Saturday at the Dakar gives all competitors a well-earned break from competition. And with the 2022 Dakar Rally challenging competitors right from the start with its long.
Gruelling stages and technical navigation.The Red Bull KTM team will use the downtime to recharge their batteries ahead of the forthcoming final week.
Matthias Walkner is well-placed to attack the final six days of racing at this year’s Dakar.Delivering great speed and impressive consistency over the first week.
Lying second overall, less than three minutes behind the leader after 20 hours of racing. Matthias knows a solid finish at every stage of the final week will be vital to securing a second victory at the iconic event.
Matthias
Matthias Walkner: “It’s been a good week for me. It took me a little time to get settled on the bike because I hadn’t ridden the new version so much.But we made some positive changes with the team’s help.
And I’m super happy with how things are now. I’m healthy, I haven’t had any big crashes, so ready to keep pushing in the second week.
It has been a tough rally so far – they always try to make things difficult in terms of navigation and slow things down a little.So I’m expecting more of the same from Sunday onwards.
As it seems the terrain will be far more technical. Consistency is the most important thing. With so many riders so close on time.You can’t afford to make a mistake that costs you 30 minutes or so. I’ve been trying to focus on my roadbook on every stage, and so far, it’s paying off.”
Stage 1B of the Dakar – the first complete stage ridden by competitors.Threw up a huge surprise in terms of the exact navigation required to make it through the special successfully.
With one particularly tricky note in the roadbook not only catching out the experienced Kevin Benavides and Toby Price but also half the RallyGP field.
Many riders lost time on that first stage to play, and catch-up as the event continued. Kevin and Toby currently lie eighth and 12th respectively at the Dakar’s halfway stage.
But with week two promising to require even more precise roadbook skills. They could easily make up the time needed to challenge the race leaders.
Kevin
Kevin Benavides: “It’s been a mixed first week for me, but overall, I’m happy with how I have ridden. Losing time on that first day was always hard. But I have had a good pace. And things have gone a lot better since then.
My confidence with the bike is improving all the time.So I believe I’m in a good position to attack the second week. If the first week was all about long, fast stages.
I think these next six days would be all about navigation. The roadbook this year has some differences in it day by day, making it even tougher for us.
The rain we have had here has also made the stages trickier to navigate.I think the key to doing well from here to the finish will be taking time and making fewer mistakes than everyone else. For me, I think that suits my style, and I’m looking forward to it.”
Toby
Toby Price: “It’s been a very up and down first week for me. After day one, I’ve been racing hard to try and get back on terms with the others.And so far, it’s going well. It’s been a tough first week.So I’m expecting much of the same in week two.
Hopefully, I’ve had my share of bad luck already so that I can look forward to something good over the next six days. The organizers have tried to make things tough for us this year, which we expected.
The key is to try and stay smooth and stay on top of the roadbook and all the little changes. Looking ahead, I’m feeling good physically.
I’ve only had one little tip-off. And that is important on the rest day – it leaves you fit and free to attack the second half of the race.
Hopefully, if all goes well, some of the others ahead will make some mistakes as the fatigue sets in. And I can capitalize on that at the right time.”
Danilo Petrucci went through a lot on the run-up to his first Dakar Rally. An injured ankle sustained in training.Followed by a positive Covid-19 test.Both looked like they might put an end to the Italian’s race before it started.
However, once cleared to race, the former MotoGP™ rider immediately showed what he could.Demonstrating immense speed and skill on the stages.
A minor technical issue was enough to force his withdrawal from stage two, but the friendly racer bounced back in style. Even taking an impressive stage win on day five.
Looking ahead to the second week, Danilo’s goal remains the same – head out. Have fun, and enjoy his time on the bike.
Danilo
Danilo Petrucci: “It’s hard to put into words my emotions after what has happened over the last few weeks. It feels like I have already lived a lifetime here at the Dakar. From nearly missing out on the race to taking my first stage win.
Everything has been new – the bike, the style of race, and I have to say it has been the most demanding thing I have ever done in my life.
For sure, my goal is to finish the race. But I have already enjoyed an incredible experience here.And I’m so happy that I had the opportunity to do it.
I’m looking forward to the following week. It’s going to be tough.Every day is very tiring, and I am learning all the time with the terrain and the navigation.
Already, I am the first one in history to win a MotoGP race and a stage of the Dakar, so I have completed that goal. All that is left for now is to enjoy the rest of the race.”
Norbert
Norbert Stadlbauer – Rally Team Manager: “I’m thrilled with the whole team so far at what has been an adamant Dakar. The bikes are working well, and all of our riders have been impressive this year. Thankfully, everyone has arrived at the rest day physically well, but also with options going ahead.
Matthias is in a perfect position, lying second in the standings. Hopefully, he can continue doing exactly what he has been doing to the end of the race. And that should put him in with a good shot at the podium.
Kevin and Toby lost some time early on, but they have both already fought their way back towards the top 10. They also have the skill, speed, and experience to do well in the second week.
Finally, Danilo has been incredible. We knew he would be able to hold his own offroad, but for him to take a stage win is very impressive.
Looking ahead to next week.The atmosphere in the team is perfect and positive. We have strategies for all the riders, and hopefully, if everything goes to plan.We can put them into place and earn some strong results at the end of the event. The goal is to win so that we will give it our all on the second week.”
Provisional Standings – 2022 Dakar Rally after 6 of 12 stages
- 1. Sam Sunderland (GBR), GASGAS, 19:55:59
- 2. Matthias Walkner (AUT), KTM, 19:58:38 +2:39
- 3. Daniel Sanders (AUS), GASGAS, 20:01:34 +5:35
- 4. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA), Yamaha, 20:03:42 +7:43
- 5. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI), Honda, 20:13:43 +17:44
Other KTM
- 8. Kevin Benavides (ARG), KTM, 20:20:55 +24:56
- 12. Toby Price (AUS), KTM, 20:35:08 +39:09
via KTM
