01/15/2021 5:24 AM
Clarín.com
sports
Updated 1/15/2021 5:26 AM
Argentine Kevin Benavides (Honda) was consecrated this Friday
winner of Dakar 2021
in the motorcycle category, at the end of the 12th stage between Yanbu and Yedá, obtained by American Ricky Brabec (Honda).
In the general classification, Benavides conquered the test with 4 minutes and 56 seconds of difference over Brabec (winner in 2020) and with 15 minutes and 57 seconds over the British Sam Sunderland (KTM).
Argentine and Latin American enduro champion, Benavides, 32, made his Dakar debut in 2016 with an impressive fourth place.
In 2018 it was ranked second.
In his fifth participation, he won the title.
🏍🏆 @kmbenavides wins the 43th Dakar, here in Jeddah!
🏁👏 # Dakar2021 pic.twitter.com/ebjqe7L3ED
- DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 15, 2021
On Thursday, at the end of the 11th stage, anything was possible between the top three (Benavides, Sunderland and Brabec), who were less than ten minutes apart.
By winning the penultimate stage that day, Sunderland had taken advantage of the Honda riders' problems to close the gap.
But the final stage was fatal for Sunderland and ended in the consecration of Benavides, who finished second, 2 minutes and 17 seconds behind Brabec, and ahead of Austrian Matthias Walkner (KTM), third at 4 minutes and 13 seconds.
This is Honda's first Dakar double since Cyril Neveu won the title in 1987, followed by Edi Orioli.
Kevin Benavides celebrates his title at the 202 Dakar Rally. AFP Photo
Benavides, 32, is the
fourth Argentine
to lift a trophy at the Dakar.
The other three national winners had competed in ATVs.
Marcos Patronelli won this category three times, in 2010, 2013 and 2016. His brother Alejandro won twice in a row, in 2011 and 2012. The last Argentine winner was Nicolás Cavigliasso, in 2019.
The day of this Friday was dyed with mourning for the
death of Frenchman Pierre Cherpin.
PIERRE CHERPIN PASSED AWAY
During his transfer by medical plane, Pierre Cherpin died on Jan 14th from injuries caused by his fall during the 7th stage.
The Dakar caravan would like to extend its sincere condolences to his family, relatives & friends.https: //t.co/ccJ4ctOU9D pic.twitter.com/zxQ9o49ENG
- DAKAR RALLY (@dakar) January 15, 2021
Cherpin, a motorcycle rider, had suffered a
head injury
last week after a crash on stage seven of the Dakar 2021, and was in a coma for five days.
The organizers reported that he died this Friday while being transferred to France.
"During his transfer by medical plane between Jeddah and France" this 52-year-old businessman "died as a result of injuries sustained after a fall that occurred on the 7th stage Ha'il-Sakaka, on January 10," according to a statement.
With information from EFE and AFP
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