Dakar 2021 - Daily Updates, Standing and Videos

Published in: News

This year's Dakar Rally is back again in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and is kicking off the new year right with a return to racing. Our ADVMoto Managing Editors - Justin W. Coffey and Kyra Sacdalan (WESTx1000) are on the ground at the event and sending us daily reports, updates, and photos of the action.

• 1/7/2021 - SS5: Comfort Is a Drug

The Dakar Proves that to Win This Race, You Must Suffer It

Special Stage Five was designed to torture, befuddle and test the barriers between you and insanity. Some survived without (much) damage, and others saw the end of their race right out the gate – in some cases, upside-down. Yesterday’s transfer stage, as long, fast and simple as it was, surely intended to bring the racers’ guards down so they could take an uppercut to the jaw once they became too comfortable. That’s just it. Comfort is…nice. But nice never won any battles, and as much as the ASO wants to weed out weakness, they also want to nurture talent and ambition. It’s easy to succumb to the many luxuries life has to offer, especially if there’s too much or too little of them. They distract you from your dreams, let you become complacent. Why feel pain and distress or fear when you can be cozy, indifferent or oblivious? Comfort’s best quality is to let you know there are good things to be had, and its worst is making you forget, anything worth having isn’t free. Whether you pay in dollars or sweat – to live fully is to give generously. This is what sets Dakar racers apart from so many people. The devotion to their craft is unending. It can take teams years just to cross the finish line let alone contenders. It doesn’t examine a person’s daring or talent alone, but their patience, willpower and cleverness. And SS5 did exactly that. Every skill and trait which makes the elite class extraordinary was tested.

Looking at the live tracking app, zoomed in on the colorful arrows representing each vehicle on the course, revealed a palpable chaos. Like finding a huddle of cockroaches immediately scattering in different directions when you flip on the light. Dakar is her name, mayhem is her game, and today the organization, guided by its clearly sadistic course developers, created the perfect maze – if pushing greatness until its breaking point was their goal. There wasn’t a front runner out there who didn’t draw circles in the ground, letting the later group know just how complex the roadbook was. Even the likes of Nasser Al-Attiyah, Stephane Peterhansel, Joan Barreda Bort and Ricky Brabec, to name a few, played Marco Polo with the Waypoints for a spell. You can imagine a fresh-faced athlete, new to this world, could feel overwhelmed at times. Truly grasping the gravity of this gargantuan event. The American Polaris RZR Factory team was humbled on many levels in SS5, and yet both rookie drivers survived, with excellent effort from their navigators. There are so many obstacles waiting in darkness, ready to spring out at any moment, that having no game-ending issues on the course is an achievement in and of itself. Kristen Matlock and Max Eddy Jr. (#409, Polaris RZR Factory), having suffered irreparable damage to the chassis on Stage Two are enduring the torture in the Experiential class to soak up as much information as possible, learning from mistakes they made and could make as the race continues. While Wayne Matlock and Sam Hayes maintained a slower pace than usual to reduce as many avoidable incidents as possible.

“It was tricky navigation. We got lost a little bit at the beginning, but then I would say it wasn't a fast stage, it was really technical with really hard dunes. I love that sort of stage. This is the Dakar - the last three stages were for tourists compared to this stage. We're close to “Chaleco” but today he was much faster. In the dunes he has incredible speed, so today he put seven minutes into us, but there are still a lot of stages to go.” – Aron Domzala #406, MONSTER ENERGY CAN-AM

Fellow countrymen in the Lightweight and SSV classes, had mixed encounters even though both landed on one of the first three steps. Seth Quintero and German local Dennis Zenz (#383 RED BULL OFF-ROAD TEAM USA) joined in the confusion early on, even earning a flat over the rocky section, but still the duo kept their focus and finished P3 and moved to P4 overall. Although Quintero is only in his late teens, he drives like a man much wiser. It doesn’t hurt that his co-pilot has his back on the hard bits either. Austin Jones and Brazilian Gustavo Gugelmin (#408 MONSTER ENERGY CAN-AM) also took a formidable position at 3rd in SSV, but theirs was a much different journey, exiting the ASS with a flawless pass. Owing their success to his navigator, Jones praised Gugelmin for his keen deciphering of the terrain and hieroglyphics which, unlike their colleagues, gave them a clean run. But let’s not let this unusual outcome set the bar. This special was a battle from the beginning, and to top it with the cherry, competitors had a two-hour liaison back to the bivouac in Riyadh. It’s hard to compare the canyons of the initial section of the trial to other recognizable regions. The path was entirely made of stone, if rock wasn’t just covering everything in view. It was a scene more common with “rock crawling” Jeeps in Utah. UTVs, Race Cars and Juggernauts sidestepped the carnage of fallen soldiers – punctures, roll-overs, mechanical functions – left wrecked along the pathway as they too tried to claw their way up the crags to the next obstacle. One of the victims was car #332, captained by South Africans Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings of Toyota Gazoo, who faced a serious crash at kilometer 20 leaving the vehicle on its side and Henk on the ground. But it wasn’t all bad for fans watching from Johannesburg as locals Brian Baragwanath and Taye Perry (#339, Century Racing) looked strong on the course pulling 2nd in the stage. Not to mention South African Giniel De Villiers and Spaniard Alex Haro Bravo (#304 Toyota Gazoo) nabbed first despite everything falling apart around them.

“Longest racing stage so far, which I feel played to both our strengths. The tougher and longer the race, the better! It was a big dune day too, again [it had] very busy navigation with a whole lot of off piste rocky and sandy stuff. Our morning started off perfectly, until we went a few meters too far right down the wrong ridge, having to turn around in a dead end. From there on, we put our heads down and killed it. I’m feeling great. Everyday we’re adapting and gaining experience. Looks like it was a South African car P1 and P2 today! Giniel de Villiers and then us, Brian Baragwanath and I, with Century Racing. Can’t believe five stages are done. And another two hours of Liaison to do now, and then we climb into prepping the car for Stage 6. Huge thanks to the team and Century racing, because this is definitely a team effort every single day... Tons of work. No time to rest!” Taye Perry #339, CENTURY RACING

The Amaury Sports Organisation (ASO) absolutely expected a struggle. It was the intention. It’s the intention of every Dakar Rally because, here, adrenaline is what pumps blood to the heart, at least during exhaustion. They were so intent on wearing down their participants, they set up a second bivouac in the sand for those who wouldn’t make the midnight curfew to Al Qaisumah. But it doesn’t seem like any of our favorites had to take this option, which is especially good for the Bikes because if a moto rolls into Bivy Two, they’d be penalized heavily and automatically moved to the Experiential class [read: disqualified].

