2018 Dakar Rally Stage 11 Highlights

Stage 11’s rider starting order was dictated by the overall results of all vehicles yesterday in Stage 10. This meant a mixed start that featured several cars and trucks interspersed with the motorcycles on the track, posing a serious disadvantage as riders were faced with heavily rutted tracks from the larger four-wheeled vehicles before them. But this seemed to work into Aussie Toby Price’s favour as he claimed his first Dakar stage win of his 2018 campaign.
But the news wasn’t as good for Monster Energy Honda, as there top rider Joan Barreda has retired from the 2018 Dakar whilst sitting in second position. This is due to suffering several falls in some of the earlier stages of the rally and punishing his body severely. The exhausted Spaniard made the decision to completely withdraw.
For more news from Stage 11 here is the official news from KTM…

Toby Price has fought back from yesterday’s disappointing result to dominate Stage 11 of the 2018 Dakar Rally. His KTM teammate Antoine Meo put in another superb performance to post the third fastest time for the day while Matthias Walkner placed fifth to retain his position at the top of the provisional overall standings.
Today was the first leg of the second marathon stage at this year’s Dakar Rally, which means that there will be no mechanical assistance available from anyone other than the riders themselves. The Super Fiambalá as it has come to be known was a 280km special through the Argentinian dunes with scorching temperatures reaching over 40 degrees. Similar to yesterday’s stage, navigation was massively important as was the ability to conserve machinery as no mechanical help could be provided at the bivouac.
Toby Price was one of those riders who lost their way on yesterday’s stage 10. Riding hard to make up time on today’s stage, Price led the special from start to finish. This dominant performance moves the Australian up to third in the provisional standings, albeit close to 40-minutes down on the leader, team-mate Matthias Walkner.

Like Price, Antoine Meo was suffering from a late start position due to his result from stage 10. The Frenchman rode superbly all day battling for the runner-up spot right until the flag. A small mistake cost Meo a few minutes but the former Enduro World Champion was still able to claim third place and also improve his position in the provisional standings to fifth.
Matthias Walkner opened the road for the bikes and with stage 11 being a mixed start, the Austrian had to contend with some of the leading cars on the tracks, too. Riding consistently and again concentrating on his navigation, Walkner rode to a strong fifth place – 11 minutes down on his team-mate and winner of the stage, Toby Price. Despite losing a little time today to his rivals, the former Cross-Country Rallies World Champion still holds a comfortable advantage at the top of the standings, 32-minutes ahead of second-placed Kevin Benavides.

Matthias Walkner: “Things went pretty well for me today. I was a little nervous because I didn’t want to go wrong anywhere and lose all of the time that I gained yesterday. The stage was good, but my pace could have been a little better. I didn’t really want to end up making a mistake by pushing too hard though. I got stuck behind one of the cars later on in the stage and didn’t want to risk overtaking so that cost me a few seconds. Overall, I am feeling really good, my body is getting used to all the strain now. There are just three days to go, so I’ll keep focused and carry on.”

Leading female competitor Laia Sanz had another good day. The Spaniard, riding sensibly and concentrating on hitting each waypoint, maintained a good pace throughout the timed special to finish in a very solid 18th place.

Provisional Results Stage 11 – 2018 Dakar Rally
1. Toby Price (AUS), 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
6. Gerard Farres (ESP), KTM, 4:14:05 +12:32
16. Rodney Faggotter (AUS), Yamaha
50. Scott Britnell (AUS), KTM

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 (AUS), 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
18. Rodney Faggotter (AUS), Yamaha
61. Scott Britnell (AUS), KTM

What about the other Aussies? Well, Yamaha’s Rodney Faggotter finished in Stage 11 in 16th position putting him in 18th place Overall and 43-year-old Scott Britnell who is racing in the Original class. What’s the Original class all about? It’s not for the faint-hearted, it’s basically unassisted. You have just your bike, a small locker box with as many tools and spare parts as you can fit in, and your courage to guide you through the race. Britnell finished Stage 11 in 50th place which puts him in 61st Overall.

Stage 12 of the 2018 Dakar Rally, the second leg of the final marathon stage, will again test both rider and machine. Following a night in the bivouac with no team-assistance riders will leave Fiambalá and head for San Juan. Conserving both machine and energy will be extremely important on this 723km stage. A long 375km timed special will require good navigational and supreme physical endurance in the Argentinian heat. Winding its way through the dirt tracks and riverbeds of the San Juan region, the route could bring even more changes to the current running order.