Aussies still in the hunt for Dakar glory

The 2024 Dakar Rally is rocketing towards its finale with five stages remaining and both Australian riders sitting inside the top ten following stage 8 of the famous race.   

Toby Price (Red Bull KTM) is the best-placed Aussie, currently in sixth place overall and 29 minutes behind leader Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda).

The former two-time Dakar winner finished fifth in stage 8, just 2 minutes behind winner and teammate Kevin Benavides.

Daniel Sanders (Red Bull GASGAS) meanwhile is seventh overall, but he lost time in the stage, finishing ninth and nearly 4 minutes behind the leader. He is now almost 39 minutes behind Brabec overall.

With five stages remaining, there is still plenty of time for both riders to make a charge for the podium, but they’ll have to beat some big names in the process.

Behind Brabec is Ross Branch, who sits second for Hero Motorsports. A podium finish for Hero would be an incredible achievement. Jose Cornejo Florimo (Honda) is third, just 4 minutes 21 seconds off Brabec.

After that, the times start to stretch out a bit more. Adrian Van Beveren (Honda) is fourth, 11 minutes 58 seconds behind the leader, and Benavides is fifth, 20 minutes 31 seconds back. Then its Price, who is 21 minutes 10 seconds off the pace.

Husqvarna’s Luciano Benavides, who finished second in the stage, is also still in the hunt for the overall, sitting 39 minutes 35 seconds behind the leader in eighth place.  

Sadly, the Rally was marred by tragedy overnight, with the death of Spanish rider Carles Falcon following a heavy crash in Stage 2. Falcon was taken to a hospital Riyadh before being flown back to Spain, however he has since succumbed to his injuries. The Dakar organisers issued a statement expressing their condolences to his family and friends.