11

“Contemplating that I needed to open the stage, I’m very completely satisfied. It was a superb day. I used to be opening nearly 200 kilometers after which I made a bit of mistake, however was ready to return and proceed at a superb tempo till the top”.

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Rally GP Rankings after Dakar Stage 6

Skyler Howes leads the Dakar Rally 2023 following Stage Six, 3m31s away from Toby Worth, with third positioned Kevin Benavides 7m01s off the general lead. Joan Barreda and Adrien Van Beveren rounded out the highest 5, 10m57s and 12m20s in arrears respectively.

Pablo Quintanilla and Mason Klein had been sixth and seventh, whereas Daniel Sanders is now eighth, Luciano Benavides and Jose Cornejo the ultimate riders within the top-10, which covers a 24m23s hole from first by means of tenth.

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Stage 6 Highlights Video

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Stage 7 Route

The Dakar Rally have introduced that the Stage 7 particular has been cancelled for bikes and quads on Twitter:

🏍❌ BIKE RACE: STAGE 7 CANCELLED ❌🏍

Confronted with the climate issues skilled once more right now and the extent of tiredness noticed amongst all of the riders within the class, the Dakar organizers have determined to cancel the particular for stage seven between Riyadh and Al Duwadimi.

👇➕ pic.twitter.com/m9LeOJpPCU

— DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 6, 2023

Stage Seven would have marked the primary half of the occasion’s marathon stage. The bikes and quads have as a substitute been invited to depart the bivouac in Riyadh from 10 am to take the street part to Al Duwadimi.

On Sunday January 8, they are going to contest stage 8 as rescheduled, with the particular of stage 7 from the preliminary route, diminished to a size of 345 kilometres.

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2023 Dakar Rally Stage 6 Outcomes (Provisional)

2023 Dakar Rally General After Stage 6

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2023 Dakar Rally Schedule

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