“Today was a really difficult stage, really hard. One of the most demanding physically. In the last section, there were a lot of dunes and also at the beginning with a lot of tricky navigation. We had some problems, but other riders arrived, and we rode in a group. Cornejo was in front for a lot of the time and did very well with the navigation today.” – Joan Barreda Bort #88, MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021

Teamwork helps make the dream… You get it. But awful saying aside, joining forces seemed to be the key to success. Even the best of riders joined forces to decipher the tricky commands printed on their daily scroll. Apparently, Jose Cornejo Florimo (#4, MONSTER ENERGY HONDA) connected well with the directions and helped lead the other athletes out of the wild. His willingness to stick with his rivals in time of need could be why his excellent comprehension of the roadbook only landed him in 2nd seed by the conclusion of Day while Kevin Benavides (#47 MONSTER ENERGY HONDA) took hold of 1st. But considering the day he had, Benavides deserved it. After becoming lost early on, as were many, he had an off-bike affair with the sand… This left him with a broken nose, bruising and a possible sprained ankle. He’d also endured a laceration which led to a fair amount of blood loss. Lesser men in his position would have hit the rescue button, thrown in the towel and blamed fate. But instead, Benavides patched himself up and carried on with pain lingering. And there are few of his caliber which wouldn’t have done the same. Remember Toby Price’s 2019 victory with a broken hand? As if the lineup had anymore combos left to reconfigure, Toby Price (#3 RED BULL KTM FACTORY) found himself in 3rd place this time, with Lorenzo Santolino (#15 SHERCO FACTORY) at his heels. American hopeful, privateer Skyler Howes (#9), is still outperforming expectations – to include his own. Now both 7th in the stage and General Standings, he has been riding smart: slow (ish) in the slow parts and fast in the fast parts. And now having the BAS DAKAR KTM team behind him, there’s a legitimate chance we could hear the Star-Spangled Banner at the closing ceremony.

“Very long, nervous, but in the end, a successful day for our crew! Not everything depends on the pilot in rally raids. Navigation in the first 30 km of the Special caught us by surprise. Those who drove calmer, came out of the situation first. Five trucks left that complex canyon together.. After 20-30km, we managed to catch up with this caravan led by Andrey Karginov and came to finish 40 seconds from it.

Some would argue you haven’t truly experienced rally until you’ve raced from the cockpit of a 10-ton camas. You’re elevated over the wheels, over everything. To crest a dune is like reaching the peak of a rollercoaster, teetering over its edge and waiting to drop. The vantage point stretches miles. You may be man-handling a glorified garbage truck, but with 700 horsepower in some, and a top speed that’ll rival the lightweight premiere cars, who wouldn’t want to barrel down the backcountry in what’s essentially an AT-AT on wheels? No, the Dakar Rally isn’t approachable. In fact, it’s elitist. It welcomes only the strongest wills and biggest hearts and rejects those with entitlement and overconfidence. But this is what makes the competition so desirable. You don’t deserve to be in its favor, you earn it. And at the end of the day, every pound of flesh that is taken feels worthwhile. Because you don’t spend years of fantasizing, planning, training, sacrifice… For a Participation trophy. At Dakar it’s all or nothing, so don’t plan to show up if you’re not going to give it your all.

• TOP TEN STAGE RESULTS

MOTORCYCLE

1. #47 Kevin Benavides (ARG), MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021
2. #4 Jose Cornejo Florimo (CHL), MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021
3. #3 Toby Price (AUS), RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM
4. #15 Lorenzo Santolino (ESP), SHERCO FACTORY
5. #5 Sam Sunderland (GBR), RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM
6. #12 Xavier de Soultrait (FRA), HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING
7. #9 Skyler Howes (USA), BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM
8. #52 Matthias Walkner (AUT), RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM
9. #18 Ross Branch (BWA), MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM
10. #2 Pablo Quintanilla (CHL), ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING

• 1/6/2021 - SS4: In It for the Long Haul

The Dakar’s Lengthiest Stage Is Arguably an Initial Test of Endurance Before the Marathon Stage

As stages tick away, Saudi Arabia gives participants a tour of the universe. So far, they’ve ventured to Mars and Moab, the Moon and, today, racers drew lines into a silty California wash, then weaved through acacias in the Serengeti – or at least that’s what it felt like for a while. Understandably, people tend to liken the unknown to pieces of the known, so it makes sense to them. So, they don’t feel such a disconnect, and what’s foreign becomes familiar. But to experience a place like the Arabian Peninsula, a massive region hosting ancient cultures which have been largely closed off to the rest of the world since before British explorer, Sir Richard Francis Burton, disguised as a wandering Dervish, set out for Mecca in 1853 through a land only “open to the adventurous traveler.” The trip involved crossing the famed “Empty Quarter” (familiar?) – the world’s largest contiguous desert and at the time still a blank white space on the map. The journey was dangerous, to put it lightly, with the risk of certain death if he, a westerner, was discovered.

