Sunderland podiums as Benavides wins Dakar

Briton Sam Sunderland fought to third place finish in the Dakar rally as Honda’s Kevin Benavides held on to his overnight lead to take the title. Sunderland started the day second, just over four minutes adrift of leader Benavides. But he could only finish 11th today after making a mistake that cost him ten minutes. It was good enough for third overall.

Benavides claimed the triumph after twelve gruelling stages. His Honda team-mate Ricky Brabec took the win on the final stage, to take second place in the event.

The 43rd edition of the Dakar Rally proved to be one of the toughest in its history. With organizers delivering a punishing route across the entire 12 days of competition, the event included a wide variety of terrain together with some of the most technically demanding navigation seen in recent years.

Red Bull KTM rider Sam Sunderland rode an intelligent race right from stage one. With the difficult navigation proving to be hugely challenge to all, especially to those leading the way at the front of each stage, riders encountered sizeable swings in time advantages depending on their start position.

Sunderland, using his vast experience, chose to maintain a solid but steady pace through the first half of the race, with the Brit lying sixth overall at the halfway point. Increasing his pace after the rest day, and taking the challenge to those ahead of him, the KTM 450 RALLY rider placed third overall by day seven and moved up to second on the penultimate stage.

In winning stage 11, Sam had the unenviable task of opening the 12th and final timed special. Trailing rally leader Kevin Benavides by five minutes going into the stage, the 2017 Dakar winner had no option but to push as hard as he dared during the final 200km as he raced against the clock. Unfortunately, a small error that resulted in him losing almost 10 minutes ended Sunderland’s charge for the win. Despite the set-back, Sam safely arrived at the finish to claim an impressive third place overall. Although disappointed not to have secured a second career win for himself and KTM, the Brit was happy with how his race had gone.

Sam Sunderland:“I did my best over the whole rally, so I can’t be too disappointed, I guess. It was always going to be hard setting off first this morning and I knew I had to push hard to make up those minutes. I couldn’t find one waypoint early on in the dunes and lost far too much time trying to find it. There is always a fine balance and when you push your speed, the navigation can lose out. I’m super happy as I know I gave it my all. The other guys did a great job and after what was such a tough event with several crashes and people being forced to retire with technical issues, I’m glad to be here safe at the finish line and in third place. I honestly think that has been one of the toughest races I have ever done – the pace at the top is so high, we’re having to fight every single day and there is no time to relax. Congratulations to all those who finished and get well soon to those who crashed out.”

David Knight took 20th for 24th overall and Neil Hawker 46th on the final day for 37th overall.

Provisional results of final day:

