VOLUME 58 ISSUE 2 JANUARY 12, 2021 P49
T
he 2021 Dakar Rally is in full
swing in the deserts of Saudi
Arabia as the world's best off-
road racers tackle an event that has
proven more unpredictable than any
since the race's inception in 1978.
Seven different riders—Ricky Bra-
bec, Jose Ignacio Cornejo, Skyler
Howes, Toby Price, Xavier De Soul-
trait, Kevin Benavides and Joan
Barreda—have held the lead over the
eight stages run as of Monday, Janu-
ary 11, with Monster Energy Honda
Team 2021 rider Jose Ignacio Cornejo
holding a slender one minute, six sec-
ond lead over Red Bull KTM's two-time
Dakar Champion, Toby Price.
Third at time of publication was the
consistent Sam Sunderland, ahead of
Cornejo's teammates Kevin Benavides,
Joan Barreda and defending champion,
American Ricky Brabec.
Brabec's compatriot Skyler Howes
holds a brilliant sixth overall for the BAS
Dakar KTM Racing Team and even had the
thrill of leading the Rally after Stage Three.
There are four stages left in the 2021
Dakar Rally and it looks like it's distilling
into a battle between Price and Cornejo
with just over one minute separating the
Australian and the Chilean, although
Sunderland is still within a shot of
crown, five minutes and 57 seconds
off Cornejo.
HOW
IT STARTED,
HOW
IT'S GOING
