Dakar: Ross Branch wins tenth stage, Kevin Benavides is new leader
The tenth stage in this Dakar was one with a short but tough special stage. The sand of Empty Quarter was treacherously loose. The dunes were rated level 3, the most difficult of this 2023 edition. Ross Branch on the Indian Hero was the best today and wins his second stage in this Dakar.
Only 114 km of classification had been put under the wheels today, but some toppers literally bit the sand several times. Just past the halfway point, it was Adrien Van Beveren who was recorded as fastest at an intermediate point. However, he could not avoid Ross Branch speeding past in the last part of the stage and thus winning the stage.
Michael Docherty finished third today ahead of Kevin Benavides. Benavides is now the new leader in the standings with a lead of one and a half minutes over Skyler Howes. Toby Price follows at 2:10 minutes and Adrien Van Beveren has to give up 9:52 to the leader.
Our only Belgian in the Dakar is Jérôme Martiny. He was able to end the internship today in 41st place. In the standings he is listed as 34th. Mirjam Pol finished 42nd today. Wesley Aaaldering finished 60th in the Shaybah bivouac.
Given the erratic performances of the top riders, this Dakar has not yet come to a decisive conclusion. We may have to wait until Sunday morning to know the final winner. Tomorrow there is the stage between Shaybah and Ardah with a 274 km special stage. During this ride it is important to keep the machines intact because in the bivouac the riders are not allowed to receive assistance from the mechanics this time.
Result stage 10
1 | 16 – R. BRANCH (BWA) | HERO | 450 RALLY | 1h44m00s | + 00: 00: 00 | |
2 | 42 – A. VAN BEVEREN (FRA) | HONDA | CRF 450 RALLY | 1h44m21s | + 00: 00: 21 | |
3 | 111 – M. DOCHERTY (ZAF) | HUSQVARNA | FR 450 RALLY | 1h44m30s | + 00: 00: 30 | |
4 | 47 – K. BENAVIDES (ARG) | KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY | 1h45m00s | + 00: 01: 00 | |
5 | 52 – M. WALKNER (AUT) | KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY | 1h45m22s | + 00: 01: 22 | |
6 | 7 – P. QUINTANILLA (CHL) | HONDA | CRF 450 RALLY | 1h46m43s | + 00: 02: 43 | |
7 | 9 – M. KLEIN (USA) | KTM | 450 RALLY RAID | 1h47m05s | + 00: 03: 05 | |
8 | 11 – J. CORNEJO FLORIMO (CHL) | HONDA | CRF 450 RALLY | 1h48m04s | + 00: 04: 04 | |
9 | 33 – F. CAIMI (ARG) | HERO | 450 RALLY | 1h48m07s | + 00: 04: 07 | |
10 | 54 – D. NOSIGLIA HUNTERS (BOL) | KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY REPLICA | 1h48m16s | + 00: 04: 16 | |
11 | 17 – R. DUMONTIER (FRA) | HUSQVARNA | 450 RALLY | 1h48m50s | + 00: 04: 50 | |
12 | 18 – D. SANDERS (AUS) | GAS GAS | 450 RALLY FACTORY | 1h50m02s | + 00: 06: 02 | |
13 | 77 – L. BENAVIDES (ARG) | HUSQVARNA | 450 RALLY FACTORY | 1h50m18s | + 00: 06: 18 | |
14 | 46 – P.LUCCI (ITA) | KTM | KTM 450 RALLY REPLICA | 1h50m46s | + 00: 06: 46 | |
15 | 68 – T. SCHAREINA (ESP) | KTM | 450 RALLY | 1h51m18s | + 00: 07: 18 | |
16 | 15 – L. SANTOLINO (ESP) | SHERCO FACTORY | 450 SEF RALLY | 1h51m26s | + 00: 07: 26 | |
17 | 10 – S. HOWES (USA) | HUSQVARNA | 450 RALLY FACTORY | 1h51m38s | + 00: 07: 38 | |
18 | 8 – T.PRICE (AUS) | KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY | 1h52m16s | + 00: 08: 16 | |
19 | 14 – S. BÜHLER (DEU) | HERO | 450 RALLY | 1h52m36s | + 00: 08: 36 | |
20 | 142 – S.SVITKO (SVK) | KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY REPLICA | 1h52m47s | + 00: 08: 47 |
Interim score
1 |
047 – K. BENAVIDES (ARG)
|
KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY
|
35h46m06s | + 00: 00: 00 | + 00: 03: 00 | (1) |
2 |
010 – S. HOWES (USA)
|
HUSQVARNA | 450 RALLY FACTORY
|
35h47m35s | + 00: 01: 29 | + 00: 01: 00 | (2) |
3 |
008 – T.PRICE (AUS)
|
KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY
|
35h48m16s | + 00: 02: 10 | + 00: 01: 00 | (3) |
4 |
042 – A. VAN BEVEREN (FRA)
|
HONDA | CRF 450 RALLY
|
35h55m58s | + 00: 09: 52 | –:–:– | (4) |
5 |
007 – P. QUINTANILLA (CHL)
|
HONDA | CRF 450 RALLY
|
36h01m04s | + 00: 14: 58 | + 00: 02: 00 | (5) |
6 |
009 – M. KLEIN (USA)
|
KTM | 450 RALLY RAID
|
36h01m44s | + 00: 15: 38 | + 00: 04: 00 | (6) |
7 |
011 – J. CORNEJO FLORIMO (CHL)
|
HONDA | CRF 450 RALLY
|
36h06m48s | + 00: 20: 42 | –:–:– | (7) |
8 |
077 – L. BENAVIDES (ARG)
|
HUSQVARNA | 450 RALLY FACTORY
|
36h07m50s | + 00: 21: 44 | –:–:– | (8) |
9 |
018 – D. SANDERS (AUS)
|
GASGAS | 450 RALLY FACTORY
|
36h09m46s | + 00: 23: 40 | + 00: 04: 00 | (9) |
10 |
052 – M. WALKNER (AUT)
|
KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY
|
36h25m55s | + 00: 39: 49 | –:–:– | (10) |
34 |
036 – J. MARTINY (BEL)
|
HUSQVARNA | 450 RALLY
|
43h19m16s | + 07: 33: 10 | –:–:– | (34) |
41 |
120 – W. AALDERING (NLD)
|
HUSQVARNA | FR 450 RALLY
|
45h54m51s | + 10: 08: 45 | + 00: 35: 00 | (41) |
48 |
044 – M. POL (NLD)
|
HUSQVARNA | FR 450 RALLY
|
47h12m56s | + 11: 26: 50 | –:–:– | (48) |
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