1	1	(USA) RICKY BRABEC	MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021	02H 17′ 02”
2	47	(ARG) KEVIN BENAVIDES	MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021	02H 19′ 19”	+ 00H 02′ 17”
3	52	(AUT) MATTHIAS WALKNER	RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM	02H 21′ 15”	+ 00H 04′ 13”
4	9	(USA) SKYLER HOWES	BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM	02H 22′ 51”	+ 00H 05′ 49”
5	21	(AUS) DANIEL SANDERS	KTM FACTORY TEAM	02H 24′ 13”	+ 00H 07′ 11”
6	15	(ESP) LORENZO SANTOLINO	SHERCO FACTORY	02H 27′ 33”	+ 00H 10′ 31”
7	17	(ESP) JOAN PEDRERO GARCIA	FN SPEED – RIEJU TEAM	02H 27′ 42”	+ 00H 10′ 40”
8	27	(PRT) JOAQUIM RODRIGUES	HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY	02H 29′ 20”	+ 00H 12′ 18”
9	74	(ESP) JAUME BETRIU	FN SPEED – KTM TEAM	02H 29′ 37”	+ 00H 12′ 35”
10	24	(DEU) SEBASTIAN BÜHLER	HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY	02H 30′ 08”	+ 00H 13′ 06”
11	5	(GBR) SAM SUNDERLAND	RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM	02H 30′ 09”	+ 00H 13′ 07”
12	87	(ESP) ORIOL MENA	FN SPEED – RIEJU TEAM	02H 32′ 36”	+ 00H 15′ 34”
13	19	(PRT) RUI GONCALVES	SHERCO FACTORY	02H 33′ 13”	+ 00H 16′ 11”	00H 03′ 00”
14	32	(ESP) TOSHA SCHAREINA	FN SPEED – KTM TEAM	02H 33′ 46”	+ 00H 16′ 44”
15	11	(SVK) STEFAN SVITKO	SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM	02H 34′ 57”	+ 00H 17′ 55”
16	26	(CZE) MILAN ENGEL	ORION – MOTO RACING GROUP	02H 37′ 56”	+ 00H 20′ 54”
17	44	(ESP) LAIA SANZ	GAS GAS FACTORY TEAM	02H 40′ 27”	+ 00H 23′ 25”
18	95	(FRA) XAVIER FLICK	XTREM RACING	02H 42′ 09”	+ 00H 25′ 07”
19	33	(IND) HARITH NOAH KOITHA VEETTIL	SHERCO FACTORY	02H 43′ 20”	+ 00H 26′ 18”
20	101	(GBR) DAVID KNIGHT	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	02H 44′ 33”	+ 00H 27′ 31”
21	2	(CHL) PABLO QUINTANILLA	ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING	02H 44′ 50”	+ 00H 27′ 48”	00H 10′ 00”
22	29	(ROU) EMANUEL GYENES	AUTONET MOTORCYCLE TEAM	02H 45′ 35”	+ 00H 28′ 33”
23	31	(CZE) MARTIN MICHEK	ORION – MOTO RACING GROUP	02H 46′ 07”	+ 00H 29′ 05”	00H 20′ 00”
24	54	(FRA) CAMILLE CHAPELIERE	TEAM BAINES RALLY	02H 47′ 19”	+ 00H 30′ 17”
25	36	(CZE) JAN BRABEC	STROJRENT RACING	02H 48′ 59”	+ 00H 31′ 57”	00H 16′ 00”
26	25	(NLD) PAUL SPIERINGS	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	02H 49′ 51”	+ 00H 32′ 49”
27	63	(POL) KONRAD DABROWSKI	DUUST RALLY TEAM	02H 52′ 08”	+ 00H 35′ 06”
28	39	(FRA) BENJAMIN MELOT	BENJAMIN MELOT	02H 53′ 10”	+ 00H 36′ 08”	00H 10′ 00”
29	30	(LTU) ARUNAS GELAZNINKAS	ZIGMAS DAKAR TEAM	02H 53′ 12”	+ 00H 36′ 10”
30	80	(AUS) MICHAEL BURGESS	BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM	02H 53′ 25”	+ 00H 36′ 23”
31	48	(FRA) MATHIEU DOVEZE	NOMADE RACING ASSISTANCE	02H 53′ 49”	+ 00H 36′ 47”
32	37	(CZE) DAVID PABISKA	JANTAR TEAM	03H 03′ 57”	+ 00H 46′ 55”
