The Dakar Rally is infamously tough and calling a winner from the outset is all but impossible . For the 2023 edition of the iconic rally raid , this remained true , with just 12 seconds between 1st and 2nd place going into the 14th and final stage . It truly was anyone ’ s race this year , with favourites ranging from GasGas ’ reigning champ Sam Sunderland to other former champs like KTM ’ s Toby Price and Honda ’ s Ricky Brabec .
CAN ’ T COUNT ON A WIN From the opening stage of the rally , a handful of riders shone through as firm favourites , though Sunderland was no longer among them . The reigning champ had a horror result , bowing out of the race just 52km into the first stage ; proof that nothing is guaranteed in what is thought of as the toughest race in motorsport . Things weren ’ t much better for 2020 champ Brabec , who crashed out of the rally during stage three leaving , Honda ’ s hopes on Adrien
Van Beveren , Nacho Cornejo and the chaotic Joan Barreda . Barreda would later crash out of the rally for the sixth time , 16 kilometres into the 9th stage . They don ’ t call him “ Bang Bang ” for nothing . By the dawning of the 14th and final stage , the 2023 Dakar title could have gone any of three ways . Leading the timesheets by the tightest margin ever was Toby Price with 12 seconds separating him and teammate Kevin Benavides . Also in the mix was American Husqvarna rider Skyler Howes , who rode with a clean and constant pace throughout the previous 13 stages of the rally . Howes trailed Price by just 1 minute and 31 seconds leading into the 14th and final stage . With the riders entering the final stage in reverse order , Howes , Benevides and Price were the last to leave and were expected to benefit from the tracks of those ahead to sprint to the finish . As the third-to-last competitor to set off into the final special stage , Howes had a
Kevin Benavides celebrates winning the motorcycle class
24 KIWI RIDER