Price takes Dakar lead at halfway stage

Sam Sunderland leaps in today’s Dakar action

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Toby Price has put in another strong performance at the 2021 Dakar, finishing as seventh fastest on today’s sixth stage to take the provisional overall lead going into Saturday’s rest day. Briton Sam Sunderland placed ninth and is now sixth overall while Honda’s Joan Barreda won the day’s special stage.

Following Thursday’s exhausting stage five, riders were hoping for an easier time on the final special before the rest day. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the case. Despite being shortened to 347km from the original length of 448km, stage six truly tested all competitors’ navigation skills and stamina by delivering a tough day made up of sandy, twisting tracks, before opening out into a mixture of both hard dirt trails and soft dunes.

Toby Price backed up his strong third-place finish on stage five with a storming ride from the front on day six. Setting off as the third rider to enter the special, the two-time Dakar champion had caught the two riders ahead of him by kilometer 100. Riding in a group of three from there to the finish, Price was able to find a solid rhythm and navigate through the dunes without major issues. With his seventh-place result, Toby lost the very minimum of time to his rivals, completing the special less than four minutes down and in doing so takes the lead of the 2021 event.

Toby Price:“Today they cut about 100km out of the stage and that definitely helped us because it’s still been a really tough day out there. It took a while, but I managed to catch the two guys ahead of me and luckily we were able to keep up a really good pace right at the front. I did have one little get-off that twisted the road book tower a little bit but apart from that there were no problems. It feels great to have taken the overall lead, but after such an up and down week the most important thing is we’re fit and in good shape for the second half of the rally. The plan now is to enjoy the rest day and then hopefully more of the same next week.”

Showing the sort of consistency that took him to the win at the 2017 Dakar Rally, Sam Sunderland delivered another solid performance today, finishing as ninth fastest to complete the first week of racing in sixth position in the general rankings. Trailing his teammate and overall event leader by just less than four and a half minutes, Sunderland will enjoy a strong start position for the dune-heavy stage seven and hopes to claw back valuable minutes on his favored terrain.

Sam Sunderland:“Another long day and it was really, really fast. I tried my hardest to catch up to the guys in front but their pace was quite high and so I ended up riding most of the stage on my own, concentrating on my road book and trying to ensure a safe finish before rest day. This first week has been good, I’ve been able to avoid the big yo-yo effect of leading out and then playing catch up by just staying consistent every day. It seems to have paid off too, because I’m in a good position overall and feel strong for next week.”

David Knight was 31st in his best ride of the event, while Neil was Hakwer 47th. They are 37th and 48th overall in the event.

Saturday at the 2021 Dakar Rally is rest day. Competitors will remain in Ha’il and enjoy a day off from racing before resuming competition again on Sunday with the 737km stage seven.