33	86	(FRA) CHARLIE HERBST	DRAG’ON RALLY TEAM	03H 05′ 34”	+ 00H 48′ 32”
34	78	(ITA) CESARE ZACCHETTI	CESARE ZACCHETTI	03H 07′ 19”	+ 00H 50′ 17”
35	46	(SVN) SIMON MARCIC	MARCIC	03H 11′ 47”	+ 00H 54′ 45”
36	70	(SAU) MISHAL ALGHUNEIM	MISHAL ALGHUNEIM	03H 15′ 06”	+ 00H 58′ 04”
37	81	(SVK) ERIK VLCAK	SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM	03H 15′ 40”	+ 00H 58′ 38”
38	108	(ESP) MARC CALMET	FN SPEED – RIEJU TEAM	03H 15′ 45”	+ 00H 58′ 43”
39	65	(ITA) FRANCO PICCO	TEAM FRANCO PICCO	03H 16′ 17”	+ 00H 59′ 15”
40	41	(CHN) ZAKER YAKP	WU PU DA HAI DAO DAKAR RALLY TEAM	03H 17′ 51”	+ 01H 00′ 49”
41	60	(FRA) STÉPHANE DARQUES	M.O.R.AL	03H 22′ 29”	+ 01H 05′ 27”
42	35	(MEX) JUAN PABLO GUILLEN RIVERA	NOMADAS ADVENTURE	03H 25′ 41”	+ 01H 08′ 39”
43	125	(FRA) FRÉDÉRIC BARLERIN	RALLYE FRED	03H 25′ 49”	+ 01H 08′ 47”
44	79	(FRA) AMAURY BARATIN	HORIZON MOTO 95	03H 29′ 27”	+ 01H 12′ 25”
45	62	(AUS) ANDREW JOSEPH HOULIHAN	NOMADAS ADVENTURE	03H 30′ 12”	+ 01H 13′ 10”
46	84	(GBR) NEIL HAWKER	NEIL HAWKER	03H 31′ 22”	+ 01H 14′ 20”	00H 20′ 00”
47	55	(CHN) ZHAO HONGYI	WU PU DA HAI DAO DAKAR RALLY TEAM	03H 31′ 27”	+ 01H 14′ 25”
48	53	(CZE) LIBOR PODMOL	PODMOL DAKAR TEAM	03H 35′ 09”	+ 01H 18′ 07”
49	67	(CZE) RUDOLF LHOTSKY	JANTAR TEAM	03H 37′ 13”	+ 01H 20′ 11”	00H 20′ 00”
50	121	(FRA) GUILLAUME BARTHELEMY	TEAM RS CONCEPT	03H 45′ 05”	+ 01H 28′ 03”
51	98	(ESP) SARA GARCIA	PONT GRUP YAMAHA	03H 46′ 58”	+ 01H 29′ 56”	00H 04′ 00”
52	71	(BHR) SALMAN MOHAMED HUMOOD FARHAN	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	03H 49′ 50”	+ 01H 32′ 48”	00H 20′ 00”
53	89	(SRB) GABOR SAGHMEISTER	SAGHMEISTER TEAM	03H 59′ 14”	+ 01H 42′ 12”
54	58	(ESP) EDUARDO IGLESIAS SANCHEZ	FN SPEED – TEAM MONFORTE RALLY	04H 07′ 34”	+ 01H 50′ 32”
55	100	(FRA) AUDREY ROSSAT	TEAM RS CONCEPT	04H 08′ 04”	+ 01H 51′ 02”
56	51	(ESP) RACHID AL-LAL LAHADIL	MELILLA SPORT CAPITAL	04H 08′ 33”	+ 01H 51′ 31”
57	69	(BEL) WALTER ROELANTS	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	04H 12′ 25”	+ 01H 55′ 23”	00H 02′ 00”
58	82	(IND) ASHISH RAORANE	ASHISH RAORANE	04H 15′ 36”	+ 01H 58′ 34”	00H 15′ 00”
59	115	(NLD) OLAF HARMSEN	BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM	04H 24′ 36”	+ 02H 07′ 34”	00H 20′ 00”
60	114	(ESP) ELADIO CARBONELL MENDEZ	PIKAERAS TEAM	04H 25′ 08”	+ 02H 08′ 06”
61	112	(ESP) JUAN CAMPDERA	JUAN CAMPDERA	04H 28′ 54”	+ 02H 11′ 52”
62	96	(ESP) DANIEL ALBERO PUIG	TEAM UN DIABETICO EN EL DAKAR	04H 54′ 00”	+ 02H 36′ 58”	00H 20′ 00”
63	76	(CZE) ROMAN KREJCI	BO!BETON TEAM	04H 55′ 15”	+ 02H 38′ 13”	00H 15′ 00”
64	99	(ESP) JAVI VEGA PUERTA	PONT GRUP YAMAHA	05H 12′ 39”	+ 02H 55′ 37”
65	105	(ESP) FERNANDO DOMINGUEZ	CLUB AVENTURA TOUAREG	05H 25′ 10”	+ 03H 08′ 08”	00H 20′ 00”
66	117	(BWA) JAMES ALEXANDER	THE KALAHARI MADALA	05H 26′ 06”	+ 03H 09′ 04”	00H 20′ 00”
67	85	(PRT) ALEXANDRE AZINHAIS	CLUB AVENTURA TOUAREG	05H 38′ 40”	+ 03H 21′ 38”	00H 35′ 00”

