Dwell
Australian Toby Value has come agonizingly near taking the Dakar Rally motorbike occasion in Saudi Arabia.
Holding the lead going into the ultimate stage, Value was crushed into second place on Sunday, ending 43 seconds behind Argentine rider Kevin Benavides.
Benavides, the 2021 champion on two wheels, gained the ultimate 14th stage to Dammam for Purple Bull KTM with teammate Value 55 seconds behind.
American Skyler Howes completed third general for the Husqvarna manufacturing facility staff.
With the beginning order for the ultimate stage based mostly on reverse general classification, Benavides was 89th to set off and Value adopted three minutes later in 90th on the street.
Mud at 29 kilometers prompted some riders to get caught however Benavides and Value received via with out incident.
Value, a two-time Dakar winner, slipped to fourth earlier than preventing his means again into the stage.
“The primary level is disappointment. We have come thus far, however look, Kevin’s achieved an excellent job,” mentioned Value, who needed to flip again for 2 missed waypoints that price him the race.
“Laborious to take in the intervening time, however on the finish of the day I am going house in a single piece and we received a Dakar trophy. It hurts a bit bit.”
Qatar’s Nasser Al-Attiyah gained the automobile crown for the fifth time.
Al-Attiyah, the reigning champion for Toyota with co-driver Mathieu Baumel, completed the ultimate 14th stage to Dammam on the Gulf coast with a lead of an hour and 20 minutes over France’s nine-time world rally champion Sebastien Loeb.
The Qatari, who led from stage three as rivals hit hassle, now ranks second within the listing of all-time winners within the automobile class behind eight instances champion Stephane Peterhansel of France.
Frenchman Alexandre Giroud gained the quadbike title for the second 12 months in a row.
– with Reuters
