A standout performance has
so far gone to Dakar rookie
Mason Klein (KTM). The Califor-
nian took a spectacular third on
Stage 3 and has gone on to bank
consistent top-10 results over the
course of the Rally to sit in 10th
leading into Stage 9.
Another rookie who has de-
livered more than expected has
been former MotoGP rider Danilo
Petrucci. Riding for the factory-
backed Tech3 KTM outfit, the
Italian claimed an emotional victo-
ry in Stage 5 after Toby Price was
docked six minutes for speeding,
dropping the Australian to fifth
overall. Petrucci then suffered
the wrath of Dakar on Stage 6.
In a controversial move by race
organizers, the bike contingent
ran the same course one day af-
ter the cars/trucks/side-by-side
pack and after heavy overnight
rain, the course was deemed too
dangerous to continue racing
with race officials calling it after
the 101 km mark. Petrucci led the
pack into the stage but crashed
heavily after the 3 km mark,
damaging his elbow but still able
to continue. It was worse for Bo-
tswanan Ross Branch (Yamaha),
who also crashed but injured his
leg and was unable to continue.
It was his second retirement in a
row at the Dakar Rally.
With four stages left to run,
Sunderland holds the lead over
Walkner, van Beveren, Quinta-
nilla and Barreda, with defending
champ Kevin Benavides (KTM),
Lorenzo Santolino (Sherco), Ste-
fan Svitko (KTM), Price and Klein
rounding out the top 10.
CN
Rankings After Stage 8
1. Sam Sunderland (GG) 3:48:02
2. Matthias Walkner (KTM) +3:45
3. Adrien van Beveren (Yam) +4:43
4. Pablo Quintanilla (Hon) +5:30
5. Joan Barreda (Hon) +14:38
6. Kevin Benavides (KTM) +14:47
7. Lorenzo Santolino (Shr) +21:09
8. Stefan Svitko (KTM) +26:51
9. Toby Price (KTM) +32:30
10. Mason Klein (KTM) +35:26
IN
THE
WIND
P34
Adrien van Beveren has been
the leading Yamaha rider in
third and is still in contention
for the overall win.