1	88	(ESP) JOAN BARREDA BORT	MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021	03H 45′ 27”
2	18	(BWA) ROSS BRANCH	MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM	03H 45′ 40”	+ 00H 00′ 13”
3	21	(AUS) DANIEL SANDERS	KTM FACTORY TEAM	03H 46′ 20”	+ 00H 00′ 53”
4	1	(USA) RICKY BRABEC	MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021	03H 47′ 51”	+ 00H 02′ 24”
5	52	(AUT) MATTHIAS WALKNER	RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM	03H 48′ 41”	+ 00H 03′ 14”
6	42	(FRA) ADRIEN VAN BEVEREN	MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM	03H 49′ 00”	+ 00H 03′ 33”
7	3	(AUS) TOBY PRICE	RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM	03H 49′ 21”	+ 00H 03′ 54”
8	27	(PRT) JOAQUIM RODRIGUES	HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY	03H 50′ 02”	+ 00H 04′ 35”
9	5	(GBR) SAM SUNDERLAND	RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM	03H 51′ 21”	+ 00H 05′ 54”
10	2	(CHL) PABLO QUINTANILLA	ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING	03H 51′ 55”	+ 00H 06′ 28”
11	4	(CHL) JOSE IGNACIO CORNEJO FLORIMO	MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021	03H 52′ 19”	+ 00H 06′ 52”
12	9	(USA) SKYLER HOWES	BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM	03H 52′ 31”	+ 00H 07′ 04”
13	6	(ARG) FRANCO CAIMI	MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM	03H 53′ 20”	+ 00H 07′ 53”
14	12	(FRA) XAVIER DE SOULTRAIT	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	03H 54′ 14”	+ 00H 08′ 47”
15	31	(CZE) MARTIN MICHEK	ORION – MOTO RACING GROUP	03H 54′ 55”	+ 00H 09′ 28”
16	77	(ARG) LUCIANO BENAVIDES	ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING	03H 54′ 56”	+ 00H 09′ 29”
17	47	(ARG) KEVIN BENAVIDES	MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021	03H 55′ 20”	+ 00H 09′ 53”
18	15	(ESP) LORENZO SANTOLINO	SHERCO FACTORY	03H 57′ 19”	+ 00H 11′ 52”
19	11	(SVK) STEFAN SVITKO	SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM	03H 57′ 30”	+ 00H 12′ 03”
20	74	(ESP) JAUME BETRIU	FN SPEED – KTM TEAM	03H 59′ 38”	+ 00H 14′ 11”
21	24	(DEU) SEBASTIAN BÜHLER	HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY	04H 06′ 01”	+ 00H 20′ 34”
22	32	(ESP) TOSHA SCHAREINA	FN SPEED – KTM TEAM	04H 07′ 15”	+ 00H 21′ 48”
23	22	(POL) MACIEJ GIEMZA	ORLEN TEAM	04H 11′ 06”	+ 00H 25′ 39”
24	17	(ESP) JOAN PEDRERO GARCIA	FN SPEED – RIEJU TEAM	04H 11′ 21”	+ 00H 25′ 54”
25	44	(ESP) LAIA SANZ	GAS GAS FACTORY TEAM	04H 16′ 23”	+ 00H 30′ 56”
