the position or the result I just gave my 100 percent over the whole stage and tried to enjoy the day . The special was really fast and tricky , and so muddy – thankfully I didn ’ t make any big mistakes , but it would have been easy to have an issue out there today . I have worked so hard for this . This year ’ s rally has been one of the closest ever and there wasn ’ t a single day where you could afford to ease off . I couldn ’ t have done it without the support of my team , and all my family and friends . It ’ s going to take a little while to sink in , I can ’ t describe this feeling right now .”
FRUSTRATED PRICE Aiming to chase down Benavides who had set off three minutes ahead of him , Price got his head down and gave his all right from the start . A couple of issues early in the stage cost the Aussie the valuable seconds he needed to stay in front , and despite clawing back close to one minute on the latter half of the special , it wasn ’ t enough to reel in the flying Benavides . Missing out by less than one minute after more than 44 hours of racing is of course frustrating , but knowing he gave his absolute all every single day , Toby is happy with how he rode and with the hard-fought runner-up result he ’ s secured at the world ’ s toughest rally-raid . “ So , so close ,” he said . “ Yeah , a great job from Kevin , he did really well today . I knew it was going to be tight , and of course , I pushed right from the start all through the stage . I just missed three waypoints by virtually metres , and it dropped me back . Obviously , the goal is to win , and it ’ s frustrating to miss out by such a narrow margin . But I ’ m fit , healthy , and I ’ m going home with a trophy , so that ’ s the most important thing . I ’ m ready for another one next year .”
Provisional Top Five – 2023 Dakar Rally 1 . Kevin Benavides ( ARG ), KTM , 44:27:20 2 . Toby Price ( AUS ), KTM , 44:28:03 + 0:43 3 . Skyler Howes ( USA ), Husqvarna , 44:32:24 + 5:04 4 . Pablo Quintanilla ( CHI ), Honda , 44:46:22 + 19:02 5 . Adrien Van Beveren ( FRA ), Honda , 44:47:50 + 20:30
Skyler Howes was more than stoked with his first visit to the Dakar podium
30 KIWI RIDER