And, identical to that, the 2023 Dakar is put to slumber for an additional season – and KTM couldn’t be extra happy at Kevin Benavides’ blast to victory!
“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,” enthuses the younger racer.
“The particular was actually quick and difficult, and so muddy – fortunately, I didn’t make any massive errors, however it could have been straightforward to have a difficulty on the market at this time. I’ve labored so exhausting for this.”
“This 12 months’s rally has been one of many closest ever, and there wasn’t a single day the place you might afford to ease off. I couldn’t have executed it with out the assist of my workforce, and all my household and mates.”
Stage 14 concerned each rally chief Toby Worth and Kevin Benavides, ranging from the again, with a plethora of gravel tracks, sand, and dry lake beds to beat.
Benavides – who had already tucked a stage win beneath his belt – saved up together with his popularity in consistency, locked in, and gained his second profession Dakar title, simply 44 seconds forward of Worth.
Because of the efforts of each members of KTM’s workforce, 2023 marks the Austrians’ nineteenth win in Dakar – and nobody’s happier than Pit Beirer, KTM’s Motorsports Director.
“In addition to the riders, I’m perhaps the happiest man on the planet proper now,” admits Beirer.
“It’s wonderful, after this lengthy journey and this robust race, to have solely 12 seconds separating the 2 guys coming into this closing day. After which for them to push so exhausting over the stage and attain the end line safely and in first and second is unimaginable.”
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After round 5,000 kilometers and over 40 hours of racing, to have them so shut is extraordinary, and the entire workforce did a tremendous job to get them right here on this place.”
Listed here are the Provisional Outcomes of the 2023 Dakar Rally, Stage 14, courtesy of KTM’s related press launch:
- Kevin Benavides (ARG), KTM, 1:15:17
- Daniel Sanders (AUS), GASGAS, 1:15:52 +0:35
- Toby Worth (AUS), KTM, 1:16:12 +0:55
- Pablo Quintanilla (CHL), Honda, 1:18:32 +3:15
- Skyler Howes (USA), Husqvarna, 1:19:02 +3:45
What did you consider the rally’s shenanigans? Make sure to remark under letting us know what you assume, and as ever – keep protected on the twisties.