Now, 168 years later, the Dakar Rally introduces a new set of adventurists. Taking them through the same desolate stretch of wasteland Burton once crossed by foot. Men like Nasser Al-Attiyah and partner Mathieu Baumel (#301 TOYOTA HILUX) possess a similar spirit, battling the elements and elites such as themselves to no end to become champions of three stages, SS4 being no exception. Their counterparts too are warriors of their craft, and at this longest of junctures, a violent struggle for the podium erupted between #301, Stephane Peterhansel and Edouard Boulanger (#302, X-RAID MINI JCW TEAM), Henk Lategan and navigator Brett Cummings (#332 TOYOTA GAZOO RACING) and, of course, Sebastien Loeb and Daniel Elena (#305 BAHRAIN RAID XTREME) – knowing all too well that the high speeds encouraged by this vacant landscape make it nearly impossible to put a gap between each other. Up to a certain superior level, everyone’s balls are about the same size, so what really determines who will take top seats at the end of the stage are the limits of the machine, the ability to read terrain, and luck. Just set the needle to max and don’t let up until you see the flags. Because if you do, even for a moment, some other man or woman more daring will take those few seconds on the clock you weren’t willing to hold onto.

"It's difficult to open up large gaps in stages like these. We'd have to attack like a madman, but we're already going very fast. I again reached 175 km/h today. I could go faster, but I don't feel like it. You also need to follow the roadbook... At any rate, my pace is really good." Xavier de Soultrait #12, HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING

Promised to be only 4% of the challenges, the relatively modest dunes on Wednesday have been whipped and poured by the gods onto this part of the Arabia, moving slowly towards the sea. From afar, it appears soft, flowing, like cake batter shifting to one side of a baking tin. The rounded ledges make easy work of crossing, inspiring enough confidence in pilots for them to concentrate on the next move in the roadbook, and maybe, have a little fun. (But not too much, this is Dakar after all.) It seems Toby Price (#3 RED BULL KTM) and Joan Barreda Bort (#88 MONSTER ENERGY HONDA) have been playing catch together all week, using the first-place seat as a ball they toss back and forth every new day. Or instead, is a game of keep away? And the unwilling participants – Ricky Brabec (#1 MONSTER ENERGY HONDA), Ross Branch (#18, MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA), Daniel Sanders (#21 KTM FACTORY TEAM) and the rest of the riders – jump up and down between victors with their arms swinging, trying to snatch first place from out of the air. Skyler Howes (#9 BAS DAKAR KTM), however, has chosen to play solitaire. Only trying to outdo himself this event, and if that leads to the podium, he (and every American who knows what rally is) will be all the more ecstatic. He’s already impressed us all yesterday with a 4^th place finish and taking the overall title for at least 24 hours, which was ultimately handed to his friend Xavier de Soultrait (#12, HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA).

"We're not marking one another, it's just one relentless attack after another, and in the end, we finished at the same time! Apart from a small navigation error near the finish, I don't think I can push much harder. To stay in contention, we need to go all out. So far, so good, as we aren't making too many mistakes. In the old times, 50% of all contenders would be knocked out of the race by driving mistakes or technical issues, but it's become far less common, so you just have to hold on." Stéphane Peterhansel #302, X-RAID MINI JCW TEAM

Rally Raid is unlike any other motorsports event. In a phrase, it’s all encompassing. It takes everything you’ve got to just make it to the final day, let alone to be a contender. The trials – for everyone involved from the racers, crew and managers, to the organizing body, volunteers, contractors and media – are relentless. And clever. They are meant to manipulate you, throw you off your guard, give you the illusion of comfort and relief. Then quietly let the air out of your tires when you’re asleep at night. It’s the kind of childlike mischief which exhausts and endears at the same time. Is the ASO restricting the number of tire swaps? Then why not tempt you through three stages with beautiful, buxom roads whispering, “let’s go all the way…” At first, one racer will give in. And while your mind tells you to reserve your tire tread, that the guy over there will burn through his equipment too fast, just be patient. Your heart, however, will see opportunity slipping away. It will remind you that going fast is your favorite. Don’t you miss the wind blowing against your cheeks? Then, as hearts do, it will lie to you, telling you all things you want to hear, no matter how improbable, like perhaps you could do the exact same thing as the other racers and somehow come up with different results.

Traversing the huge length of HP, swerving around enormous sandstone bulbs stick up from the ground like they fell carelessly from the sky. The land of sleeping giants. The trucks are the only vessel tall enough to see the whole face of the boulders. But they didn’t have enough time to linger and make nice with the rocks. Pushing so hard every day, one can only expect malfunctions – or operator errors – even the Camas drive a bit more conservative in the technical areas. KAMAZ-MASTER drivers Dmitry Sotnikov, Ruslan Akhmadeev and Ilgiz Akhmetzianov (#507) have been steadfast on their hold of the overall lead, with another KAMAZ truck, and everyone else in the class, vying for their chance to take the reins on this race. With so many strong teams up against them, it will be quite a feat if they can hold onto their title and keep their vehicle rolling. And the same could be said for our American friends at Polaris RZR Factory Racing, who still have one car in the running. Wayne Matlock and Sam Hayes have been working hard to keep their Baja racing instincts in check. It’s almost second nature to see a rocky terrain or wide-open backcountry and just set fire to the program. But this isn’t the Baja 1000. Your car, and your mind and body and emotional state, need to last you for two weeks. And if you’re hammering the pedal at every opportunity, then you might as well plan to drag your car across the finish line. At 28^th overall in the Lightweight category and 19^th in SSV class, we think the Polaris crew have come together well to find the right rhythms.

"It wasn't that easy. First there were dunes and then fields of rocks where we suffered a flat tire. The second part was a nervous affair because we had another two punctures, but it really wasn't fun. Then came an easier, faster section, followed by a part with trickier navigation, but our co-driver did a great job. We saw Viazovich after he stopped before the first neutralized sector, he probably had a mechanical, but I don't think it was a flat tire." Dmitry Sotnikov #507, Kamaz – Master

The 2021 edition of the Dakar Rally has been a sight to behold. No real patterns have developed in every class to make outcomes predictable. Hell, this is only Day 5, so it’s anybody’s guess who will board the charter home a champion. Altogether, USA has been representing well this year. With Howes gaining an overall lead – if only for one day – and maintaining a notable presence in the Top Ten, no, Top Five. Is a big deal for North America’s humble sized rally raid fan-base. Bonus, Brabec still has a chance for gold, if he’s able to hang on. And in the Lightweight Vehicle and SSV classes, all three US entrants are busting through Top Ten like they’re going to rob the place. Austin Jones (#408 MONSTER ENERGY CAN-AM), 18-year-old Seth Quintero (#383 RED BULL OFF-ROAD) and Mitch Guthrie (#381) are giving us a reason to keep our eyes on the scoreboard. Jones Is 3^rd overall and Quintero is not too far behind, in 5^th. Whether our boys and gals sporting the Stars and Stripes have it in them to perform for eight more stages, if they’ve convinced just one more person back home to stay tuned to the Dakar Rally, we’ve already won.

