Dakar 2024: KTM's Kevin Benavides Wins Stage 3, Hero MotoSports Keep Overall Lead

With KTM's first-ever stage win, the 2024 Dakar Rally saw a dramatic change in the standings on the third stage. While factory rider and reigning champion Kevin Benavides won the stage in the motorcycle class, Toyota's Lucas Moraes won the stage for the first time. Featuring intimidating dunes and high-speed courses, Stage 3, which covered a difficult 733-kilometre route, proved to be the most difficult day thus far. A couple of competitors, Joan Barreda and Pablo Quintanilla, were penalised for the all-too-common offence of speeding in the Dakar Rally. Ricky Brabec of Honda finished second in the motorbike category, with Adrien Van Beveren of the same squad taking third—Van Beveren's highest finish thus far at this year's Dakar. After battling off challenges from four Honda riders—Jose Cornejo, Brabec, Quintanilla, and Van Beveren—Ross Branch retained his lead in the overall standings with a lead of slightly over three minutes.

Nasser Al-Atiyah, who was defending his title, was involved in a fierce struggle with Moraes, Mattias Ekstrom, and Al-Rajhi in the car category. With a lead of 22 seconds at the penultimate checkpoint, Al-Atiyah lost to Toyota's Moraes. Ekstrom of Audi took second place, and Al-Rajhi came in third. After much deliberation, Al-Attiyah settled for fourth place in Stage 3.

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Dakar 2024: Stage 3 Motorcycle Result

Finishing two minutes and fifty-seven seconds after Benavides' leading KTM, Skylar Howes rode his Honda to fourth place.

Also Read: Dakar 2024: Honda's Jose Ignacio Wins Stage 2, Hero MotoSports Maintains Overall Lead

Dakar 2024: Hero MotoSports Keeps Overall Lead

Ross Branch continues to lead the overall standings, but Sebastian Buhler's retirement during Special Stage 3—which saw him crash out at 360 kilometres—shadowed the day. Two of the four Hero riders that started the Dakar are now out of the race due to this alteration.

Ross Branch said: "It was in fact a really weird stage for me. In the morning I was doing very well, but then ended up making some navigational errors and lost time with a particular waypoint. I'm happy however to be here in one piece. I hope my teammate Sebastian will get better soon, it was disheartening to see him lying on the side of the road injured. My thoughts are with him.

Sebastian Buhler said: "Unfortunately, I had a really bad crash at around 360 kms into the Stage. I was flown into the hospital, and after scans it looks like there are only some minor fissures. It is very unfortunate, but I consider myself lucky to be in a good condition now. A big thanks to Toby Price and Skyler Howes who stopped by to help me. Thank you to everyone who has been sending their support as well. Good luck to BangBang and Rossi for the rest of the Dakar!"

Ross Branch maintained his overall lead, which has now expanded to 3 minutes and 11 seconds, after a great performance that earned him 5th place in the stage. Joan Barreda Bort, meanwhile, moved up to 12th place in the overall standings after finishing 15th.