Dakar-Sieger Kevin Benavides (KTM): «Leere im Kopf»
Von Kay Hettich
© Rally Zone
Kevin Benavides wird von seinem Team auf Händen getragen
Vor dem Start der 14. und letzten Etappe der Dakar 2023 war klar: Für den Gesamtsieg kommen nur die beiden Red Bull KTM-Piloten Toby Price und Kevin Benavides oder Husqvarna-Ass Skyler Howes infrage. Nur 91 sec trennten das Trio, die Top-2 sogar nur 12 sec.
Die Entscheidung auf der Wertungsprüfung über 136 km fiel erst auf den letzten Kilometern und zwischen den KTM-Stars. Benavides lag 34 km vor dem Ziel um 1:29 min vor Price, der zuvor seinen Rückstand aber verringern konnte. Am Ende gewann der Argentinier mit 55 sec Vorsprung auf seinen Teamkollegen die finale Etappe und dadurch mit 43 sec Vorsprung auch die 45. Dakar-Ausgabe. Ursächlich hierfür war, dass Price für drei Wegpunkte umkehren musste, Benavides nur für einen!
Bemerkenswert: Nur 43 sec, und das nach 13 Renntagen (Etappe 7 wurde abgesagt) und gut 8000 km auf dem Motorrad, davon 4100 km an Wertungsprüfung.
Für Benavides ist es nach 2021 mit Honda der zweite Dakar-Triumph. «Ich bin der Erste, der mit zwei verschiedenen Motorradmarken gewonnen hat – das macht mich sehr stolz», sagte der 34-Jährige überglücklich. «Am Morgen war mein Kopf leer, aber nicht mehr auf jedem Kilometer der heutigen Etappe, von null bis 136. Es ist unglaublich, am Ende dieser völlig verrückten Dakar den Sieg zu erringen – und das mit einem so geringen Vorsprung.»
Für KTM ist es der 19. Gesamtsieg bei einer Dakar, nachdem man zwischen 2001 und 2019 stolze 18 Ausgaben in Serie gewonnen hatte. Die Pierer Mobility AG kommt sogar auf 20 Siege, weil im Vorjahr Sam Sunderland auf einer GASGAS gewonnen hatte.
Und für die Pierer Mobility AG gibt es in diesem Jahr mehr zu feiern, schließlich schafften es mit Benavides, Price, Howes, Luciano Benavides (6./Husqvarna) und Daniel Sanders (7./Red Bull GASGAS) gleich fünf Werkspiloten in die Top-7. Wermutstropfen dagegen die verletzungsbedingten Ausfälle von Vorjahressieger Sam Sunderland (GASGAS) auf Etappe 1 und Matthias Walkner (Red Bull KTM) auf Etappe 13.
| Rallye Dakar 2023 – vorläufiges Ergebnis Etappe 14 | |||
| Pos | Fahrer (Nation) | Team | Zeit/Diff |
| 1 | Kevin Benavides (ARG) | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 01:15:17 |
| 2 | Daniel Sanders (AUS) | Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing | + 00:00:35 |
| 3 | Toby Price (AUS) | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | + 00:00:55 |
| 4 | Pablo Quintanilla (CHL) | Monster Energy Honda Team | + 00:03:15 |
| 5 | Skyler Howes (USA) | Husqvarna Factory Racing | + 00:03:45 |
| 6 | Sebastian Bühler (DEU) | Hero Motosports Team Rally | + 00:04:14 |
| 7 | Luciano Benavides (ARG) | Husqvarna Factory Racing | + 00:04:25 |
| 8 | Adrien Van Beveren (FRA) | Monster Energy Honda Team | + 00:04:51 |
