Kevin Benavides wins 2021 Dakar Rally for Honda
The Argentine rider became the fifth winner in six years, while an Australian young gun finishes fourthKevin Benavides has won the 2021 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, marking his first win in five attempts at the famous rally raid.
The Monster Energy Honda rider from Argentina beat teammate and reigning champ Ricky Brabec (USA) and KTM’s Sam Sunderland (GBR) to become the first South American rider to win Dakar.
Benavides battled injury and tough competition, but was able to triumph with two stage wins and consistent top-five results over the length of the two-week race.
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Multiple riders led the Dakar Rally throughout the event, including Australia’s two-time winner Toby Price, and Honda’s Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo. Both riders crashed out – Price on Stage 9, and Cornejo on Stage 10.
It wasn’t all lost for Australia though. Victorian Daniel Sanders, participating in his first Dakar Rally, finished fourth overall for KTM, proving his capability as a rally rider. The enduro champ almost replicated Price’s own feat of fishing third on debut in 2015. Price was awarded a full factory contract the following year.
Australia’s other competitors, Michael Burgess and Andrew Houlihan both made it back to Jeddah safely, with overall placings of 27th and 50th respectively.
The Quad class was won by Argentina’s Manuel Andujar, while former bike winner Stephane Peterhansel triumphed over Nasser Al-Attiya and Carlos Sainz in the Car division. It marked the Frenchman’s 14th overall win in the Dakar Rally since his debut in 1988.
Sadly, the event wasn’t without tragedy. Frenchman Pierre Cherpin died from injuries sustained in a crash during Stage 7 on January 10. Cherpin was participating in is fourth Dakar, and was competing in the Original by Motul class (formally Mallee Moto). Both competitors and organisers paid tribute to the 52-year-old entrepreneur and adventurer.
Stay tuned for our full Dakar Rally wrap-up story in the coming days.
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