Here’s the confirmation: Ricky Brabec is the winner of Dakar 2024! The Honda rider set off with a comfortable lead going into the last stage of the competition, stage 12, and all he had to do was practically «just» finish the day to confirm his second Dakar Rally victory, his return to the top step of the podium after having done so previously in 2020.
As if it was a final day to «deliver» the competition trophy, Kevin Benavides (KTM), winner in 2023, won today’s final day of competition, with 328km and 175 special stages, in 1h48m40s.
Toby Price (KTM) was second fastest and took just over a minute longer to finish this year’s competition, with Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) third.
Honda, who were clearly the best manufacturer, had Adrien Van Beveren as their best rider, in fourth, with Diego Gamaliel Llanos (Xraids Experience) rounding off the top five.
Ricky Brabec, the man of the moment, finished the stage 3m31s behind Benavides, but he controlled the events and secured his second victory in the Dakar rally, having already made history in 2020 by becoming the first American to win the competition.
In the final table, the highlight is of course the winner, who finished the competition 10m53s ahead of Ross Branch (Hero), with Van Beveren in third at 12m25s. Kevin Benavides was the first off the podium, in fourth, while Toby Price was fifth.
Top ten of the last day:
POS. | N° | EXP. | DRIVE-TEAM | TEAM | TIME | VARIATION | PENALITY |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 47 | (ARG) KEVIN BENAVIDES | RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING | 01H 48′ 40” | |||
2 | 2 | (AUS) TOBY PRICE | RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING | 01H 49′ 40” | + 00H 01′ 00” | ||
3 | 1 | (ARG) LUCIANO BENAVIDES | HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING | 01H 49′ 54” | + 00H 01′ 14” | 00H 01′ 00” | |
4 | 42 | (FRA) ADRIEN VAN BEVEREN | MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM | 01H 50′ 05” | + 00H 01′ 25” | ||
5 | 41 | (ARG) DIEGO GAMALIEL LLANOS | XRAIDS EXPERIENCE | 01H 51′ 54” | + 00H 03′ 14” | ||
6 | 16 | (FRA) ROMAIN DUMONTIER | TEAM DUMONTIER RACING | 01H 52′ 03” | + 00H 03′ 23” | ||
7 | 9 | (USA) RICKY BRABEC | MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM | 01H 52′ 11” | + 00H 03′ 31” | ||
8 | 28 | (FRA) MATHIEU DOVEZE | BAS WORLD KTM RACING TEAM | 01H 52′ 16” | + 00H 03′ 36” | ||
9 | 46 | (BWA) ROSS BRANCH | HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY | 01H 52′ 42” | + 00H 04′ 02” | ||
10 | 18 | (ZAF) BRADLEY COX | BAS WORLD KTM RACING TEAM | 01H 52′ 59” | + 00H 04′ 19” |
Top ten overall:
POS. | N° | EXP. | DRIVE-TEAM | TEAM | TIME | VARIATION | PENALITY |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 9 | (USA) RICKY BRABEC | MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM | 51H 30′ 08” | 00H 01′ 00” | ||
2 | 46 | (BWA) ROSS BRANCH | HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY | 51H 41′ 01” | + 00H 10′ 53” | 00H 01′ 00” | |
3 | 42 | (FRA) ADRIEN VAN BEVEREN | MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM | 51H 42′ 33” | + 00H 12′ 25” | ||
4 | 47 | (ARG) KEVIN BENAVIDES | RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING | 52H 08′ 56” | + 00H 38′ 48” | 00H 04′ 00” | |
5 | 2 | (AUS) TOBY PRICE | RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING | 52H 15′ 36” | + 00H 45′ 28” | ||
6 | 11 | (CHL) JOSE IGNACIO CORNEJO FLORIMO | MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM | 52H 16′ 46” | + 00H 46′ 38” | 00H 06′ 00” | |
7 | 1 | (ARG) LUCIANO BENAVIDES | HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING | 52H 23′ 39” | + 00H 53′ 31” | 00H 16′ 00” | |
8 | 5 | (AUS) DANIEL SANDERS | RED BULL GASGAS FACTORY RACING | 52H 44′ 40” | + 01H 14′ 32” | ||
9 | 142 | (SVK) STEFAN SVITKO | SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM | 53H 26′ 36” | + 01H 56′ 28” | ||
10 | 23 | (CZE) MARTIN MICHEK | ORION – MOTO RACING GROUP | 54H 18′ 57” | + 02H 48′ 49” | 00H 01′ 00” |