Kevin Benavides and the definition of the Dakar: “We are like against France, on penalties”

Completed the stage of the marathon. The pilots slept in the tent in the heart of the Empty Quarter, the most inhospitable desert in the world. Without the assistance of their respective teams, only with their belongings. They rested under the stars, which seem to multiply on the sea of ​​sand which fascinates by day but overwhelms by night.

From there, the competitors completed the 12th stage to the Shaybah bivouac, where the teams were waiting, already at the Empty Quarter exit. The faces show tiredness. The Dakar started on December 31st and the bodies feel it. They know that before their eyes is the result of the most extreme competition in the world.

And the bikes fascinate for the show in the dunes, but more for the fight against the timekeepers. With more than 7,000 kilometers covered in 14 days so far, three pilots fight for just 2m44.

Kevin Benavides (KTM) is one of those privileged people who seek glory in the great adventure. He already knew how to win here two years ago, becoming the first Latin American rider to do so. And now he faces his partner and leader, Toby Price, and the American Skyler Howes (Husqvarna).

“It will be a very important stage, in which you have to give everything. I think it will defineas they say the last one will be very fast and short so there will be no chance to make a difference,” Benavides commented to clarionafter reaching Shaybah camp.

Kevin admitted that he could have closed the stage a little higher. But strategies and speculations are measured to the millimetre, as being ahead in the leaderboard indicates that they have to lead the way the next day.

“I didn’t go 100% because if I had stayed in front it would have been difficult for me tomorrow. The reality is that if I win, it will complicate me. That’s why I graduated to the end. With fifth place I think it’s an optimal position to attack tomorrow”, explained the 34-year-old driver from Salta.

The definition is exciting. A couple of days ago the Argentine was driving, then Howes and now Price. “This definition is similar to the World Cup between Argentina and France. Now we go to penalties”, joked Kevin still riding his KTM, before depositing it in assistance to the Austrian team.

The stage was won by Chilean Ignacio Cornejo. Originally from Iquique, they are well acquainted with the Benavides brothers, as the Salteños were trained by “Nacho’s” father, who is in the Dakar camp.

In quadricycles, the Frenchman Alexander Giraud had a big scare, who suffered a break in the crankcase of his vehicle and lost half an hour. Francisco Moreno of Mendoza is now 59 minutes behind the Frenchman. “I make my career. Then different things can happen. Certainly Giraud will change engine and penalize 15 minutes. I will do the same because I want to make sure I get to Damman, ”he confessed to Clarín.

In the car, Sebastien Loeb (Bahrain) won the sixth stage of this Dakar 2023, the fifth in a row. However, he is 1h27m behind the comfortable leader, Qatari Nasser Al-Arriyah (Toyota). The best Argentinian is Juan Cruz Yacopini (Toyota).

The penultimate stage will take place in a northerly direction. From Shaybah to Al-Hufuf, for a total distance of 699 kilometres, of which 154 are special. Sunday the last day will be in Damman, on the shores of the Persian Gulf.

SHAYBAH, Saudi Arabia. Special.