Unfortunately for one of the
race favorites, the Dakar was
over not long after it began.
Former winner Ricky Brabec
(Monster Energy Honda) started
his quest for a second crown in
fine style, taking the first stage
victory, but stage three was his
literally his downfall. Brabec fell
at the 274 km mark and was
transferred to hospital with neck
pain. He was released with a
clean bill of health but on return
to the U.S. he visited his doctor
and x-rays confirmed he had
broken his T1 and T2 vertebrae
with the bulging disc danger
-
ously close to his spinal column.
Despite the injury, he still plans
to race in the upcoming Abu
Dhabi Desert Challenge in late
February.
son (KTM) and Morrison Hart
(KTM) all made the start in Saudi
Arabia, but only Vlcek (10th) Hart
(15th) and James Pearson (16th)
would see the finish in the Origi
-
nal By Motul (formerly the Malle
Moto) category.
As part of the new FIM Rally
Raid World Championship, Kevin
Benavides leads the standings
with 38 points over Price at 30
and Skyler Howes at 24. Pablo
Quintanilla has 20 and Adrien
Van Beveren is fifth with 17.
CN
OVERALL MOTORCYCLE
1. Kevin Benavides (KTM) 44h:27m:20s
2. Toby Price (KTM) +43s
3. Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) +05m:04s
4. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda)
+19m:02s
5. Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) +20m:30s
AMA Hare and Hound, Best In
The Desert, and Vegas-to-Reno
frontrunner Jacob Argubright
made his Dakar debut in 2023
and acquitted himself well to the
task. Riding for the Duust Racing
Husqvarna team, Argubright
was a consistent top-25 stage
finisher and would eventually
come home 22nd overall and
third rookie.
South African Michael Do
-
cherty (KTM) took top rookie
honors and was charging to-
wards the end of the rally, taking
a brilliant second on stage 13.
The remainder of the American
entries had mixed fortunes on
the Dakar. Paul Neff (KTM), Petr
Vlcek (KTM), Kyle McCoy (KTM),
David Pearson (KTM), Lawrence
Ace Nilson (KTM), James Pear
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VOLUME ISSUE JANUARY , P53
Barely 60 km into the event,
defending champion Sam
Sunderland crashed out and
broke his shoulder.
