Worth & Sanders go 1-2 as Dakar 2023 will get underway with prologue

2023 Dakar Rally

Prologue Stage
Sea Camp – Sea Camp

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The 2023 Dakar Rally kicked off with a 13 km Prologue alongside the shores of the Crimson Sea, providing the highest ten riders a possibility to say their chosen beginning positions for the subsequent 368 km timed particular stage, with the Aussie duo of Toby Worth (KTM) and Daniel Sanders (GASGAS) claiming high honours.

Toby Worth bounced again in nice type for the Prologue after two painful exits from rallies, one as a consequence of a automobile hearth within the Baja 1000 and one other as a consequence of a crash within the Rallye du Maroc. Worth, who was not tipped as KTM’s most secure wager, scored his sixteenth Dakar stage win by a single second over compatriot Daniel Sanders, whereas Botswana’s Ross Department took the underside step of the rostrum behind the 2 Aussies.

Joan Barreda and Kevin Benavides accomplished the highest 5, forward of Joaquim Rodrigues, Matthias Walkner and Sebastian Bühler in sixth by eighth, Michael Docherty ninth and Sam Sunderland tenth.

Toby Worth – P1

“It’s good to win the prologue immediately, nevertheless it’s not gonna assure nothing. It’s a very good begin. I don’t know if it’s an excellent factor. For certain, it’s good to choose your beginning spot, however I don’t know if it’s going to be a bonus or an obstacle. Final yr, the technique we had was mainly fully the fallacious path of what I wanted to do. I’ll simply go away my thoughts open. Lengthy levels to go, in 14 days, quite a bit can occur. It’s good to win the prologue immediately, nevertheless it’s not gonna assure nothing. We’ll keep on two wheels, have enjoyable and benefit from the desert.”

Daniel Sanders posted the second quickest time within the prologue of the forty fifth Dakar, one second behind fellow Australian Toby Worth. It was a strong efficiency, however the GasGas biker is usually simply relieved to have made it by the opener safely.

Daniel Sanders – P2

“It exhibits I nonetheless have some tempo after a yr off. It was a reasonably loopy eight minutes. It was fairly robust to remain centered and to search out good traction with the bike. The terrain was actually slippery. I ran off the monitor possibly three or 4 occasions from pushing too quick. I’m pleased with this, with the errors I made, it was fairly good. It exhibits I nonetheless have some tempo after a yr off. I’ll get to pick my place for tomorrow. That is simply the prologue, the Dakar begins tomorrow. I’m beginning again within the pack about twenty sixth the place I’ll be hopefully following the 25 strains going to the end, I hope to have a straightforward day discovering the move once more after a yr since racing a rally! Trying ahead to getting the highway part out of the way in which very first thing within the morning.”

Ross Department – P3

“P3 within the brief prologue immediately! Had some enjoyable on the seaside. Time to get 2023 began on a excessive. Pleased new yr everybody. As we speak’s prologue stage was slippery, however I went all out, had enjoyable, and completed properly like I had hoped. It places me in a great place to begin the primary stage. I’m wanting ahead to some lengthy days on the saddle and good navigation. Spending time on my Hero 450 Rally goes to be unimaginable. Thanks everybody on your assist and love.”

Earlier Dakar winner Ricky Brabec was the strongest rider throughout the Monster Power Honda staff, with eleventh place, adopted by Pablo Quintanilla (twelfth place), Adrien Van Beveren (sixteenth place) and José Ignacio Cornejo (twenty seventh place).

High Husqvarna Racing Crew rider was Luciano Benavides in fifteenth.

The primary actual stage will journey from Yanbu and have 368 km towards the clock on a loop, begins and finishes on the Dakar’s Sea Camp, alternating between sandy, stony and gravel tracks earlier than a bit of dunes.

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2023 Dakar Rally Prologue Outcomes

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2023 Dakar Rally Schedule

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