{youtube}lWRq8fve0HY{/youtube} 

• TOP TEN STAGE RESULTS

MOTORCYCLE

1. #88 Joan Barreda Bort (ESP), MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021
2. #18 Ross Branch (BWA), MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM
3. #21 Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM FACTORY TEAM
4. #77 Luciano Benavides (ARG), ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING
5. #12 Xavier de Soultrait (FRA), HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING
6. #27 Joaquim Rodrigues (PRT), HERO MOTORSPORTS TEAM RALLY
7. #4 Jose Cornejo Florimo (CHL), MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021
8. #2 Pablo Quintanilla (CHL), ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING
9. #11 Stefan Svitko (SVK), SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM
10. #42 Adrien Van Beveren (FRA), MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM

• 1/5/2021 - SS3: A Mistress of Mayhem

Dakar’s Mercurial Affection Finds Itself New, Unsuspecting Targets

The Dakar Rally is tempestuous. Like a wild fling, it’s alluring, captivating, so good when it’s good that when it’s bad, you pretend it’s not so bad. One day, Dakar offers hope – dazzling you with its magnificent features only to slap you in the face the next day over minor mistakes. In the Bike class alone, there has been much less the volleying of premium positions between pro riders, than it has been splitting a piñata and all the competitors scrambling to pick up the best candy.

At the Prologue, 2020 Champion Ricky Brabec (#1 Monster Energy Honda) took First, to his dismay. Leading out SS1 with virgin soil offering zero hints, he subsequently dropped through the cracks while Toby Price (#3 Red Bull KTM) slid past to victory. Unsurprisingly, the same fate befell Price, as he too disappeared from the premiere standings and Joan Barreda Bort (#88 Monster Energy Honda) hustled to the Winner’s Circle in SS2. Then, as if someone hit the reset button, Special Stage Three circled back and repeated the pecking order from Stage One: 1^st Price, 2^nd Kevin Benavides (#47 Monster Energy Honda) and 3^rd Matthias Walkner (#52 Red Bull KTM). Because why not? But this wasn’t the curve ball. In 4^th, instead of the usual factory suspects, sat privateer from the US Skyler Howes (#9 BAS Dakar KTM) who’d stunned everyone last year when he made it to the stage in Al-Qiddiya holding the 9^th seat. But! That’s. Not. All. He currently finds himself inadvertently leading the contest overall in motorbikes, 33 seconds in front of Benavides. Not bad for a grassroots racer from Utah. And although the pressure’s on to maintain his grip on the edge of the podium, Howes is keeping his cool. Who doesn’t love an underdog story? And it’s hard to think of anyone who’d deserve a Cinderella Story quite like Skyler.

“I came into the rally with no expectations. Just to ride every day the best I can, and today went really well. I felt right at home. And I… [laughing in disbelief] guess I’m leading the Dakar Rally, which is pretty insane, to be honest. I’m just from small-town Utah, so it’s pretty cool. I’m just having a good time riding my dirt bike, and if the result comes, I’m super stoked either way. I’m just going to keep it rolling every day, the best I can, and hopefully by the end of the Dakar, something good comes from it.” Skyler Howes #9, BAS Dakar KTM Racing Team 

America needed a pick me up after fan favorite Andrew Short (#7 Monster Energy Yamaha) who had suffered mechanical issues in the second special – water in his gas tank to be precise – was forced to drop out. And there’s no comfort in watching their hero, Brabec, fight to close the 24-minute gap, now about 12 minutes, from the front-runner. What he’s achieved so far already is impressive, but his fans are anxiously holding their breath in anticipation. Quads too have been shaking things up. But much like the Car class, their highest ranks have only been shared amongst a few pilots with Alexandre Giroud (#152 Team Giroud) and Pablo Copetti (#163 MX Devesa By Berta) splitting most of the conquests between themselves. However, the epic battle between elite teams has kept all eyes on the autos. X-Raid Mini JWC teammates Stephane Peterhansel (#302) and Carlos Sainz (#300) have been in a sort of “lover’s” triangle, vying for a moment of Dakar’s attention the instant they were welcomed onto the racecourse. Ironically, the rivals were so distracted by a constant exchange of blows to notice a third, stealthier adversary, Nasser Al-Attiyah, sneak up to their beloved and throw an arm around – taking his prize not once, but twice with the help of co-driver Matthieu Baumel (#301 Toyota Gazoo). And while they managed to win the SS2 and SS3, the rally’s other interests, like Sebastian Loeb (#305 Bahrain Raid Xtreme), Yazeed Al Rajhi (#303 Overdrive Toyota), Jakub Przygonski (#307 Orlen Team Overdrive) and Brian Baragwanath (#339 Car Century Racing) have been dancing around the scoreboard, not capable of maintaining a rhythm. And how could they? Dakar’s terrain has been changing like a mood swing.  