| 9 | Tosha Schareina (ESP) | Bas World KTM Racing Team | + 00:05:47 |
| 10 | Stefan Svitko (SVK) | Slovnaft Rally Team | + 00:06:33 |
| 11 | Martin Michek (CZE) | Orion - Moto Racing Group | + 00:07:27 |
| 12 | Lorenzo Santolino (ESP) | Sherco Factory | + 00:07:37 |
| 13 | Romain Dumontier (FRA) | Team Dumontier Racing | + 00:08:04 |
| 14 | Franco Caimi (ARG) | Hero Motosports Team Rally | + 00:08:04 |
| 15 | Jeanloup Lepan (FRA) | Nomade Racing | + 00:08:09 |
| 16 | Julien Jagu (FRA) | Drag'On Rally Team | + 00:08:11 |
| 17 | Ross Branch (BWA) | Hero Motosports Team Rally | + 00:08:19 |
| 18 | Paolo Lucci (ITA) | Bas World KTM Racing Team | + 00:10:12 |
| 19 | Neels Theric (FRA) | Rs Comcept | + 00:10:52 |
| 20 | Mathieu Doveze (FRA) | Nomade Racing | + 00:11:30 |
| 21 | Michael Docherty (ZAF) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 00:11:47 |
| 22 | Emanuel Gyenes (ROU) | Autonet Motorcycle Team | + 00:11:49 |
| 23 | Charan Moore (ZAF) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 00:12:46 |
| 24 | Toni Mulec (SVN) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 00:12:56 |
| 25 | Jacob Argubright (USA) | Duust Rally Team | + 00:13:12 |
| 26 | Joan Pedrero Garcia (ESP) | Team Ls2 Shad | + 00:16:07 |
| 27 | Javi Vega (ESP) | Pont Grup Yamaha | + 00:16:31 |
| 28 | Charlie Herbst (FRA) | Team All Tracks | + 00:17:12 |
| 29 | Benjamin Melot (FRA) | Team Esprit KTM | + 00:20:11 |
| 30 | Stefano Caimi (ARG) | Bas World KTM Racing Team | + 00:20:15 |
| 31 | Laisvydas Kancius (LTU) | Story Racing S.R.O. | + 00:20:59 |
| 32 | Eufrasio Anghileri (ITA) | Rs Moto Racing | + 00:21:26 |
| 33 | Jerome Martiny (BEL) | Team Dumontier Racing | + 00:21:56 |
| 34 | Diego Gamaliel Llanos (ARG) | Rieju-Xraidsexperience | + 00:22:54 |
| 35 | Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (CHL) | Monster Energy Honda Team | + 00:23:05 |
| 36 | Jan Brabec (CZE) | Strojrent Racing | + 00:23:49 |
| 37 | David Gaits (FRA) | Happyness Racing Igoa Moto | + 00:23:50 |
| 38 | Mathieu Troquier (FRA) | Nomade Racing | + 00:23:50 |
| 39 | Marcelo Medeiros (BRA) | Taguatur Racing Team | + 00:25:10 |
| 40 | Bertrand Gavard (FRA) | Team Rs Concept | + 00:26:17 |
| 41 | Pablo Copetti (USA) | Del Amo Motorsports By Motul | + 00:27:04 |
| 42 | Ruben Saldaña Goñi (ESP) | Pedrega Team | + 00:27:12 |
| 43 | Michael Jacobi (FRA) | Comas Moto Vta | + 00:27:15 |
| 44 | Lorenzo Maria Fanottoli (ITA) | Tecnosport | + 00:27:19 |
| 45 | Patricio Cabrera (CHL) | Rieju Team | + 00:28:03 |
| 46 | Mohammed Balooshi (ARE) | Mx Ride Dubai | + 00:29:53 |
| 47 | Juraj Varga (SVK) | Varga Motorsport Team | + 00:29:56 |
| 48 | Sunier Sunier (CHN) | Kove Rally Team | + 00:30:56 |
| 49 | David Pabiska (CZE) | Sp Moto Bohemia Racing Team | + 00:30:58 |
