Red Bull Factory KTM's Toby Price has won Stage 11 of the Dakar Rally and is now third in the overall standings behind teammate Matthias Walkner in first and Honda's Kevin Benavides in second.
Following a disastrous Stage 10, Price started last night’s stage with a 50 minute time difference between himself and Walkner.
Walkner was only fast enough for fifth in the Stage and gave up 11-minutes to Price. “I spent most of the time with Stéphane Peterhansel today,” said Walkner. “I passed him on the dunes, but on the fast bits he passed me. Every day can change everything. I have to stay focused day after day. I don’t think so much about victory. Of course, I’m a little bit nervous. Just missing one waypoint can cost you 20 minutes. Keeping going and doing my best is all I can do.”
Benavides also capitalised on Walkner’s slower pace and clawed back 10-minutes, finishing second behind Price. Honda’s Joan Barreda has decided to throw in the towel after yesterday’s difficult stage. The Spaniard, exhausted and nursing a knee injury for the last four days, has withdrawn from the rally despite sitting in second place.
With three days still to go, Benavides needs to make up 32 minutes and Price 39 minutes if either rider wants a chance of winning the 2017 Dakar Rally.
“Yesterday was… I’ve never felt so bad in my life,” said Price. “Today we just needed to try and see if we could claw back a little bit of time, and I think we’ve done that a little bit, but it’s gonna be tough from back where we are. It’s good to get a stage win. In the first week I was quite conservative, but now I attached some more, it’s good to get a stage win because I hadn’t done that this year so far. To be still in the race going towards the finish line is a pretty big achievement for me. My goal is just trying to stay on two wheels, not making a day like yesterday and seeing what that gives us at the finish line.”
Fellow Australian Rodney Faggotter finished in 16th Position, and Scott Britnell finished up in 97th position.
Provisional Results Stage 11 – 2018 Dakar Rally
1. Toby Price (AUT), KTM, 4:01:33
2. Kevin Benavides (ARG), Honda, 4:03:11 +1:38
3. Antoine Meo (FRA), KTM, 4:08:04 +6:31
4. Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 4:09:07 +7:34
5. Matthias Walkner (AUT), KTM, 4:12:34 +11:01
Provisional Standings after Stage 11 – 2018 Dakar Rally
1. Matthias Walkner (AUT), KTM, 36:33:37
2. Kevin Benavides (ARG), Honda, 37:05:37 +32:00
3. Toby Price (AUT), KTM, 37:12:54 +39:17
4. Gerard Farres (ESP), KTM, 37:22:54 +49:17
5. Antoine Meo (FRA), KTM, 37:32:42 +59:05