2021 Dakar Rally | Stage Nine Report & Highlights

January 12, 2021

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2021 DAKAR RALLY | COMPLETE COVERAGE

PHOTOS | HONDA-KTM-HUSQVARNA-YAMAHA-RALLY ZONE

Trouble seems to wait just around the corner at the Dakar Rally. That was the case during Stage Nine of this year’s race, as multiple riders were forced to abandon due to crashes or mechanical failures during the long 579 kilometer loop around Neom, making these final days in the desert even more important.

STAGE NINE

The Monster Energy Honda Team is on the move, something the group proved during their day around the Red Sea. Kevin Benavides claimed the Stage win, the brand’s seventh of the year, and moved up to second overall in the results thanks to this performance and issues experienced by those ahead of him.

Ricky Brabec’s title defense was in question during week one, but a string of solid rides since the rest day and a second-place result in Stage Nine has helped him make up a substantial amount of time in the overall standings. He is now fourth overall and down by just over 17-minutes.

But José Ignacio Cornejo still holds the overall lead, a three-day streak that no one has matched this year. Cornejo has been both quick and consistent, and with a third-place overall, his lead is now 11-minutes.

KTM’s struggles aided Honda’s success. Red Bull KTM Rally’s Toby Price suffered a hard crash early in the day, was tended to by fellow riders (including Brabec), and helicoptered to the bivouac for a shoulder injury. This brings the multi-time champion’s race to an unfortunate end.

Thanks to a fourth-place finish on the Stage by Sam Sunderland, it wasn’t all bad for the orange team. Now ranked fourth, the young racer is the only rider in the top-five to not be on a Honda.

Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team’s Ross Branch suffered his second big setback of the year on Stage Nine, as a terminal mechanical issue on his motorcycle has forced him to abandon.