RALLY DAKAR 2022

Cornejo wins ninth special, and Walkner becomes leader in motorcycles

Nacho Cornejo won this Tuesday (11) the ninth special of the Dakar Rally among the motorcycle competitors. The Honda rider completed the 287 kilometers of the loop stage contested by Wadi Ad Dawasir, in Saudi Arabia, in 2h29min30s, earning his second victory in the last three stages of the most important off-road race on the planet.

Second place went to Kevin Benavides, a KTM rider who ended up 1min26s behind Cornejo. Ricky Brabec, with another Honda bike, was the third best rider of the day, followed by Matthias Walkner, fourth with another KTM. The top five list was completed by Joan Barreda Bort, riding a Honda.

Andrew Short closed the special with sixth place on a Yamaha, just ahead of Luciano Benavides, seventh fastest with a Husqvarna equipment. Honda's Pablo Quintanilla was eighth best, while Yamaha's Adrien van Beveren finished the stage in ninth position. Maciej Giemza, riding a Husqvarna, was tenth.

The classification of the Dakar after nine stages passed into the hands of Matthias Walkner, who now has 30h14min03s accumulated. Sam Sunderland is now in second place, 2min12s behind the Austrian. Adrien van Beveren appears in third, followed by Pablo Quintanilla. Kevin Benavides closes the list of the best five, 10min22s behind the leader.

Copetti wins and cuts Giroud's difference in quads...Pablo Copetti took the victory of the special among the quads competitors, closing the course in 3h18min58s. Alexandre Giroud took the second position, 6min16s behind the Chilean who runs for the United States. Francisco Moreno was third, followed by Vincent Padrona. Marcelo Medeiros completed the group of the top five.

In the classification after nine specials, Alexandre Giroud remains in the lead of the race, with an accumulated 38h06min18s. Pablo Copetti is in second place, 24min31s behind the Frenchman. Kamil Wisniewski appears in third. Marcelo Medeiros climbed one more position and now occupies the seventh position.

The classification of the Dakar after nine stages passed into the hands of Matthias Walkner, who now has 30h14min03s accumulated. Sam Sunderland is now in second place, 2min12s behind the Austrian. Adrien van Beveren appears in third, followed by Pablo Quintanilla. Kevin Benavides closes the list of the best five, 10min22s behind the leader.

Autonews