Reigning Dakar Rally Champion Sam Sunderland got off to a good start with a win in Stage 1 of the 2018 Dakar Rally in Peru today, making the trek from Lima to Pisco faster than any other of the motorcycle competitors in what was an extremely short, 31-kilometer timed special stage to open up the 2018 rally.
The opening stage featured a liasion along the Pacific coast followed by a 31 km sprint near Pisco, and Red Bull KTM Factory Racing-backed Sunderland was quick to establish himself as the man to beat, finishing with a time of 20 minutes and 55 seconds, 33 seconds ahead of the next fastest man, France’s Adrien van Beveren, who rides for the Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team. Sunderland and Van Beveren also happen to be brothers-in-law, setting up the potential for a real family affair on the 2018 Dakar Rally podium if the two should make it all the way to the end of the grueling event.
Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Pablo Quintanilla and Monster Energy Honda’s Joan Barreda also posted solid opening times in Stage 1 of the 2018 Dakar Rally, finishing 56 and 57 seconds, respectively, behind Sunderland. Yamalube Yamaha’s Xavier de Soultrait finished fifth in the stage, and sits 1 minute and 7 seconds out of the lead.
American hopefuls Ricky Brabec and Andrew Short had differing results, with Brabec coming out the better of the two by finishing 11th in the opening stage. The Monster Energy Honda rider finished with a time of 23 minutes and 42 seconds to place himself 2 minutes and 47 seconds off the lead. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Short finished 27th, with a time of 25:46, leaving him 4:51 out of the lead.
If former Dakar Rally Champion Toby Price had hoped to re-establish the dominance he enjoyed en route to his overall win in 2016, he will have to wait for another stage to do it. Price finished a distant 14th in Stage 1 and is currently 3:21 behind teammate Sunderland.
But it’s obviously very early in the 2018 Dakar Rally, and a lot will happen over the next several stages. Stay tuned.
2018 Dakar Rally
Stage 1, Lima, Peru to Pisco, Peru
Results: January 6, 2018 (Stage 1 of 14)
Stage 1
1. Sam Sunderland (GBR)-Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team / 20 minutes, 56 seconds
2. Adrien Van Beveren ( FRA)-Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team / +00:00:33
3. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI)-Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Rally Team / +00:00:56
4. Joan Barreda (SPA)-Monster Energy Honda Rally Team / +00:00:57
5. Xavier de Soultrait (FRA)-Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team / +00:01:07
6. Matthias Walkner (AUT)-Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team / +00:01:23
7. Franco Caimi (ARG)-Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team / +00:01:31
8. Daniel Nosiglia (BOL)-HT Husqvarna Rally Team / +00:01:31
9. Antoine Meo (FRA)-Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team / +00:01:49
10. Kevin Benavides (ARG)-Monster Energy Honda Team / +00:01:53
11. Ricky Brabec (USA) Monster Energy Honda Team / +00:02:47
27. Andrew Short (USA)-Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Rally Team / +00”04:51
2018 Dakar Rally Overall Standings (after 1 of 14 stages)
1. Sam Sunderland (GBR)-Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team / 20 minutes, 56 seconds
2. Adrien Van Beveren ( FRA)-Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team / +00:00:33
3. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI)-Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Rally Team / +00:00:56
4. Joan Barreda (SPA)-Monster Energy Honda Rally Team / +00:00:57
5. Xavier de Soultrait (FRA)-Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team / +00:01:07
6. Matthias Walkner (AUT)-Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team / +00:01:23
7. Franco Caimi (ARG)-Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team / +00:01:31
8. Daniel Nosiglia (BOL)-HT Husqvarna Rally Team / +00:01:31
9. Antoine Meo (FRA)-Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team / +00:01:49
10. Kevin Benavides (ARG)-Monster Energy Honda Team / +00:01:53
11. Ricky Brabec (USA) Monster Energy Honda Team / +00:02:47
27. Andrew Short (USA)-Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Rally Team / +00”04:51
Your Privacy Choices