“Today it was a really complete stage. At the beginning it was trial-like in the rocks, with the big rocks. On the first trial section, we got a puncture, so after that I took it a little more safely in the rocks. After that, there were sometimes canyons, sandy canyons, nice dunes also and a fast plateau… It was a really good mix. The result is not perfect because of the puncture, but I’m really happy with the job done by Edouard Boulanger, my co-pilot. In the complicated places, he did a really good job. I’m happy with the car, and I’m happy with the co-pilot, so it’s good for the next day.” Stephane Peterhansel #302, X-Raid Mini JWC Team

Competitors took off just after 4 o’clock this morning before the sun had its chance to greet them. Dawn in the Saudi Arabian desert is the perfect fodder for bards and novelists. Venturing not too far, as light begins to wipe away the darkness, the scene, now visible as riders enter their third special, is otherworldly. To witness it can change your life. And your aspirations. But you can’t describe this event to someone and expect them to really understand it. However poetic, words won’t do. A phrase can’t offer a feeling…Exhilaration. Or that lingering ache which comes from lack of sleep, a hodgepodge diet and constant motion – manifesting itself once the adrenaline of watching camas crest the edge of a dune in your direction finally wears off. The pain never arrives if delivered lyrically. Being there, wherever that is, makes the Dakar tangible, and changes everything about its character. Even with years of attendance, athletes like Mathieu Serradori (#308 SRT Racing) can be intimidated by the massive dunes, with tall, sharp cliffs waiting for one wrong move. Or Aron Domzala (#406 Monster Energy Can-Am) in the Lightweight category who stated in an interview that these landscapes were troubling. The numerous rocky sections didn’t make things any simpler causing punctures for several teams, to include Domzala. Not alone in his opinion, Al-Attiyah felt the navigation was significantly tricky in some places. And the staggering number of vehicles who zigzagged in search of their waypoints are proof of his point.

Fortunately, the Polaris RZR Factory drivers, affectionately dubbed “Team America,” felt much better with the terra forma in this “gateway to the Empty Quarter” – a name suitable it’s the bizarre, barren backcountry. Only one puncture for Wayne Matlock and Sam Hayes (#420), who are still in the running. While Kristen Matlock and Max Eddy Jr. (#409) are now finishing the remaining challenges in the non-competitive Experience class since withdrawing due to unresolved mechanical issues. As the path opened up into a great expanse, something which the Matlocks are rather at home with, a gremlin caught up to #420 around PK170 and the battery suddenly died. A few cars passed, with no jumper cables to be found, the pair, desperate for a solution, came up with the clever idea to take the battery out of their impact gun, strip the wires out of the wiring harness from the car and jump start their RZR. Ultimately a success, they lost a fair amount of time and dropped down the ladder, although not so far they wouldn’t be able to climb their way back up the rungs. Meanwhile, fellow countryman, Arizona resident Austin Jones with navigator Gustavo Gugelmin (#408 Monster Energy Can-Am) has put on quite a show in 2021. Despite the fierce competition, they dominate the pack of Lightweight Vehicles and SSVs, planted firmly on the third step of the podium, for now.

Trucks had no easier time this stage. Only three official days in, and six teams of 41 have reluctantly exited the Dakar – some barely. Disaster struck Dutch contenders Maurik Van Den Heuvel, Wilko Van Oort and Martijn Van Rooij (#519 Dakarspeed) when their race ship tumbled during a steep ascent, only to smash the roof when landing. There was no hope upon impact. Even the winners suffered their share of technical difficulties. Although, this didn’t stop Siarhei Viazovich, Pavel Haranin and Anton Zaparoshchanka (#502) from duking it out with overall leaders of nearly 17 minutes in Kamaz – Master vessel #507, Dmitry Sotnikov, Ruslan Akhmadeev and Ilgiz Akhmetzianov. There’s still no sure conqueror in this group, but with 9 stages left, it’s anyone’s guess what lay ahead.

Every new stage seems to travel further and further from earth. If SS1 and SS2 took us to Mars, then today, we entered uncharted territory altogether. The stage was “complete” according to a Iot of rally veterans. It offered a smorgasbord of goodies for teams to sample, but most on the menu – like ebony shale rock covering any evidence of where dirt could’ve been, or gigantic piles of sand sliced on their backsides or what resembles molten lava flowing down to sea level frozen in time for thousands of years – will be bittersweet. Like a combination of Moab and Mars. Crazy rock formations which spring up from the sand seen from a distance. Tons of sharp ledges and disappearing canyons. Looking out toward the skyline, at what looks to be a small hill, without a keen eye, the several canyons in between are hidden in plain sight. Not thing about the Dakar Rally stays the same for long. It is an emotional creature, and its passion is hard to resist. But if you learn to predict its moods, and stay prepared for the upswings, and the down, you might find yourself in a healthy relationship with the ruler of Motorsports.

{youtube}n5nUo7ivLYc{/youtube} 

• TOP TEN STAGE RESULTS

MOTORCYCLE

1. #3 Toby Price (AUS), RED BULL LTM FACTORY TEAM
2. #47 Kevin Benavides (ARG), MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021
3. #52 Matthias Walkner (AUT), RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM
4. #9 Skyler Howes (USA), BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM
5. #5 Sam Sunderland (GBR), RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM
6. #12 Xavier de Soultrait (FRA), HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING
7. #6 Franco Caimi (ARG), MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM
8. #21 Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM FACTORY TEAM
9. #19 Rui Goncalves (PRT), SHERCO FACTORY
10. #4 Jose Ignacia Cornejo Florimo (CHL), MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021

• 1/4/2021 - SS2: Arabia Makes Soldiers of Us All

So, Which of the Racers Are Ready to Fight for Their Dreams?  

“All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake up in the day to find it was vanity, but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.” T.E. Lawrence

 Every person in the bivouac, risking health and safety amidst a pandemic to attend, has dreams about Dakar. Dreams they wholly intend to reach by the close of the rally. Those same dreams may be the catalyst which brought them to Saudi Arabia in the first place. While others developed their fantasies the moment they stepped into the bivouac. Entering a surreal nomadic kingdom ruled by a broad authority distinguished best by their bright yellow puffy jackets and funny accents. Giants roam among us in these lands, shared with a variety of more modest sized, agile mechanical creatures constructed of industrial matter, like Aluminum skeletons and plastic shells to protect their precious innards. Angry beasts with eyes that glow in the dark to chase down their victims nimbly over any terrain they encounter at blistering speeds. Men are their masters, as well as their slaves. Because men and women would do anything to keep them, control and be in awe of them. To chase prestige with the machines, allowing oneself to suffer for time in the pursuit of success. That’s the Dakar Rally.  