Provisional overall leaderboard

1	47	(ARG) KEVIN BENAVIDES	MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021	47H 18′ 14”		00H 02′ 00”
2	1	(USA) RICKY BRABEC	MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021	47H 23′ 10”	+ 00H 04′ 56”
3	5	(GBR) SAM SUNDERLAND	RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM	47H 34′ 11”	+ 00H 15′ 57”
4	21	(AUS) DANIEL SANDERS	KTM FACTORY TEAM	47H 57′ 06”	+ 00H 38′ 52”	00H 07′ 00”
5	9	(USA) SKYLER HOWES	BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM	48H 10′ 47”	+ 00H 52′ 33”	00H 06′ 00”
6	15	(ESP) LORENZO SANTOLINO	SHERCO FACTORY	48H 16′ 44”	+ 00H 58′ 30”
7	2	(CHL) PABLO QUINTANILLA	ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING	48H 44′ 53”	+ 01H 26′ 39”	00H 10′ 00”
8	11	(SVK) STEFAN SVITKO	SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM	49H 01′ 21”	+ 01H 43′ 07”
9	52	(AUT) MATTHIAS WALKNER	RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM	49H 50′ 26”	+ 02H 32′ 12”	00H 02′ 00”
10	31	(CZE) MARTIN MICHEK	ORION – MOTO RACING GROUP	50H 00′ 51”	+ 02H 42′ 37”	00H 23′ 00”
11	27	(PRT) JOAQUIM RODRIGUES	HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY	50H 22′ 38”	+ 03H 04′ 24”	00H 37′ 00”
12	74	(ESP) JAUME BETRIU	FN SPEED – KTM TEAM	50H 35′ 30”	+ 03H 17′ 16”	00H 06′ 00”
13	32	(ESP) TOSHA SCHAREINA	FN SPEED – KTM TEAM	50H 59′ 49”	+ 03H 41′ 35”
14	24	(DEU) SEBASTIAN BÜHLER	HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY	51H 18′ 17”	+ 04H 00′ 03”	00H 18′ 00”
15	17	(ESP) JOAN PEDRERO GARCIA	FN SPEED – RIEJU TEAM	51H 25′ 42”	+ 04H 07′ 28”
16	87	(ESP) ORIOL MENA	FN SPEED – RIEJU TEAM	51H 37′ 38”	+ 04H 19′ 24”
17	44	(ESP) LAIA SANZ	GAS GAS FACTORY TEAM	53H 47′ 45”	+ 06H 29′ 31”	00H 12′ 00”
18	26	(CZE) MILAN ENGEL	ORION – MOTO RACING GROUP	53H 48′ 43”	+ 06H 30′ 29”	00H 21′ 00”
19	19	(PRT) RUI GONCALVES	SHERCO FACTORY	53H 53′ 35”	+ 06H 35′ 21”	00H 18′ 00”
20	33	(IND) HARITH NOAH KOITHA VEETTIL	SHERCO FACTORY	54H 58′ 05”	+ 07H 39′ 51”	00H 02′ 00”
21	30	(LTU) ARUNAS GELAZNINKAS	ZIGMAS DAKAR TEAM	55H 04′ 23”	+ 07H 46′ 09”
22	54	(FRA) CAMILLE CHAPELIERE	TEAM BAINES RALLY	55H 38′ 18”	+ 08H 20′ 04”	01H 23′ 00”
23	29	(ROU) EMANUEL GYENES	AUTONET MOTORCYCLE TEAM	56H 06′ 28”	+ 08H 48′ 14”	00H 02′ 00”
24	101	(GBR) DAVID KNIGHT	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	56H 11′ 25”	+ 08H 53′ 11”	00H 29′ 00”
25	39	(FRA) BENJAMIN MELOT	BENJAMIN MELOT	56H 45′ 10”	+ 09H 26′ 56”	00H 11′ 00”
26	25	(NLD) PAUL SPIERINGS	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	57H 00′ 31”	+ 09H 42′ 17”
27	80	(AUS) MICHAEL BURGESS	BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM	58H 11′ 44”	+ 10H 53′ 30”	00H 59′ 00”
28	63	(POL) KONRAD DABROWSKI	DUUST RALLY TEAM	58H 24′ 36”	+ 11H 06′ 22”
29	48	(FRA) MATHIEU DOVEZE	NOMADE RACING ASSISTANCE	59H 07′ 25”	+ 11H 49′ 11”	00H 05′ 00”
30	37	(CZE) DAVID PABISKA	JANTAR TEAM	59H 12′ 13”	+ 11H 53′ 59”	00H 01′ 00”
