RALLY DAKAR 2024

Kevin Benavides wins, sanction for Joan Barreda and goodbye to Sam Sunderland from the Dakar

The Argentine Kevin Benavides(image above) has won the third stage of the Dakar 2023 after the sanctions to the Chilean Pablo Quintanilla and the Spanish Joan Barreda, who had been first and second. Botswana's Ross Branch remains the leader after another day of elimination with the losses of the British Sam Sunderland and the German Sebastian Bühler, with the American Mason Klein giving up another handful of hours.

Barely eleven kilometers had elapsed when Sam Sunderland stopped with mechanical problems on his GasGas, which unfortunately would end up leading to his abandonment, the seventh in eleven participations in the event (yes, in his four completed editions he has two wins and two third places).

The one who began untied was Mason Klein, willing to vindicate himself through partial deeds after having been left out of any fight due to the problems in his Kove. The American set the best time at the first two waypoints, with Kevin Benavides and Ross Branch taking turns behind him.

However, at the third crossing point it was Pablo Quintanilla who rose to the top, flying until he caught his compatriot and teammate Nacho Cornejo to open the track next to him and begin accumulating bonuses towards what seemed like a stage victory clear.

Behind him, Joan Barreda began to push until he overtook Kevin Benavides, everything heading towards playing for second position in the stage between them. That's how it was: no one could beat Quintanilla's time - helped by bonuses - and the Spaniard from Hero finished eight seconds ahead of the current winner.

Quintanilla's joy did not last long, punished with six minutes for jumping a radar. Joan Barreda was worse off, penalized twelve for skipping two. That elevated Kevin Benavides to the stage win ahead of the Hondas of Ricky Brabec, Adrien Van Beveren and Skyler Howes.

Ross Branch completed a solid day with fifth place ahead of Nacho Cornejo, thus extending his lead. After the sanction, Pablo Quintanilla finished seventh ahead of the KTMs of Stefan Svitko, Toby Price and Martin Michek. Finally Joan Barreda was relegated to 16th position, just ahead of Luciano Benavides. In the final part of the stage, Sebastian Bühler - assisted by Howes and Price - abandoned, while Mason Klein was left for six hours due to problems with his Kove.

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