“When a Dakar ends, the next day you start preparing for the next one”. And with this premise, which all the protagonists of the most difficult race on the planet affirm, at this point there is nothing left to enlist. The year of training and competitions to get back in shape in view of the upcoming Dakar 2023which, unlike the previous ones, will start the file December 31stIn Saudi Arabia.
the salteno Kevin Benavides He is one of the prominent protagonists of the Dakar. Winner in 2021, he was the first Latin American pilot win in the premier class: motorbikes. And he enthusiastically embarks with the hope of repeating that feat, also in the Middle East.
“All preparation for the year is done. Now we have the details to put in the bag and leave for Arabia for another dream”commented Benavides in a face-to-face with clarion.
– We are very elated by the triumph of the Argentine national team at the World Cup in Qatar. How important is such a milestone for an athlete who will also represent the country?
-Influences, honestly. This climate of joy and celebration that all Argentines have for the national team is exciting. This World Cup climate influences those of us who will be representing Argentina at the Dakar, which is kind of a World Cup in our specialty. It was a pride to put the national flag of Saudi Arabia on top in 2021. And all this is one more motivation to take on the competition.
-Only those who live that experience understand what it means to be so far from home, in the midst of other customs, another culture, and in your case even in a particular condition, in the midst of the Covid pandemic.
-As well as. It was all very special in that edition. When I won it was pandemic time. You can’t celebrate so much. The photos were also with a mask. But such an important victory for me and for South America makes us dream of repeating that goal. The Dakar is very tough. He leaves very early, we spend 12 hours a day on the bike, everything is unexpected, there are many variables during 15 days. That is why the Dakar is the most difficult, the most dangerous and that is why it raises so many expectations in motor sport.
-How is the preparation of the Dakar 2023 different from the previous ones?
-I arrived more firm in the body. In other years he had some injuries. Not so this time. It is the second year in the KTM team, which enjoys great prestige in this environment. He has won the Dakar 18 times. As for the bike, the frame design has been strengthened, there is an evolution. I’m entrenched inside the facility. I am very excited.
-There is a substantial change for this year, since whoever goes ahead, whoever “paves the way”, will have compensation over time, to equalize that condition.
-This year we have the new rule. Those who continue will have a bonus until halfway through the stage. This helps make up for lost times when opening the track. I like to open the track. We’ll see how it affects the race, but the measure was well adopted by the participants.
-The roadbook was said to become a tablet, replacing the classic rolled-up paper system.
-The bikes continue with the traditional roadbook, made of paper. It’s good that they are trying to go digital, but some tablets with poor screen quality have been implemented. And when it hit the sunlight, she reflected and didn’t let us see the signs.
-A few days ago David Castera, general director of the Dakar, announced that the Dakar 2023 will be tougher than in previous editions and that the most complex part will be at the end, in the “Empty Quarter” area. Is there a plan from KTM regarding these features? Is there anything you can know?
-Work with the team on race strategy in general. And we adapt to everyone’s reality step by step. This year it looks like it will be tougher, with a lot of technique. And in the second week we will enter the “Empty Quarter”. There are only dunes there. There is nothing else. Physically it will be complex, the race will be heavy, dragging the fatigue too. You have to be well minded and of course physically endure.
-The weather has a lot to do with how the race goes. Although last year it was very cold and even flooded, now it is not heading to northern Arabia.
-It’s true, it’s cold there, we are in winter in Saudi Arabia during the Dakar. And it is a very important question. We leave at 4 or 5 in the morning and the temperature is usually 4 degrees, 0 degrees. It is very difficult, especially on links. The sun only rises at 7, but it hits at 9 and we warm up. The cold suffers greatly. Let’s hope he’s more merciful in this edition.
-Your brother Luciano, a Husqvarna team rider (shares facility with KTM), has indicated that the team will wear the clothing and you will travel with the minimum. It seems like a minor detail but an oversight on this issue is a big deal.
-The teams will bring us the clothing kits in the campers. We won’t carry so much weight, just the bag full of delusion and desire.
-How much does a piece of clothing weigh?
-A full suit is about 15 kilos, with boots, helmet, bib that contains an airbag system, water camelbag, protectors, goggles, gloves, etc.
-This year you arrive in Saudi Arabia and there is no hotel, directly at the camp.
-It will be even more difficult because we won’t have any comforts since we get off the plane and go to the desert, to the camp. There will be more days of living together and less comfort, so we’ll be focused on the race.
When does it start and how to watch the Dakar 2023
Unlike in recent years, in which the starting signal was given in the first days of January, this time the legendary Dakar will start on December 31st. Next Saturday will be the prologue of the competition, which will start on the shores of the Red Sea, in the far west of Saudi Arabia. Television will once again be responsible ESPNalthough there will also be “micro” specials in Public TV, C5N, America TV, El Trece Y teleph.
The competition will cross the Middle Eastern country to the east, as it concludes on the shores of the Persian Gulf on January 15. The rest of the day will be in the capital, Riyadh.
The tour will contemplate some of them 9000 kilometers and this year will have the particularity of having similar stages in terms of extensions, given that they will be around 450 kilometers each, even if the connecting sections will be different.
After the rest day, the second half of the route will pass through the area called “Empty Quarter”, the most deserted part of Saudi Arabia, also the most oil-producing one, which is why it is expected, as such, the general announced on contest director, David Casteraas the toughest section of the Dakar 2023.
Source: Clarin
Jason Root is the go-to source for sports coverage at News Rebeat. With a passion for athletics and an in-depth knowledge of the latest sports trends, Jason provides comprehensive and engaging analysis of the world of sports.