Toby Price
Skyler Howes
Mason Klein
American Skyler Howes went into the ultra long two-day “Marathon” stage of the Dakar Rally (no outside assistance for two legs) with the overall lead on Stage #11. By the time Stage #12 finished today, Toby Price had leap-frogged into the lead, while Howes finished 6th on the day and a slim 28 seconds behind the Aussie after nearly 41 hours of racing!
“It was actually a good stage for me today,” said Howes after a day in the dunes. “The Empty Quarter really does live up to its name – just an endless sea of dunes. It’s really exciting to go into the last couple of days with the race so close. Both halves of the marathon stage went well – I think I was able to ride both days at a good, consistent pace. I was able to preserve myself and the bike without any issues, which is super important.
“So now I’m looking ahead at the last two stages of the race,” says Howes. “Neither of them are very long, so with things so tight on the leaderboard, I really think this battle is going to run right up to the finish line.”
Meanwhile, fellow American Mason Klein continued to soldier on, despite a couple crashes prior to the Marathon section and injuring his wrist while running 3rd overall. Klein is currently just inside the top 10, but 2 minutes behind fellow KTM rider Matthias Walkner.
With only two more days to go, tomorrow it’s time for the 13th stage — which would’ve fallen on Friday the 13th if not for weather pushing the schedule by a day. There will be a very long liaison of 520 kilometers in the connection between Shaybah and Al-Hofuf. The special section will be 153 km long and this departure from the Empty Quarter will certainly be decisive. It will be the last chance to surf on its chain of dunes and also to fight for the top standings. It will be a short but quite intense ride where physical and mechanical endurance can play an important role.
Provisional Standings – 2023 Dakar Rally (after 12 of 14 stages)
1. Toby Price (AUS), KTM, 40:47:36
2. Skyler Howes (USA), Husqvarna, 40:48:04 +0:28
3. Kevin Benavides (ARG), KTM, 40:50:16 +2:40
4. Pablo Quintanilla (CHI), Honda, 41:02:30 +14:54
5. Adrien Van Beveren (FRA), Honda, 41:03:50 +16:14
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9. Matthias Walkner (AUT), KTM, 41:32:00 +44:24
10. Mason Klein (USA), KTM, 41:42:34 +54:58