31	53	(CZE) LIBOR PODMOL	PODMOL DAKAR TEAM	59H 22′ 58”	+ 12H 04′ 44”	00H 15′ 00”
32	95	(FRA) XAVIER FLICK	XTREM RACING	59H 25′ 33”	+ 12H 07′ 19”
33	41	(CHN) ZAKER YAKP	WU PU DA HAI DAO DAKAR RALLY TEAM	61H 15′ 15”	+ 13H 57′ 01”	00H 42′ 00”
34	108	(ESP) MARC CALMET	FN SPEED – RIEJU TEAM	63H 51′ 11”	+ 16H 32′ 57”	00H 02′ 00”
35	86	(FRA) CHARLIE HERBST	DRAG’ON RALLY TEAM	64H 50′ 17”	+ 17H 32′ 03”	00H 23′ 00”
36	46	(SVN) SIMON MARCIC	MARCIC	65H 09′ 28”	+ 17H 51′ 14”	00H 45′ 00”
37	84	(GBR) NEIL HAWKER	NEIL HAWKER	65H 53′ 00”	+ 18H 34′ 46”	00H 29′ 00”
38	78	(ITA) CESARE ZACCHETTI	CESARE ZACCHETTI	67H 08′ 39”	+ 19H 50′ 25”	00H 32′ 00”
39	81	(SVK) ERIK VLCAK	SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM	67H 27′ 33”	+ 20H 09′ 19”	00H 27′ 00”
40	60	(FRA) STÉPHANE DARQUES	M.O.R.AL	68H 10′ 37”	+ 20H 52′ 23”	00H 53′ 30”
41	67	(CZE) RUDOLF LHOTSKY	JANTAR TEAM	68H 28′ 22”	+ 21H 10′ 08”	01H 16′ 00”
42	70	(SAU) MISHAL ALGHUNEIM	MISHAL ALGHUNEIM	68H 57′ 46”	+ 21H 39′ 32”	00H 22′ 00”
43	65	(ITA) FRANCO PICCO	TEAM FRANCO PICCO	69H 02′ 14”	+ 21H 44′ 00”	00H 40′ 00”
44	98	(ESP) SARA GARCIA	PONT GRUP YAMAHA	69H 40′ 37”	+ 22H 22′ 23”	00H 44′ 00”
45	55	(CHN) ZHAO HONGYI	WU PU DA HAI DAO DAKAR RALLY TEAM	69H 54′ 26”	+ 22H 36′ 12”	00H 02′ 00”
46	79	(FRA) AMAURY BARATIN	HORIZON MOTO 95	71H 04′ 12”	+ 23H 45′ 58”	00H 06′ 00”
47	99	(ESP) JAVI VEGA PUERTA	PONT GRUP YAMAHA	71H 05′ 46”	+ 23H 47′ 32”	00H 20′ 00”
48	35	(MEX) JUAN PABLO GUILLEN RIVERA	NOMADAS ADVENTURE	71H 28′ 00”	+ 24H 09′ 46”	01H 02′ 00”
49	121	(FRA) GUILLAUME BARTHELEMY	TEAM RS CONCEPT	72H 02′ 40”	+ 24H 44′ 26”	00H 05′ 00”
50	62	(AUS) ANDREW JOSEPH HOULIHAN	NOMADAS ADVENTURE	73H 11′ 20”	+ 25H 53′ 06”	01H 27′ 00”
51	125	(FRA) FRÉDÉRIC BARLERIN	RALLYE FRED	74H 51′ 01”	+ 27H 32′ 47”	00H 00′ 30”
52	69	(BEL) WALTER ROELANTS	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	75H 18′ 56”	+ 28H 00′ 42”	00H 31′ 00”
53	58	(ESP) EDUARDO IGLESIAS SANCHEZ	FN SPEED – TEAM MONFORTE RALLY	76H 51′ 14”	+ 29H 33′ 00”	00H 01′ 00”
54	114	(ESP) ELADIO CARBONELL MENDEZ	PIKAERAS TEAM	76H 57′ 27”	+ 29H 39′ 13”	00H 30′ 00”
55	51	(ESP) RACHID AL-LAL LAHADIL	MELILLA SPORT CAPITAL	77H 24′ 13”	+ 30H 05′ 59”	00H 07′ 30”
56	105	(ESP) FERNANDO DOMINGUEZ	CLUB AVENTURA TOUAREG	80H 28′ 44”	+ 33H 10′ 30”	00H 45′ 00”
57	115	(NLD) OLAF HARMSEN	BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM	80H 54′ 54”	+ 33H 36′ 40”	01H 02′ 00”
58	71	(BHR) SALMAN MOHAMED HUMOOD FARHAN	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	81H 09′ 20”	+ 33H 51′ 06”	01H 53′ 00”
59	100	(FRA) AUDREY ROSSAT	TEAM RS CONCEPT	82H 26′ 13”	+ 35H 07′ 59”	00H 21′ 00”
60	89	(SRB) GABOR SAGHMEISTER	SAGHMEISTER TEAM	82H 50′ 34”	+ 35H 32′ 20”	00H 41′ 00”
61	112	(ESP) JUAN CAMPDERA	JUAN CAMPDERA	86H 04′ 43”	+ 38H 46′ 29”	00H 01′ 00”
62	96	(ESP) DANIEL ALBERO PUIG	TEAM UN DIABETICO EN EL DAKAR	92H 19′ 03”	+ 45H 00′ 49”	04H 38′ 00”
63	117	(BWA) JAMES ALEXANDER	THE KALAHARI MADALA	113H 51′ 15”	+ 66H 33′ 01”	07H 00′ 00”