| 50 | Zakeer Yakefu (CHN) | Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Rally Team | + 00:30:58 |
| 51 | Makis Dewi Rees-Stavros (GBR) | Stavros | + 00:31:02 |
| 52 | Mario Patrao (PRT) | Credit Agricola - Mario Patrao Motosport | + 00:31:51 |
| 53 | Thomas Kongshoj (DNK) | Joyride Race Service | + 00:32:41 |
| 54 | Toni Vingut (ESP) | Visit Sant Antoni - Ibiza | + 00:33:15 |
| 55 | Stuart Gregory (ZAF) | Stuart Gregory | + 00:34:01 |
| 56 | Giovanni Enrico (CHL) | Enrico Racing Team | + 00:34:21 |
| 57 | Cédric Jacques (FRA) | Rs Comcept | + 00:35:09 |
| 58 | Alexandre Giroud (FRA) | Yamaha Racing - Smx - Drag'On | + 00:35:55 |
| 59 | Stevan Wilken (ZAF) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 00:37:03 |
| 60 | Petr Vlcek (USA) | Detyens Racing | + 00:37:16 |
| 61 | Pierre Peyrard (FRA) | Nomade Racing Team | + 00:37:25 |
| 62 | Zhang Min (CHN) | Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Rally Team | + 00:37:59 |
| 63 | Francisco Moreno Flores (ARG) | Dragon | + 00:38:46 |
| 64 | Clément Razy (FRA) | Razy Clement | + 00:39:49 |
| 65 | Simon Marcic (SVN) | Marcic | + 00:40:20 |
| 66 | Fang Mingji (CHN) | Kove Rally Team | + 00:41:04 |
| 67 | Deng Liansong (CHN) | Kove Rally Team | + 00:45:31 |
| 68 | Zhao Hongyi (CHN) | Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Rally Team | + 00:48:32 |
| 69 | Carlos Alejandro Verza (ARG) | Verza Rally Team | + 00:48:55 |
| 70 | Nicolas Alberto Cardona Vagnoni (VEN) | Pedrega Team | + 00:49:31 |
| 71 | Javier San Jose Yetor (ESP) | Pedrega Team | + 00:51:07 |
| 72 | Benjamin Lepelley (FRA) | Team Dumontier Racing | + 00:56:29 |
| 73 | Tomas De Gavardo (CHL) | Bas World KTM Racing Team | + 00:57:32 |
| 74 | Gareth Jones (CAN) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 00:58:34 |
| 75 | Wesley Aaldering (NLD) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 00:58:41 |
| 76 | James Martyn Hillier (GBR) | Rich Energy Omg Racing Ltd | + 01:00:42 |
| 77 | Kirsten Landman (ZAF) | Asp Rope Access International | + 01:01:36 |
| 78 | Francisco Arredondo (GTM) | Bas World KTM Racing Team | + 01:03:57 |
| 79 | Mirjam Pol (NLD) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 01:05:11 |
| 80 | Abdullah Al Shatti (KWT) | Mx Ride Dubai | + 01:07:08 |
| 81 | Iader Giraldi (ITA) | Solarys Racing | + 01:11:36 |
| 82 | Fernando Dominguez (ESP) | Diputacion De Cuenca | + 01:20:34 |
| 83 | Morrison Hart (USA) | American Rally Originals | + 01:33:17 |
| 84 | Rachid Al-Lal Lahadil (ESP) | Melilla Sport Capital | + 01:35:56 |
| Rallye Dakar 2023 – vorläufige Gesamtwertung nach Etappe 14 von 14 | |||
| Pos | Fahrer (Nation) | Team | Zeit/Diff |
| 1 | Kevin Benavides (ARG) | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | 44:27:20 |
| 2 | Toby Price (AUS) | Red Bull KTM Factory Racing | + 00:00:43 |
| 3 | Skyler Howes (USA) | Husqvarna Factory Racing | + 00:05:04 |