Look at today. Special Stage Two took pilots away from the rocks in Bisha – which caused innumerable punctures and perils – onto a swift, smooth, sandy plateau early on until the first assortment dunes. The set of waves came at them softly but didn’t last long before increasing in mass. It was around here when, as one might expect, problems started to arise. Matthias Walkner (#52 Red Bull KTM) was held up about 40 kilometers in troubleshooting clutch issues. Ultimately, he made it to the bivouac in Wadi Ad-Dawasir on his own but lost at least two hours in the process. But he wasn’t alone in the struggle. A huge blow to Factory Yamaha and the Americans who support him, Andrew Short (#7 Monster Energy Yamaha) with so much promise for an impressive finish at the event was let down by his motorbike. He did his best to find a solution to no avail and eventually had to throw in the towel. Slight or severe, a change in terrain will alter a racer’s fate, no matter how sure the outcome seems. Even SS1’s leaders Toby Price (#3 Red Bull KTM), Kevin Benavides (#47 Monster Energy Honda), Sam Sunderland (#5 Red bull KTM) and, of course, Walkner all fell from grace, abruptly exiting the Top Ten. A clip of Price striving to ride out of a tight grouping of short, steep sand hills has already burned holes in thousands of little black mirrors.

The dunes are unpredictable, elegant, alluring. And like Lawrence of Arabia, over the 10 remaining stages competitors will each cross a vast desert to fight in epic battles and, know it or not, change history. The Polaris RZR Factory Racing has already made quite an impact as the only American OEM supported team to compete in Saudi. And despite looking strong, captains Kristen and Wayne Matlock placing well at 10^th and 12^th after Stage One – each in their own RZR, destiny decided to foil their plan. Moving quickly through the initial sections, Kristen and navigator Max Eddy Jr. (#409), endured some damage to their vessel after misreading their terrain on a landing. This learning experience left them stranded for several hours before their crew came to help put the car back on-course. We still don’t know if their BFG’s will roll up to the starting line tomorrow, but there’s still hope! Wayne Matlock and Sam Hayes (#420), however, fared – each in their own RZR – much better than their teammates, finishing in 22^nd and rising to 11^th in the SSV class.

“There were a lot of really soft sand dunes. It was a long day, but the dust wasn’t near as bad [as the previous stage]. Other than that, just kind of dueled it out. We had one small mechanical problem that took us a couple minutes. We were passed by a few cars, then passed a few ourselves when we were back out there. And we got through it before dark, which was our goal.” – Sam Hayes, Co-Pilot, #420 Polaris RZR Factory Racing

What this special required most was endurance. A 228km liaison kicked off the grind. But the next 457 off-road kilometers began the real test. The most common statement from participants was how long the stage was; next that this roadbook was even more difficult than the last. Yet, there are some who excel when the pressure’s on them. Disappointed by his first performance, Ricky Brabec (#1 Monster Energy Honda) pushed himself to a more favorable second seed, but he has no delusions about this momentary triumph, “It’s going to be really tough, but there’s a lot of racing left to do. Ten days to go. We just need to stay focused and try to make it to the finish everyday with no more mistakes.” Brabec’s Honda mate Joan Barreda Bort (#88) is no stranger to hardship, nor to persistence.

“After the hard day [at Special Stage One], I was forced to push with everything. I put it all in today. I enjoyed this type of stage a lot. It's faster and better for me, better than enduro – like it was yesterday. Right now, everything is perfect. Sure, tomorrow will be a long day and really hard again, but the race is like this." – Joan Barreda Bort #88, Monster Energy Honda 2021

The quads also saw their fair share of ups and downs, acquiring a new king for a day, Argentine-American, Pablo Copetti (#163 MX Devesa By Berta). He’s favored to podium, if his rivals, and Saudi, can’t do something about it. While Cars, as well, had a surprise ending. Nasser Al-Attiyah and partner Mathieu Baumel (#301 Toyota Hilux) leapt from 10^th to the top step. Had X-Raid Mini colleagues Stephane Peterhansel (#302) and Carlos Sainz (#300) not been at each other’s throats the entire time, they might not have left the gate to the Winner’s Circle wide open for Al-Attiyah to wander through. Camas too can’t choose a champion and stick with it, but unlike the volleying of first place in Cars, the Trucks have been playing musical chairs. Teams coming out of the woodwork to stand up to the commanding KAMAZ – MASTER team, just to hand them the number one seat each new rotation. The #521 Polaris-branded MAN truck has been fairly consistent, holding onto positions in the upper teens. But it was held back from helping the #409 SSV try to fix mechanical affairs. Perhaps SS3 will bring luck to the enthusiastic trio riding in the cockpit of that distinguished red, white and blue garbage truck. Or will the only way to reach their dreams be with some shut-eye?

• TOP TEN STAGE RESULTS 

MOTORCYCLE

1. #88 Joan Barreda Bort (ESP), MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021
2. #1 Ricky Brabec (USA), MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021
3. #2 Pablo Quintanilla (CHL), ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING)
4. #18 Ross Brand (BWA), MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM
5. #4 Jose Ignacia Cornejo Florimo (CHL), MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021
6. #42 Adrien Van Beveren (FRA), MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM
7. #11 Stefan Svitko (SVK), SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM
8. #77 Luciano Benavides (ARG), ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING
9. #21 Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM FACTORY TEAM
10. #12 Xavier de Soultrait (FRA), HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING

{youtube}-zSLhNGBAF8{/youtube}

• 1/3/2021 - SS1: That First Step’s a Doozy!

