Brutally tough stage on Dakar for Honda HRC before start of second marathon

Jan 17, 2018

The tenth stage of the 2018 Dakar turned out to be a particularly harsh one causing major disruptions to the top positions.

It was back to business for the rally after the cancellation yesterday of the ninth stage. It proved to be just as arduous as had been previously expected, with hidden waypoints that riders struggled to locate and temperatures in excess of forty degrees in Bethlehem.

The stage was made up of two parts: the first a 242-kilometre special stage followed by a long liaison section of 320 kilometres, plus a second 129 km special and another 103 km of link section. Dunes, camel grass and river crossings were the distinguishing characteristics of the day, in addition to the scorching temperatures. The riders started to make it through to the finish line at 17:00 hrs.

Of the Monster Energy Honda Team riders, José Ignacio Cornejo posted the best stage time to take seventh spot. Joan Barreda finished fifteenth, Kevin Benavides eighteenth and Ricky Brabec who started out from second ended up in twenty-fifth position.

In the general standings, Joan Barreda ascends to second position and Kevin Benavides is third, 39 and 41 minutes off the overall leader respectively.

Tomorrow, the second marathon stage will be held, only for motorcycles this time. The day will start in Bethlehem with the vehicles taking the start according to scratch classifications (cars, motorcycles, quads and trucks) with destination Fiambalá, where the bivouac is located. Riders once again will not be allowed any outside mechanical assistance once the bikes arrive at the parc ferm and are only allowed to work on bikes themselves. The stage will be made up of 280 kilometres of special and a total of 485 km of liaison sections.

Stage 10 Results

Pos.	Rider	Num	Nation	Team	Time/Gap
1	Walkner Matthias	2	AUT	Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team	04:52’26
2	Quintanilla Pablo	10	CHI	Husqvarna Factory Rally Team	+11’35
3	Farres Gerard	3	SPA	Himoinsa Team	+16’21
4	Mena Oriol	61	SPA	Hero Motorsports Team Rally	+20’45
5	Cornejo José Ignacio	68	CHI	Monster Energy Honda Team	+23’14
6	Short Andrew	54	USA	Husqvarna Factory Rally Team	+24’13
7	Samuels Mark		USA	OX Motorsports	+24’50
8	Oliveras Daniel	29	SPA	Himoinsa Team	+25’25
9	Monleon Armand	17	SPA	Daming Racing Team	+34’18
10	Pedrero Joan	12	SPA	Sherco TVS Rally Factory	+36’24
11	Sanz Laia	15	SPA	KTM Factory Racing Team	+36’35
12	Aubert Johnny	40	FRA	Gas Gas Racing	+37’29
13	Faggotter Rodney	44	AUS	Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team	+38’07
14	Barreda Joan	5	SPA	Monster Energy Honda Team	+38’15
15	Nosiglia Daniel	33	BOL	HT Husqvarna Rally Team	+40’22
17	Benavides Kevin	47	ARG	Monster Energy Honda Team	+47’35
24	Brabec Ricky	20	USA	Monster Energy Honda Team	+56’13

Rider Standings

Provisional Standings after Stage 10

Pos.	Rider	Num	Nation	Team	Time/Gap
1	Walkner Matthias	2	AUT	Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team	32:21’03
2	Barreda Joan	5	SPA	Monster Energy Honda Team	+39’42
3	Benavides Kevin	47	ARG	Monster Energy Honda Team	+41’23
4	Farres Gerard	3	SPA	Himoinsa Team	+47’46
5	Price Toby	8	AUS	Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team	+50’18
6	Meo Antoine	19	FRA	Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team	+01:03’35
7	Brabec Ricky	20	USA	Monster Energy Honda Team	+01:21’37
8	Svitko Stefan	9	SLO	Slovnaft Team	+01:25’09
9	Quintanilla Pablo	10	CHI	Husqvarna Factory Rally Team	+01:30’24
10	Aubert Johnny	40	FRA	Gas Gas Racing	+01:40’57
11	Cornejo José Ignacio	68	CHI	Monster Energy Honda Team	+01:49’50

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