| 4 | Pablo Quintanilla (CHL) | Monster Energy Honda Team | + 00:19:02 |
| 5 | Adrien Van Beveren (FRA) | Monster Energy Honda Team | + 00:20:30 |
| 6 | Luciano Benavides (ARG) | Husqvarna Factory Racing | + 00:22:42 |
| 7 | Daniel Sanders (AUS) | Red Bull GASGAS Factory Racing | + 00:22:57 |
| 8 | Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (CHL) | Monster Energy Honda Team | + 00:51:21 |
| 9 | Lorenzo Santolino (ESP) | Sherco Factory | + 01:17:53 |
| 10 | Franco Caimi (ARG) | Hero Motosports Team Rally | + 01:38:04 |
| 11 | Martin Michek (CZE) | Orion - Moto Racing Group | + 01:42:24 |
| 12 | Stefan Svitko (SVK) | Slovnaft Rally Team | + 01:50:42 |
| 13 | Tosha Schareina (ESP) | Bas World KTM Racing Team | + 01:54:46 |
| 14 | Romain Dumontier (FRA) | Team Dumontier Racing | + 02:04:24 |
| 15 | Paolo Lucci (ITA) | Bas World KTM Racing Team | + 02:36:38 |
| 16 | Michael Docherty (ZAF) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 03:21:07 |
| 17 | Jeanloup Lepan (FRA) | Nomade Racing | + 03:37:11 |
| 18 | Neels Theric (FRA) | Rs Comcept | + 04:09:45 |
| 19 | Julien Jagu (FRA) | Drag'On Rally Team | + 04:10:56 |
| 20 | Mathieu Doveze (FRA) | Nomade Racing | + 04:12:21 |
| 21 | Sebastian Bühler (DEU) | Hero Motosports Team Rally | + 04:15:13 |
| 22 | Jacob Argubright (USA) | Duust Rally Team | + 04:19:56 |
| 23 | Joan Pedrero Garcia (ESP) | Team Ls2 Shad | + 04:29:11 |
| 24 | Toni Mulec (SVN) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 05:20:29 |
| 25 | Stefano Caimi (ARG) | Bas World KTM Racing Team | + 06:17:03 |
| 26 | Ross Branch (BWA) | Hero Motosports Team Rally | + 06:59:13 |
| 27 | Emanuel Gyenes (ROU) | Autonet Motorcycle Team | + 07:53:35 |
| 28 | Charan Moore (ZAF) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 07:57:22 |
| 29 | Benjamin Melot (FRA) | Team Esprit KTM | + 07:58:15 |
| 30 | Javi Vega (ESP) | Pont Grup Yamaha | + 08:18:23 |
| 31 | Jan Brabec (CZE) | Strojrent Racing | + 08:35:58 |
| 32 | Jerome Martiny (BEL) | Team Dumontier Racing | + 08:58:00 |
| 33 | Charlie Herbst (FRA) | Team All Tracks | + 09:14:38 |
| 34 | Mario Patrao (PRT) | Credit Agricola - Mario Patrao Motosport | + 09:24:04 |
| 35 | Mohammed Balooshi (ARE) | Mx Ride Dubai | + 09:54:18 |
| 36 | David Pabiska (CZE) | Sp Moto Bohemia Racing Team | + 11:17:36 |
| 37 | Patricio Cabrera (CHL) | Rieju Team | + 11:20:04 |
| 38 | Nicolas Alberto Cardona Vagnoni (VEN) | Pedrega Team | + 11:57:04 |
| 39 | Alexandre Giroud (FRA) | Yamaha Racing - Smx - Drag'On | + 12:17:10 |
| 40 | Thomas Kongshoj (DNK) | Joyride Race Service | + 12:34:37 |
| 41 | Wesley Aaldering (NLD) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 12:46:20 |
| 42 | David Gaits (FRA) | Happyness Racing Igoa Moto | + 12:49:09 |
| 43 | Mathieu Troquier (FRA) | Nomade Racing | + 12:54:46 |
