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36m ago

Luciano Benavides Wins Dakar Motorbike Title by Record Two Seconds

A navigation mistake by Ricky Brabec in the final kilometers allowed the Argentine to overturn a 3:20 deficit on a 105‑km special.

Rider Luciano Benavides of Argentina celebrates on the podium after the thirteenth stage with a start and finish in Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Jan.17, 2026. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus)
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Luciano Benavides celebra su histórico triunfo en el Dakar (AP)
Luciano Benavides, de KTM, padeció la estrategia de Ricky Brabec, que desaceleró el jueves para que el argentino hiciera el mejor tiempo en la etapa 11 del Rally Dakar y saliera por delante en la 12, limpiando la ruta y yendo a menor ritmo.

Overview

  • The short Stage 13 in Yanbu saw Edgar Canet take the stage win, with Benavides finishing second and Tosha Schareina securing third overall.
  • Brabec began the day 3 minutes 20 seconds ahead after winning the penultimate stage, aided by Honda’s starting‑order strategy and opening‑bonus dynamics.
  • At kilometer 98 of the final special, Brabec missed the correct heading and lost enough time to concede the overall lead within the last seven kilometers.
  • The two‑second gap is the smallest overall winning margin recorded in the history of the Dakar Rally.
  • Benavides claimed his first Dakar crown for Red Bull KTM, delivering the brand’s 21st victory and Argentina’s third motorcycle title after Kevin Benavides’ 2021 and 2023 wins.