DIRT NEWS
NEW RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING LINE-UP
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing has announced its rider line-up for the 2024 Rallye du Maroc . Luciano Benavides and Daniel Sanders make their return to the Red Bull KTM awning from Husqvarna and GasGas respectively . Kevin Benavides continues to recover from an MX crash in May resulting in a fractured arm and head injuries , and is focused on his return to competition at the upcoming 2025 Dakar Rally . Action for the Rallye du Maroc starts with the prologue on Sunday , October 6 , followed by five full stages of racing . Starting in Zagora , riders will navigate through the Moroccan desert for a total of over 2400km to the finish in Mengoub on October 11 . Delivering a mixture of terrain and technically demanding navigation , it is destined to be an ultra-challenging event and prove excellent preparation for the 2025 Dakar Rally . Crowned 2023 FIM World Rally-Raid Champion and finishing as runner-up at last year ’ s edition of the Rallye du Maroc , Luciano Benavides is determined to see more success this year at the iconic event . Despite being sidelined from his home race , the Desafio Ruta 40 , earlier this year due to injury , the Argentinian has worked hard over the summer to ensure he is fighting fit and ready for Morocco . Luciano Benavides said , “ I ’ ve worked hard over the past few months preparing for Morocco , and it will be a great opportunity to see where we are after our testing . Physically , I feel really good in my recovery , and I have spent a lot of time working on roadbooks with the team in both the USA and Argentina . This is the first time that my brother and I will be on the same team , wearing the same colours , so that is super special . To have Daniel alongside us is great , and I think we ’ re going to be a really strong team . I am still getting used to the new bike , but I always really enjoy this rally , and I have great memories of it from last year . Bring on Morocco !” With some strong results under his belt earlier in the season , Daniel Sanders says he is eager to get back in the saddle to take on the Rallye du Maroc , “ It ’ s been a long break since Argentina , and we are super motivated to race the Rallye du Maroc . It ’ s been three years since the last time I raced the event , and I managed to get on the podium then , so I ’ m hoping to do the same again this year . It ’ s really exciting to be back in the KTM colors and I want to do their hard work justice . It ’ s great working with the Benavides brothers
Photo : Sebas Romero
96 KIWI RIDER