2023 Dakar: Ricky Brabec wins stage 1 ahead of Benavides. Price fifth

2023 Dakar: Ricky Brabec wins stage 1 ahead of Benavides. Price fifth

The American and team Monster Energy Honda triumph in stage 1. Paolo Lucci first among the Italians

Redazione

02.01.2023 ( Aggiornata il 02.01.2023 15:42 )

The rally got underway yesterday with the prologue, but things really got going today. The first stage of the 2023 Dakar began and ended at Sea Camp in Saudi Arabia. The riders covered 601 km in total, with 367 km of special.

While yesterday’s final time was around eight minutes, today was very different. Australian Ricky Brabec set the fastest time, concluding the stage in 3h31’10”. Brabec now leads the way in the general standings. Behind him is Argentinian Benavides who finished almost a minute behind aboard the KTM 450, +0:44 to be precise. Bas World KTM rider Klein closed third in 3h31'54".

Spanish rider Barreda finished fourth with the Honda, unable to do more than 3h32’20”. Dakar expert Toby Price placed fifth, +1:49 behind the leader. Daniel Sanders powered his Gas Gas to sixth (+1:50), while Quintanilla closed seventh.

First in the Rally2 classification, Bradley Cox crashed and broke his elbow. He was airlifted back to the bivouac.

Sunderland retires


One of the first twists of this 2023 Dakar saw two-time rally winner Sam Sunderland forced to retire. The Gas Gas rider crashed 54 km into the first stage, bringing his campaign to a premature end. This now paves the way for Price and co. First on the scene to help Sam was Matthias Walkner.

Paolo Lucci 24th, first among the Italians


The Italian contingent places a little further back for now. A strong ride saw PL Racing rider Lucci close in 3h53.58, 28 minutes and 58 seconds from Sanders. Behind him, Montanari, 33rd aboard the Husqvarna. Fantic Motor rider Alex Salvini, first among the Italians during yesterday’s prologue, finished in 39th place, +34:43.

 

The general standings

#1. R. BRABEC 04:14.10

#2. K. BENAVIDES 04:14.29

#3. T. PRICE 04:14.49

#4. J. BARREDA 04:14.45

#5. D. SANDERS 04:14.55

#6. M. KLEIN 04:15.24

#7. P. QUINTANILLA 04:16.17

#8. A. VAN BEVEREN 04:18.27

#9. S. HOWES 04:19.22

#10. J. RODRIGUES 04:21.20

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