In Classic Dakar Style, Special Stage One Showed Absolutely No Mercy

Dakar is not meant to be predictable. It’s meant to put you through the wringer and catch you off-guard. Even when the most promising performers, like 2020 Dakar Winner Ricky Brabec (#1, Monster Energy Honda 2021), take the stage or pole position in Brabec’s case, it only takes one new day for the favorites to switch places. And that’s par for the course. Yes, the wind was taken from his sails today when starting at first and ending at 24th, but Ricky has more than enough time to climb back up the motorbike pyramid with Toby Price (#3 Red Bull KTM Factory) atop the pinnacle as his target. On either side of Price’s makeshift throne is standing Brabec’s teammate, Kevin Benavides (#47, Monster Energy Honda 2021) on the second step and Matthias Walkner (#52, Red Bull KTM Factory) holding down the third. This outcome seemed less a battle among men, and more a contest of wit, patience and literacy – especially when the text you’re forced to read is akin to hieroglyphics. And with landscape as confidence inspiring, and speed-inducing, as this barren stretch between Jeddah and Bisha, it’s all too easy to grow complacent and forget the risks. Or dwell a little too long on the roadbook and blow past the next directive. Finishing strong in 8th place, good ol’ boy Skyler Howes (#9, BAS Dakar KTM Racing) recognized SS1’s obstacles right away…

“Today was tricky in all forms: hidden trails through boulder fields, multiple washes going in the same direction but different canyons with 10 trails to choose from at an intersection. You really had to be on your A+ game today with navigation and riding technique. Relax for one second in a boulder field and things can go south really fast.” – Skyler Howes #9, BAS Dakar KTM Racing

Today, the racers climbed in elevation, traversing stony peaks rounded by a millennia of strong, relentless winds before dipping back into the valleys. There, the earth was textured, pock marked with jagged rocks, bare unswaying trees and loose trash camouflaged by dust. A palette of Grey, green and khaki colored in between the hard lines and bled into each other so that when the sun hits the top of the atmosphere, the mountains became shadows and dangers disappeared in plain sight. Perhaps that's why every oasis at first appears to be a mirage, green and lush and seemingly thriving defiantly in the cruel, arid wasteland which encapsulates it. The whole scene is strange and beautiful in its emptiness. One you only read about in old Arabian and Persian tales. Whether manmade or a gift from Mother Nature, many of these watering holes are exploited by the people, and camels, who need them. But camels were of no concern to Prologue leader Nasser Al-Attiyah, and co-driver, Mathieu Baumel (#301, TOYOTA HILUX). He was distracted by a sneak attack led by 2020 Champ Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz (#300, X-Raid Mini JCW) who took the coveted spot from Al-Attiyah and Baumel by the conclusion of the special. This tactic opened the gate for eight more adversaries to flow through, putting the #301 car at 10th in this leg.

A fast pace leads to fast consequences. Teams faced wide-open roadways, jagged fields of rubble and a senseless web of crisscrossing intersections made by what appears to be, a drunk spider. The 345-kilometer liaison gave pilots plenty of time to consider the coming challenges, ponder their goals and maybe even check out the scenery. Although, as aggressively – almost indifferently – as the locals drive, too much sight-seeing could lead to a premature visit to the medic tent, or hospital…Likely just the morgue. But they would have little time to dwell on the roadbook and its complex set of coordinates. Sébastien Loeb and Daniel Elena (#305, Bahrain Raid Xtreme) felt the bitterness of defeat as they lost good time to the elements finding themselves in 18th. Similar contenders Yazeed Al Rajhi and navigator Dirk Von Zitzewitz (#303, Overdrive Toyota) suffered parallel incidents, to include several flat tires, which dropped their typically lofty position to 17th in Results.

“For me it’s the first time that I’m racing in Saudi at Dakar. Last year, I could be here as a visitor. But now I get to really see the landscape firsthand and it’s amazing what this land has to offer – even on the first day, already. So many rocks and rocks and rocks. It’s crazy! So, it was a very difficult stage. Very stony, we got three punctures today just like many other guys as well. So, the 4x4 cars are struggling like last year with the tires. And the buggies have quite a bit of an advantage with the bigger wheels and bigger tires. We finished today only at 17th, so this is pretty bad for us, but I hope we can move forward tomorrow. You never know at Dakar. Dakar always has a surprise for you, so let’s see.” – Dirk Von Zitzewitz #303, Overdrive Toyota

It wasn’t all bad. Those same extremes were managed quite well by even first-time competitors. Cristina Gutierrez Herrero, with navigator Francois Cazalet (#387, Red Bull Off-Road) gracefully rolled onto P1 in the Lightweight Vehicle class. While “Team America” is proving themselves worthy of praise not only in the North American desert scene, but on an international scale as well. After a flat tire, a visit to the medic tent (to remove an excess of dust from the eyes) and the same grueling obstacles their opponents endured, Kristen Matlock and Max Eddy Jr. (#409, Polaris RZR Factory Racing) nabbed the 10th seat – breaking them into the elite grouping. While Wayne Matlock and Sam Hayes (#420, Polaris RZR Factory Racing) likewise earned a satisfying spot in the ranks at 12th. To round out the only American Factory team, their truck, captained by Alberto Herrero, Juan Carlos Macho del Olmo and Nuno Fojo (#521, Polaris RZR Factory Racing) ended their day with 19th in the bag.

“It’s always a little difficult the first day of the rally, especially for a brand-new team. Our goal for today was for both cars to finish and see what the pace was like. It was really, really rocky – very difficult – so I was concerned how the team would hold up, and I think it was a big success today. For their first Dakar, their first real stage, to end up 10th and 12th in their category and also sort of building a platform to go forward from. As they become more and more comfortable with the rally format and with their cars, I think the performance will continually improve. I think everybody is in good spirits, and the guys are working hard. We’re super happy so far!” – Darren Skilton, Team Manager Polaris RZR Factory Racing

{youtube}dkNWbAgxwDA{/youtube}

• TOP TEN STAGE RESULTS 

MOTORCYCLE

1. #3 Toby Price (AUS), RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM
2. #47 Kevin Benavides (ARG), MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021
3. #52 Matthias Walkner (AUT), RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM
4. #4 Sam Sunderland (GBR), RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM
5. #15 Lorenzo Santolino (ESP), SHERCO FACTORY
6. #12 Xavier de Soultrait (FRA), HT RALLY RAID HUSQVARNA RACING
7. #6 Franco Caimi (ARG), MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM
8. #9 Skyler Howes (USA), BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM
9. #77 Luciano Benavides (ARG), ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING
10. #31 Martin Michek (CZE), ORION – MOTO RACING GROUP

