[Auto/Moto] Price wins third stage of Dakar motorcycles, Argentine Benavides second

[EvKirito]

 

 

Australian Toby Price (KTM) won the third stage of the 2021 Dakar Rally on Tuesday in the motorcycle category, starting and finishing in Wadi ad-Dawasir (Saudi Arabia), ahead of Argentine Kevin Benavides (Honda), second.

 

After 629 kilometers, 403 of them on stages, Price finished with a time of 3 hours, 33 minutes and 23 seconds at the end of a spectacular comeback through the dunes to finish overtaking Benavides.

 

At the finish line, Price, winner of the Dakar in 2016 and 2019, beat Benavides in three minutes and 16 seconds, including a two-minute penalty for the Argentine.

Austrian Matthias Walkner (KTM) finished third, 4 minutes and 36 seconds behind the winner of the day, including a two-minute penalty in that time.

 

In the first stage of this Dakar, on Sunday, Price had already been the winner with Benavides also in second position.

 

In the general classification, the American Skyler Howes (KTM), fourth of the third stage 7 minutes and 16 seconds (including a minute penalty) from Price, is the new leader.

 

He surpasses the French Xavier de Soultrait (2nd) in 28 seconds, while the Spanish Joan Barreda, leader at the beginning of the day, fell to eighth place overall, 8 minutes and 2 seconds behind Howes.

 

On Wednesday, the competitors will start the longest stage of this 43rd edition, of 813 kilometers taking into account the junction sections. The departure will be again in Wadi ad-Dawasir.

 

Classification of the 3rd stage:

 

1. Toby Price (AUS / Ktm) 3:33:23.

 

2. Kevin Benavides (ARG / Honda) at 3:16. (penalty: 2:00.)

 

3. Matthias Walkner (AUT / Ktm) 4:36. (penalty: 2:00.)

 

4. Skyler Howes (USA / Ktm) 7:16. (penalty: 1:00.)

 

5. Sam Sunderland (GBR / Ktm) 8:24.

 

6. Xavier De Soultrait (FRA / Husqvarna) 8:50.

 

7. Franco Caimi (ARG / Yamaha) 10:04.

 

8. Daniel Sanders (AUS / Ktm) 11:22.

 

9. Rui Goncalves / Rui Jorge Goncalves Dias (POR / POR / Sherco Factory) 12:19.

 

10. José Ignacio Cornejo (CHI / Honda) 13:09.

 

General classification after the 3rd stage:

 

1. Skyler Howes (USA / Ktm) 12:05 a.m. (penalty: 1:00.)

 

2. Xavier De Soultrait (FRA / Husqvarna) at 28.

 

3. Toby Price (AUS / Ktm) 52.

 

4. Kevin Benavides (ARG / Honda) 1:33. (penalty: 2:00.)

 

5. Sam Sunderland (GBR / Ktm) 4:27.

 

6. Ross Branch (BOT / Yamaha) 6:14.

 

7. Luciano Benavides (ARG / Husqvarna) 6:56. (penalty: 1:00.)

 

8. Joan Barreda (ESP / Honda) 8:02.

 

9. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA / Yamaha) 8:09.

 

10. José Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (CHI / Honda) 8:24.