26	54	(FRA) CAMILLE CHAPELIERE	TEAM BAINES RALLY	04H 21′ 06”	+ 00H 35′ 39”
27	25	(NLD) PAUL SPIERINGS	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	04H 21′ 18”	+ 00H 35′ 51”
28	26	(CZE) MILAN ENGEL	ORION – MOTO RACING GROUP	04H 21′ 34”	+ 00H 36′ 07”
29	33	(IND) HARITH NOAH KOITHA VEETTIL	SHERCO FACTORY	04H 21′ 49”	+ 00H 36′ 22”
30	36	(CZE) JAN BRABEC	STROJRENT RACING	04H 22′ 41”	+ 00H 37′ 14”	00H 15′ 00”
31	101	(GBR) DAVID KNIGHT	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	04H 23′ 19”	+ 00H 37′ 52”
32	80	(AUS) MICHAEL BURGESS	BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM	04H 24′ 17”	+ 00H 38′ 50”
33	39	(FRA) BENJAMIN MELOT	BENJAMIN MELOT	04H 27′ 36”	+ 00H 42′ 09”
34	30	(LTU) ARUNAS GELAZNINKAS	ZIGMAS DAKAR TEAM	04H 28′ 09”	+ 00H 42′ 42”
35	142	(ITA) MAURIZIO GERINI	SOLARYS RACING	04H 30′ 59”	+ 00H 45′ 32”
36	19	(PRT) RUI GONCALVES	SHERCO FACTORY	04H 32′ 07”	+ 00H 46′ 40”
37	53	(CZE) LIBOR PODMOL	PODMOL DAKAR TEAM	04H 33′ 43”	+ 00H 48′ 16”
38	41	(CHN) ZAKER YAKP	WU PU DA HAI DAO DAKAR RALLY TEAM	04H 37′ 32”	+ 00H 52′ 05”
39	48	(FRA) MATHIEU DOVEZE	NOMADE RACING ASSISTANCE	04H 42′ 23”	+ 00H 56′ 56”
40	29	(ROU) EMANUEL GYENES	AUTONET MOTORCYCLE TEAM	04H 45′ 09”	+ 00H 59′ 42”
41	37	(CZE) DAVID PABISKA	JANTAR TEAM	04H 52′ 37”	+ 01H 07′ 10”
42	63	(POL) KONRAD DABROWSKI	DUUST RALLY TEAM	04H 52′ 55”	+ 01H 07′ 28”
43	95	(FRA) XAVIER FLICK	XTREM RACING	04H 53′ 07”	+ 01H 07′ 40”
44	46	(SVN) SIMON MARCIC	MARCIC	05H 00′ 31”	+ 01H 15′ 04”
45	87	(ESP) ORIOL MENA	FN SPEED – RIEJU TEAM	05H 05′ 12”	+ 01H 19′ 45”
46	86	(FRA) CHARLIE HERBST	DRAG’ON RALLY TEAM	05H 12′ 51”	+ 01H 27′ 24”
47	84	(GBR) NEIL HAWKER	NEIL HAWKER	05H 19′ 04”	+ 01H 33′ 37”
48	108	(ESP) MARC CALMET	FN SPEED – RIEJU TEAM	05H 20′ 21”	+ 01H 34′ 54”
49	55	(CHN) ZHAO HONGYI	WU PU DA HAI DAO DAKAR RALLY TEAM	05H 24′ 31”	+ 01H 39′ 04”
50	98	(ESP) SARA GARCIA	PONT GRUP YAMAHA	05H 29′ 59”	+ 01H 44′ 32”
51	99	(ESP) JAVI VEGA PUERTA	PONT GRUP YAMAHA	05H 30′ 06”	+ 01H 44′ 39”
52	97	(SVK) MARTIN BENKO	NORWIT RACING	05H 30′ 34”	+ 01H 45′ 07”
53	81	(SVK) ERIK VLCAK	SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM	05H 30′ 35”	+ 01H 45′ 08”
54	65	(ITA) FRANCO PICCO	TEAM FRANCO PICCO	05H 33′ 32”	+ 01H 48′ 05”
55	60	(FRA) STÉPHANE DARQUES	M.O.R.AL	05H 35′ 11”	+ 01H 49′ 44”
56	78	(ITA) CESARE ZACCHETTI	CESARE ZACCHETTI	05H 38′ 34”	+ 01H 53′ 07”
57	35	(MEX) JUAN PABLO GUILLEN RIVERA	NOMADAS ADVENTURE	05H 39′ 14”	+ 01H 53′ 47”

