On a day of mourning at the Dakar rally, the Benavides brothers made 1-2 and are not stopping in the deserts of Saudi Arabia

“There is no strategy. It’s all for all. All or nothing.” Without hesitation, with conviction, with the confidence that a champion brings, Kevin Benavides shows his total dedication in Dakar. He knows there is no longer any margin for error or doubt. The undertaking is not easy, it is far from cutting-edge, but no one knows like him what it means to give your all to pursue your goals.

43 days ago, the 35-year-old pilot from Salta suffered a fracture of his left leg, while preparing for the 2024 Dakar in the United States.

For many, the impossible mission of reaching the most extreme competition in the world was that utopia that no one knows how to cling to their hopes and dreams. But Kevin knows a lot about it. His entire campaign mixed great results with ferocious shots.

And here is the defender of the last Dakar victory. He showed up, left, won stage 3 and now once again became the winner of the day, winning stage 8, from Al Dawadimi TO Greetings.

But Argentina made it 1-2, a strange term in this discipline, but valid for Kevin’s victory and second place Lucianowith Husqvarna. A supreme performance for the Salta brothers.

In any case Kevin knows that now will come the hardest part in the fight to defend the previous year’s success tooth and nail. He is in fifth place overall, 20 minutes and 31 seconds behind the leader, the North American Ricky Brabec (Sling).

“We try to do our best and we will fight until the end. There is no longer a strategy. I will go out and do what I can best”, was the strong declaration of the eldest Benavide, who knows that he has four days left to serve those 20 minutes eternal.

“The most complicated thing at the beginning were the dunes. They were sandy roads that became more and more complicated, with parallel lines. In the second sector the terrain was different, very mountainous. I had a lot of fun. Luciano and Nacho (Dogwood) they did a great job in opening the track, so I’m very satisfied,” explained the Argentine.

At the summit, Brabec took a 42-second lead Ross Branchof Hero, in what looks like a direct fight for the final victory next Friday in Yanbu.

The other Argentinians on motorbikes: Diego Llanos, who suffers from a right arm problem, is 22nd in the general classification; the neuk Santiago Rostan36th, and the Cordovano Santiago Urquía76°.

On quadricycles, the rider from Lobos, in the province of Buenos Aires, Manuel Andújarhe won the stage again, and now the leader of the specialty precedes the Frenchman by 11 minutes Alex Giraud.

In cars, Spanish Carlos Sainzwith Audi, he also made the difference compared to his direct rival, also a former world rally champion Sebastiano Loebwhich was delayed by a crossing point and is now 24 minutes and 47 seconds behind the leader.

The Mendoza Juan Cruz Yacopini He is 18th overall, having suffered countless mechanical problems with the Overdrive team vehicle.

In the Challenger category, with the light cars, the Córdoba Nicola Cavigliasso He was fifth in the stage, although far behind in the general classification, after the differential failure he suffered on Sunday delayed him reaching the Al Dawadimi camp after midnight.

The Benavides will bet on everything. It’s not easy, but they don’t give up. A characteristic that they have in their skin and which for them was fundamental in obtaining the triumphs in the Dakar, by Kevin, and the world title of the specialty, by Luciano. All or nothing. No strategy. In search of the miracle. Or rather, dreams.

Shock over the death of Spaniard Carles Falcón

The Dakar is in mourning. The Spanish Carlos Falcone He died after suffering a very serious accident during the second stage of the competition, which took place last Sunday between the cities of Al Henakiyah and Al Duwadimi.

Unfortunately, after being transferred to Spain in critical condition, the team TwinTrail Racing Team confirmed his death. In the statement released, they expressed the following: “This Monday, January 15, Carles (Falcón) left us. The medical team confirmed that the neurological damage caused by the cardiorespiratory arrest at the time of the accident is irreversible.”

“Carles was a smiling person, always active, who passionately enjoyed everything he did, especially on a motorbike. He left us doing something that was his dream, racing the Dakar. He had fun, he was happy on a motorbike. We must remember him for his smile and for the happiness he aroused in everyone,” he continued.

“IT engineer by training. Motorcycle instructor and tour guide by passion. There are many who learned at his side. He taught with patience, energy and joy, he made everyone have fun with the motorbike. This is what made us start and we will remain always with us, all of us who were close to him, family, friends, teammates and fans”, indicated the team.

“We ask the family and the team, please, to maintain confidentiality regarding the farewell events that will take place in the coming days. Thank you for your understanding”, the statement ends.