2018 Dakar: Stage 14

Photo: Honda

It’s over!

The 2018 Dakar rally wrapped up this morning, with a shortened special stage won by Honda’s Kevin Benavides. The win didn’t accomplish anything, as Matthias Walkner took the win for the KTM factory team, and Toby Price finished second on the day and third overall.

It was a very hard-fought and tough year this year for the Dakar riders, with many top riders taking heartbreaking exits, along with the usual drop-off among the backmarkers. One of the rearguard had a bad crash today only six klicks from the finish line, mangling his shoulder badly, and he thought he’d have to drop out of the race while within walking distance of the end. Thankfully, he managed to get back on the bike and roll across the line.

One rider who didn’t crash out this year was Canadian Jack Lundin, who finished in 77th overall, 11:16:00 back from the leader. Considering the amount of talent that didn’t finish the event, Lundin has plenty to be proud of, and we hope to see him in the event again.

We’ll have a final wrap-up for the 2018 Dakar rally next week.

Stage 14 Top 10

1. Kevin Benavides, Honda
2. Toby Price, KTM, + 00:00:54
3. Antoine Meo, KTM, + 00:02:49
4. Daniel Oliveras Carreras, Himoinsa, + 00:03:25
5. Johnny Aubert, Gas Gas, + 00:04:19
6. Oriol Mena, Hero, + 00:05:01
7. Gerard Farres, Himoinsa, + 00:05:23
8. Matthias Walkner, KTM, + 00:05:38
9. Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo, Honda, + 00:07:57
10. Juan Pedrero Garcia, Sherco TVS, + 00:10:53

2018 Dakar Final Top 10

1. Matthias Walkner, KTM
2. Kevin Benavides, Honda, + 00:16:53
3. Toby Price, KTM, + 00:23:01
4. Antoine Meo, KTM, + 00:47:28 (00:01:00 penalty)
5. Gerard Farres, Himoinsa, + 01: 01:04
6. Johnny Aubert, Gas Gas, + 01:53:53 (00:20:00 penalty)
7. Oriol Mena, Hero, + 02:22:52
8. Pablo Quintanilla, Husqvarna, + 02:24:05
9. Daniel Oliveras Carreras, Himoinsa, + 02:37:20
10. Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo. Honda, + 02:42:36