Dakar 2023: Siblings switch as Benavides takes stage triple

12.01.2023 - 17:05 bikesportnews.com

Luciano Benavides secured his third Dakar stage win of 2023 on Thursday as the Husqvarna team hit the front once again. While KTM’s Kevin Benavides was in control of Wednesday’s podium, it was younger brother Luciano’s turn in the spotlight for Stage 11 after a 274km special.

Red Bull GasGas and KTM riders Daniel Sanders and Toby Price completed the top three but with fellow Husky Skyler Howes placing fourth, the American returns to the top of the standings - just 28 seconds ahead of Price - with three days left of competition. “Today was another really fast day,” Benavides said immediately after completing the stage. “I enjoyed it a lot in the Empty Quarter. “I like this kind of stage.

I pushed all day long in the dunes. It feels like motocross, so I like it a lot. It was a really fun day and I think I got a good result as well.

I don’t know if I won, but I think for sure that I’m in the top 3. “It was hard to read the tracks, but of course I wasn’t in the starting position, so I had plenty of lines in front.

motocross as Usa Sander Dakar

DAMMAM: Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah on Sunday won his fifth Dakar Rally driver’s title and second in a row, with Argentina’s Kevin Benavides securing his second motorbike crown.

Dakar 2023: Benavides takes the crown with final stage victory

Red Bull KTM’s Kevin Benavides became the Dakar 2023 Champion on Sunday after clinching the final stage 55 seconds clear of his teammate.

Nasser Al-Attiyah makes it five Dakar Rally titles as Kevin Benavides claims motorcycle glory

Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah won the Dakar Rally car crown for the fifth time on Sunday while Argentine KTM rider Kevin Benavides triumphed on two wheels to take his second title in Saudi Arabia.

Rallying-Qatar's Al-Attiyah wins Dakar for fifth time

Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah won the Dakar Rally car crown for the fifth time on Sunday while Argentine KTM rider Kevin Benavides triumphed on two wheels to take his second title in Saudi Arabia.

Dakar Rally to remain in Saudi Arabia, say organizers

AL-HOFUF, Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia will continue to be the home of the Dakar Rally for the next few years with race director David Castera telling AFP “we still have so many deserts to explore.”Castera was speaking after Saturday’s penultimate stage with Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah poised for his fifth title.“I’m very happy we’re staying here, with so many deserts still to explore and with this country’s enormous potential,” he said.Motorsport’s toughest endurance test moved to the conservative Kingdom in 2020 after a spell in South America on an initial 10-year contract.Dakar organizers ASO announced the switch in 2019 saying a new chapter of the gruelling race’s history would be written in the “mysterious and vast deserts” of the land.Castera confirmed a clause in the Saudi deal to pull out after five years would not be taken up.“Today there’s been a big change, it’s progressing at a fast rate,” commented Castera.“I’m not here to play politics but to organize a sporting event which has the legitimacy to exist here because the terrain suits it.”Saudi Arabia has invested heavily in attracting high profile sporting events including tennis, golf and Formula One to its shores and is preparing a joint bid to host the 2030 World Cup.And last month five-time Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo signed for Saudi side Al-Nassr in a deal worth 200 million euros.In the race, Al-Attiyah should complete the cruise to his fifth title.

Dakar 2023: KTM doubles up after penultimate stage

Red Bull KTM locked out the Dakar 2023 standings on Saturday after stage 13 winner Kevin Benavides trailed teammate Toby Price with one day to go.