| 44 | Bertrand Gavard (FRA) | Team Rs Concept | + 12:55:23 |
| 45 | Francisco Moreno Flores (ARG) | Dragon | + 13:00:21 |
| 46 | Sunier Sunier (CHN) | Kove Rally Team | + 13:14:10 |
| 47 | Lorenzo Maria Fanottoli (ITA) | Tecnosport | + 13:30:46 |
| 48 | Simon Marcic (SVN) | Marcic | + 14:07:58 |
| 49 | Pablo Copetti (USA) | Del Amo Motorsports By Motul | + 14:10:05 |
| 50 | Mirjam Pol (NLD) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 14:15:05 |
| 51 | Makis Dewi Rees-Stavros (GBR) | Stavros | + 14:46:43 |
| 52 | Cédric Jacques (FRA) | Rs Comcept | + 14:51:06 |
| 53 | Juraj Varga (SVK) | Varga Motorsport Team | + 15:08:32 |
| 54 | Tomas De Gavardo (CHL) | Bas World KTM Racing Team | + 15:15:16 |
| 55 | Zakeer Yakefu (CHN) | Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Rally Team | + 15:26:22 |
| 56 | Abdullah Al Shatti (KWT) | Mx Ride Dubai | + 16:07:00 |
| 57 | Giovanni Enrico (CHL) | Enrico Racing Team | + 17:08:21 |
| 58 | Francisco Arredondo (GTM) | Bas World KTM Racing Team | + 17:16:36 |
| 59 | Petr Vlcek (USA) | Detyens Racing | + 17:17:57 |
| 60 | Michael Jacobi (FRA) | Comas Moto Vta | + 18:02:58 |
| 61 | Stuart Gregory (ZAF) | Stuart Gregory | + 18:48:21 |
| 62 | Pierre Peyrard (FRA) | Nomade Racing Team | + 19:01:37 |
| 63 | Clément Razy (FRA) | Razy Clement | + 19:04:36 |
| 64 | Toni Vingut (ESP) | Visit Sant Antoni - Ibiza | + 20:55:12 |
| 65 | Deng Liansong (CHN) | Kove Rally Team | + 21:09:32 |
| 66 | Zhao Hongyi (CHN) | Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Rally Team | + 21:31:51 |
| 67 | Javier San Jose Yetor (ESP) | Pedrega Team | + 22:18:40 |
| 68 | Kirsten Landman (ZAF) | Asp Rope Access International | + 23:09:48 |
| 69 | Stevan Wilken (ZAF) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 24:11:30 |
| 70 | Gareth Jones (CAN) | Ht Rally Raid Husqvarna Racing | + 24:30:24 |
| 71 | Benjamin Lepelley (FRA) | Team Dumontier Racing | + 25:24:28 |
| 72 | James Martyn Hillier (GBR) | Rich Energy Omg Racing Ltd | + 25:38:20 |
| 73 | Fang Mingji (CHN) | Kove Rally Team | + 28:14:02 |
| 74 | Iader Giraldi (ITA) | Solarys Racing | + 30:13:08 |
| 75 | Laisvydas Kancius (LTU) | Story Racing S.R.O. | + 31:33:03 |
| 76 | Diego Gamaliel Llanos (ARG) | Rieju-Xraidsexperience | + 33:41:30 |
| 77 | Rachid Al-Lal Lahadil (ESP) | Melilla Sport Capital | + 33:52:30 |
| 78 | Fernando Dominguez (ESP) | Diputacion De Cuenca | + 36:43:26 |
| 79 | Carlos Alejandro Verza (ARG) | Verza Rally Team | + 37:07:40 |
| 80 | Morrison Hart (USA) | American Rally Originals | + 41:17:55 |
| 81 | Marcelo Medeiros (BRA) | Taguatur Racing Team | + 42:16:35 |
| 82 | Zhang Min (CHN) | Wu Pu Da Hai Dao Rally Team | + 61:56:13 |
| 83 | Eufrasio Anghileri (ITA) | Rs Moto Racing | + 76:55:34 |
| 84 | Ruben Saldaña Goñi (ESP) | Pedrega Team | + 155:33:53 |