Overall standings

1	3	(AUS) TOBY PRICE	RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM	24H 08′ 43”
2	47	(ARG) KEVIN BENAVIDES	MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021	24H 10′ 59”	+ 00H 02′ 16”	00H 02′ 00”
3	4	(CHL) JOSE IGNACIO CORNEJO FLORIMO	MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021	24H 11′ 40”	+ 00H 02′ 57”
4	18	(BWA) ROSS BRANCH	MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM	24H 12′ 24”	+ 00H 03′ 41”	00H 01′ 00”
5	12	(FRA) XAVIER DE SOULTRAIT	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	24H 12′ 24”	+ 00H 03′ 41”
6	5	(GBR) SAM SUNDERLAND	RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM	24H 13′ 06”	+ 00H 04′ 23”
7	88	(ESP) JOAN BARREDA BORT	MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021	24H 15′ 08”	+ 00H 06′ 25”
8	9	(USA) SKYLER HOWES	BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM	24H 18′ 55”	+ 00H 10′ 12”	00H 01′ 00”
9	15	(ESP) LORENZO SANTOLINO	SHERCO FACTORY	24H 22′ 29”	+ 00H 13′ 46”
10	2	(CHL) PABLO QUINTANILLA	ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING	24H 23′ 56”	+ 00H 15′ 13”
11	77	(ARG) LUCIANO BENAVIDES	ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING	24H 25′ 05”	+ 00H 16′ 22”	00H 01′ 00”
12	21	(AUS) DANIEL SANDERS	KTM FACTORY TEAM	24H 26′ 44”	+ 00H 18′ 01”	00H 07′ 00”
13	1	(USA) RICKY BRABEC	MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021	24H 28′ 39”	+ 00H 19′ 56”
14	11	(SVK) STEFAN SVITKO	SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM	24H 34′ 13”	+ 00H 25′ 30”
15	42	(FRA) ADRIEN VAN BEVEREN	MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM	24H 43′ 30”	+ 00H 34′ 47”
16	6	(ARG) FRANCO CAIMI	MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM	24H 52′ 53”	+ 00H 44′ 10”
17	27	(PRT) JOAQUIM RODRIGUES	HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY	24H 53′ 44”	+ 00H 45′ 01”	00H 02′ 00”
18	31	(CZE) MARTIN MICHEK	ORION – MOTO RACING GROUP	24H 56′ 05”	+ 00H 47′ 22”	00H 01′ 00”
19	22	(POL) MACIEJ GIEMZA	ORLEN TEAM	25H 13′ 35”	+ 01H 04′ 52”
20	74	(ESP) JAUME BETRIU	FN SPEED – KTM TEAM	25H 31′ 10”	+ 01H 22′ 27”	00H 05′ 00”
21	24	(DEU) SEBASTIAN BÜHLER	HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY	25H 35′ 28”	+ 01H 26′ 45”	00H 02′ 00”
22	17	(ESP) JOAN PEDRERO GARCIA	FN SPEED – RIEJU TEAM	25H 44′ 33”	+ 01H 35′ 50”
23	32	(ESP) TOSHA SCHAREINA	FN SPEED – KTM TEAM	25H 53′ 10”	+ 01H 44′ 27”
24	52	(AUT) MATTHIAS WALKNER	RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM	26H 20′ 20”	+ 02H 11′ 37”	00H 02′ 00”
25	44	(ESP) LAIA SANZ	GAS GAS FACTORY TEAM	26H 25′ 49”	+ 02H 17′ 06”	00H 10′ 00”
26	26	(CZE) MILAN ENGEL	ORION – MOTO RACING GROUP	26H 27′ 26”	+ 02H 18′ 43”
27	87	(ESP) ORIOL MENA	FN SPEED – RIEJU TEAM	26H 39′ 14”	+ 02H 30′ 31”