• 1/2/2021 - Prologue & Podium: 2020 Was One for the History Books

With the World in Lockdown for Nearly a Year, This Prologue Could Mark the Beginning of the End

With the event sanitized and hermetically sealed, teams set off for their first challenge (in a vehicle at least) to find their starting order and kick off a second year in Saudi Arabia. After several idle days in quarantine, at least two [read: five] PCR tests and a mad rush to prime their vessels and state of mind, the bikes, cars, quads and camas headed 118 kilometers out from Jeddah to outer space for Special Stage Zero. The landscape surrounding Saudi’s most progressive city is a mix between the highlands of California and the moon. Barren and greyish brown with small, rolling sandhills crawling over each other creating berms and sharp ledges that welcomed competitors with open arms and a devious smile. We don't envy those who had to run the course when the sun was at its highest, and brightest. The glimmer removes a desired contrast to detect upcoming dangers. However, this is familiar territory for the veterans. It's just one of the many challenges which the seasoned athletes barely notice and the novice can find unhinging.

Now legendary 2020 Dakar Champion Ricky Brabec (#1, Monster Energy Honda) likens these southern desert landscapes to his home in Hesperia. Which explains why he took the stage with such ease. He joked that he had hoped to finish a little further back in the pack because, as most racers recall, leading it – over untainted terrain – can cause its own set of issues. But he was relieved to hear SS1 will offer more familiar roadways, a grid of hard packed dirt with some rocky sections and innumerable junctions. This doesn’t mean he’ll be taking it easy, because strong contenders, like teammate Joan Barreda Bort (#88 Monster Energy Honda) and KTM Factory rookie Daniel Sanders (#21), will be buzzing around him like flies on food. Whether or not he’ll be rested and ready by the morning is up to Brabec, but it won’t be long now until we see for ourselves.

“Tomorrow we wake up really early, 4am is start time for the first Moto… That would be me. [I’m] very fortunate to win the prologue and tomorrow starts the journey.” –Ricky Brabec #1, Monster Energy Honda 2021 Rider

All in all, the Americans faired well at the inaugural trial of the 43^rd Edition of this most infamous event – even more so now as it navigates COVID’s tricky waters. Despite the long, surprisingly rigorous, trek from the States, contenders like Andrew Short (#7), now with Monster Energy Yamaha, ended the day in the 6^th position, while comrade Skyler Howes (#9, BAS Dakar KTM) took a solid 13^th in the standings. In UTVs, Seth Quintero and co-Pilot Dennis Zenz (#383 Red Bull Off-Road) nabbed an impressive second place on the proverbial podium, as fellow countryman Austin Jones and his navigator, Gustavo Gugelmin (#408 Monster Energy Can-Am) are hot on their tails on the next step down. A flat tire early on kept desert racing duo Wayne Matlock and Sam Hayes (#420, Polaris RZR Factory Racing) from reaching their full potential. While wife, and often rival, Kristen Matlock, led by Max Eddy Jr. (#409, Polaris RZR Factory Racing) settled nicely into the 23^rd seat. She’s still becoming accustomed to her rally-style rig, but her team is confident Matlock, both in fact, will find the rhythm quickly. 

The big shock of the Prologue, as the ASO said in their daily press release, was that “hell froze over in the truck category as Kamaz proved unable to place a single driver in the top 10.” Although the fresh-faced Polaris-branded MAN machine wasn’t quite prepared to squeeze past the competition into the Winner’s Circle, it did fly through the mini dunes in a blaze of star-spangled glory. Even the two Spaniards and a vivacious man from Portugal at the helm would be proud to represent ‘Merica in that life-sized Matchbox truck. Alberto Herrero, Nuno Fojo and Juan Carlos Macho del Elmo (#521, Polaris RZR Factory Racing) went to bed happy with P-2 in their subclass and 22^nd among all the other purpose-built garbage haulers.

“First, I was very impressed by the way the truck handles the terrain. Especially the suspension, and its high capacity for absorption. The second thing was its brakes – considering the truck is 10.2 tons (that you are dragging). I was also amazed at how far you can see because you’re so elevated off the ground. In fact, it helps with the navigation. I am actually surprised in a good way. It was a fantastic time.” Nuno Fojo #521, Polaris RZR Factory Co-Driver/Mechanic

It wouldn’t be right to leave out mention of Nassir Al-Attiyah’s 36^th career stage triumph today, which will surely be outdone before the end of the competition – or even the end of the coming stage! Often a favorite to win, Al-Attiyah and co-pilot Mathieu Baumel (#301, Toyota Hilux Overdrive) seemed to take the win with ease, while some of their peers suffered, slowly. Previous year’s victors Carlos Sainz and Lucas Cruz (#300, X-Raid Mini JWC) dealt with the agony of a gradually deflating tire. And others just couldn’t keep the dust out of their faces long enough to catch up. But all hope is not lost. There are still 12 days and 11 stages left – a daunting but worthwhile task ahead, chasing the most formidable motorsports figures in the world. And it’s just the beginning.

• TOP TEN STAGE RESULTS

MOTORCYCLE

1. #1 Ricky Brabec (USA), MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021
2. #88 Joan Barreda Bort (ESP), MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021
3. #21 Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM FACTORY TEAM
4. #18 Ross Branch (BWA), MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM
5. #24 Sebastian Buhler (DEU), HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY
6. #7 Andrew Short (USA), MONSTER ENERGY YAMAHA RALLY TEAM
7. #47 Kevin Benavides (ARG), MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM 2021
8. #2 Pablo Quintanilla (CHL), ROCKSTAR ENERGY HUSQVARNA FACTORY RACING
9. #3 Toby Price (AUS), RED BULL KTM FACTORY TEAM
10. #27 Joaquim Rodrigues (PRT), HERO MOTOSPORTS TEAM RALLY