Preview: 2018 Dakar Rally

The 40th running of the world’s toughest off-road race, the Dakar Rally, will begin on Saturday, January 6 in Peru.

The event, to be held over 14 stages and 9000km, will again feature the talents of Aussie duo Toby Price and Rodney Faggotter, who will ride for the KTM and Yamaha factories respectively.

Price is the jewel, becoming the first Australian to win the event in 2016 before a crash in stage four last year saw him break his left femur.

Related links
Video: Toby Price documentary
Dakar: Price crashes out

After a long period of recovery, the New South Welshman returns alongside British teammate Sam Sunderland, who is the defending champion.

The Australian knows he still has the speed and experience for a good result but is realistic about his chances after seeing such little action over the last 12 months.

“I am really excited for the Dakar 2018. It’s going to be difficult for me because I haven’t had much time on the bike throughout the whole of last year due to injury,” said Price.

“Despite that, I’m feeling good now and really looking forward to the race. My plan is to take things steady, get to the finish of every stage and see where I am from there. Hopefully my experience will come through and I’ll soon start feeling more comfortable and be able to push on a little.”

Eight of last year’s top 10 finishers will return in 2018, including another KTM factory rider in the form of Matthias Walkner, Gerrard Farres (KTM), Adrien van Beveren (Yamaha), Franco Caimi (Yamaha) and Joan Barreda (Honda). And there are a slew of other top guns looking to push for honours, including Kevin Benavides (Honda), Ivan Cervantes (KTM), Ricky Brabec (Honda), Michael Metge (Honda), Juan Pedrero (Sherco), Johnny Aubert (Gas Gas), Antoine Meo (KTM), reigning cross-country rallies world champion Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) and former American motocross star Andrew Short (Husqvarna).

2018 DAKAR ENTRY LIST

KTM has dominated the motorcycle category and has won every Dakar Rally held since 2001

Faggotter, the former Australasian Safari winner, is looking forward to his second year on the factory WR450F Rally.

"I can't wait for the 2018 Dakar to begin. Following my wrist injury at the Baja Inka, I gave my body some time to properly recover. The last couple of months everything has been coming together and I've been focusing all my efforts into my training and preparation for South America,” Faggotter said

“It's been quite warm in Australia and I think this will be an advantage for me in the dune stages of Peru. I'm expecting the first week to be really tough physically, and in terms of navigation. The quicker you get through the tough moments the better it will be.

“Navigation will be paramount throughout the event, I believe. I want to have a good clean run and do my race. If it all goes well I am confident of a top 10 overall result and I know I could even do battle for the top five. I want to be there for my teammates when and if they need me and also make sure that I do my own race."

The other Dakar Rally categories are cars, trucks, quads and side-by-sides. Former motorcycle winners Stephane Peterhansel and Cyril Despres are two of the leading lights in the car division.

Following this Saturday’s kick off in Lima, Peru, the 2018 Dakar Rally will see competitors contest 14 gruelling stages – seven purely off-road – all the way through the Bolivian altiplanos and towards the world rally-styled tracks of Argentina. Including more than 5000 km of timed specials and with a total distance of almost 9000km, the 40th edition of the prestigious annual event will be one of the most challenging in recent memory.