28	19	(PRT) RUI GONCALVES	SHERCO FACTORY	26H 52′ 30”	+ 02H 43′ 47”
29	142	(ITA) MAURIZIO GERINI	SOLARYS RACING	27H 27′ 13”	+ 03H 18′ 30”	00H 03′ 00”
30	30	(LTU) ARUNAS GELAZNINKAS	ZIGMAS DAKAR TEAM	27H 31′ 37”	+ 03H 22′ 54”
31	54	(FRA) CAMILLE CHAPELIERE	TEAM BAINES RALLY	27H 49′ 51”	+ 03H 41′ 08”	00H 40′ 00”
32	29	(ROU) EMANUEL GYENES	AUTONET MOTORCYCLE TEAM	28H 10′ 22”	+ 04H 01′ 39”
33	25	(NLD) PAUL SPIERINGS	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	28H 18′ 28”	+ 04H 09′ 45”
34	39	(FRA) BENJAMIN MELOT	BENJAMIN MELOT	28H 41′ 38”	+ 04H 32′ 55”	00H 01′ 00”
35	80	(AUS) MICHAEL BURGESS	BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM	28H 49′ 31”	+ 04H 40′ 48”	00H 10′ 00”
36	33	(IND) HARITH NOAH KOITHA VEETTIL	SHERCO FACTORY	28H 51′ 04”	+ 04H 42′ 21”
37	101	(GBR) DAVID KNIGHT	HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING	29H 06′ 01”	+ 04H 57′ 18”	00H 24′ 00”
38	37	(CZE) DAVID PABISKA	JANTAR TEAM	29H 14′ 08”	+ 05H 05′ 25”	00H 01′ 00”
39	63	(POL) KONRAD DABROWSKI	DUUST RALLY TEAM	29H 25′ 02”	+ 05H 16′ 19”
40	41	(CHN) ZAKER YAKP	WU PU DA HAI DAO DAKAR RALLY TEAM	29H 45′ 30”	+ 05H 36′ 47”	00H 40′ 00”
41	48	(FRA) MATHIEU DOVEZE	NOMADE RACING ASSISTANCE	30H 18′ 31”	+ 06H 09′ 48”	00H 05′ 00”
42	95	(FRA) XAVIER FLICK	XTREM RACING	30H 31′ 06”	+ 06H 22′ 23”
43	53	(CZE) LIBOR PODMOL	PODMOL DAKAR TEAM	30H 43′ 20”	+ 06H 34′ 37”	00H 06′ 00”
44	108	(ESP) MARC CALMET	FN SPEED – RIEJU TEAM	31H 55′ 27”	+ 07H 46′ 44”	00H 02′ 00”
45	86	(FRA) CHARLIE HERBST	DRAG’ON RALLY TEAM	31H 58′ 48”	+ 07H 50′ 05”	00H 02′ 00”
46	46	(SVN) SIMON MARCIC	MARCIC	32H 14′ 42”	+ 08H 05′ 59”	00H 02′ 00”
47	97	(SVK) MARTIN BENKO	NORWIT RACING	33H 01′ 56”	+ 08H 53′ 13”	00H 08′ 00”
48	84	(GBR) NEIL HAWKER	NEIL HAWKER	33H 13′ 20”	+ 09H 04′ 37”	00H 02′ 00”
49	78	(ITA) CESARE ZACCHETTI	CESARE ZACCHETTI	33H 21′ 09”	+ 09H 12′ 26”	00H 10′ 00”
50	81	(SVK) ERIK VLCAK	SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM	33H 49′ 43”	+ 09H 41′ 00”	00H 06′ 00”
51	65	(ITA) FRANCO PICCO	TEAM FRANCO PICCO	33H 56′ 19”	+ 09H 47′ 36”	00H 01′ 00”
52	98	(ESP) SARA GARCIA	PONT GRUP YAMAHA	34H 16′ 36”	+ 10H 07′ 53”	00H 05′ 00”
53	55	(CHN) ZHAO HONGYI	WU PU DA HAI DAO DAKAR RALLY TEAM	34H 23′ 40”	+ 10H 14′ 57”
54	99	(ESP) JAVI VEGA PUERTA	PONT GRUP YAMAHA	34H 33′ 02”	+ 10H 24′ 19”
55	60	(FRA) STÉPHANE DARQUES	M.O.R.AL	34H 36′ 43”	+ 10H 28′ 00”	00H 02′ 30”
56	35	(MEX) JUAN PABLO GUILLEN RIVERA	NOMADAS ADVENTURE	35H 51′ 45”	+ 11H 43′ 02”	00H 22′ 00”
57	36	(CZE) JAN BRABEC	STROJRENT RACING	97H 08′ 38”	+ 72H 59′ 55”	62H 16′ 00”
58	110	(POL) JACEK BARTOSZEK	DUUST RALLY TEAM	127H 07′ 46”	+ 102H 59′ 03”	74H 16′ 00”
59	90	(ITA) FRANCESCO CATANESE	TUTTOGRU	127H 43′ 23”	+ 103H 34′ 40”	74H 00′ 00”
60	82	(IND) ASHISH RAORANE	ASHISH RAORANE	127H 55′ 19”	+ 103H 46′ 36”	74H 02′ 00”