Matthias Walkner (KTM) has come out on top after a dramatic day in the 2018 Dakar!
Navigational mistakes have cost many of the lead riders, including Toby Price (KTM), a lot of time and Adrien Van Beveren (Yamaha) is out after crashing heavily just 3km from the finish line.
- STAGE 10: Salta / Belén
- Liaison > 424 km – Special > 373 km
Adrien Van Beveren, overall leader going in to this stage, has broken his right collar bone and also injured his thorax and spine in the crash. He was unable to complete the remaining 3 km of the special and has been evacuated by helicopter.
Antoine Meo (KTM) led the field out of the Salta bivouac but it wasn’t long before the first of the front runners got lost – Ricky Brabec (Honda) straying 2km from the track and losing 18 minutes. About 30 minutes later Brabec made another navigational error, this time travelling around 3km before realising his mistake.
Kevin Benavides (Honda) set the pace early on with Toby Price tracking just 3 minutes behind.
But then chaos began!
Meo, Price and Benavides, all following each other, took a wrong track and ended up 10km off the route. Joan Barreda (Honda) also lost a significant amount of time through navigation errors.
Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna) has finished the stage second with Gerard Farres Guell (KTM) third.
The end result is a major shakeup in positions at the front of the field, and has placed Matthias Walkner in a strong position for the outright win – but this is Dakar and anything can happen!
Top 5 after Stage 10
- 1. Matthias Walkner (Red Bull KTM Factory Team)
- 2. Joan Barreda Bort (Monster Energy Honda Team) – 00:39:42
- 3. Kevin Benavides (Monster Energy Honda Team) – 00:41:23
- 4. Gerard Farres Guell (Himoinsa Racing Team) – 00:47:46
- 5. Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Team) – 00:50:18
Australians
- 5. Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Team) – 00:50:18
- 20. Rodney Faggotter (Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team) – 02:56:38
- TBA. Scott Britnell (KTM) – 16:15:12
Want to know more about these riders and drivers? Check out our competitor profiles: