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The Red Bull KTM team finished the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia with former winner Sam Sunderland on the podium. Jordi Villadoms summed up the team’s performance in the toughest rally in the world.
When KTM’s fastest rider Toby Price withdrew from this year’s Dakar rally with a violent accident earlier in the week, the chances of success in Saudi Arabia plunged. In the end, KTM had to watch Honda achieve double success with Kevin Benavides and Ricky Brabec, while Sam Sunderland saved Mattighofener’s honor with third place.
«In general, I am satisfied with the rally. After fighting the whole race, a podium is positive at the end, but of course we expected more, ”explained KTM rally team director Jordi Viladoms after crossing the finish line on Friday. “This event was a challenge for all the participants, a true test of character and a test for all the members of our team. I am very proud of the dedication that everyone has shown. “
“Hats off to Sam because he was super consistent throughout the rally, he gave it his all. Working to move up the classification was not really an easy task, but he did what he had to do and he was there when it counted ”, said the Spaniard happily, who took the podium of the Dakar 2014..
In addition to Price, Sunderland and Matthias Walkner, Australian Daniel Sanders started for the first time this year. He ended up being the best rookie and almost missed the podium. “Our junior driver Daniel finished fourth, an incredible result, especially when you consider that the level of the others was so high this year,” Viladoms said, adding: “We are very happy for him. because he only had four months to prepare.
“Matthias’s ninth position after having these big problems at the beginning of the rally shows the quality he possesses as a pilot,” emphasized the KTM team principal. “In the end we are happy with the performance of the whole team, they all worked very hard, the bike worked perfectly and all the riders had a good attitude.”
“Of course it was a shame that Toby left the rally, precisely because he was the driver with the most potential at the time. Fortunately, he was not hurt too much and we are eager to get him back as soon as possible, ”said the Spaniard. “Finally, I would like to mention Skyler Howes, whom we support. He had a great race and finished in position 5, he showed really strong pace in some stages. “
| Dakar Rally 2021 result | ||||
| Pos | Driver (nation) | motorcycle | Time / difference | punishment |
| 1 | K. Benavides (ARG) | Sling | 47:18:14 | 00:02:00 |
| 2 | R. Brabec (United States) | Sling | + 0:04:56 | 00:00:00 |
| 3 | S. Sunderland (GBR) | KTM | + 0:15:57 | 00:00:00 |
| 4 | D. Sanders (AUS) | KTM | + 0:38:52 | 00:07:00 |
| 5 | S. Howes (United States) | KTM | + 0:52:33 | 00:06:00 |
| 6 | L. Santolino (ESP) | Sherco | + 0:58:30 | 00:00:00 |
| 7 | P. Quintanilla (CHL) | Husqvarna | + 1:26:39 | 00:10:00 |
| 8 | S. Svitko (SVK) | KTM | + 1:43:07 | 00:00:00 |
| 9 | M. Walkner (AUT) | KTM | + 2:32:12 | 00:02:00 |
| 10 | M. Michek (CZE) | KTM | + 2:42:37 | 00:23:00 |
| eleven | J. Rodrigues (PRT) | Hero | + 3:04:24 | 00:37:00 |
| 12 | J. Betriu (ESP) | KTM | + 3:17:16 | 00:06:00 |
| 13 | T. Schareina (ESP) | KTM | + 3:41:35 | 00:00:00 |
| 14 | S. Bühler (DEU) | Hero | + 4:00:03 | 00:18:00 |
| fifteen | J. Garcia (ESP) | KTM | + 4:07:28 | 00:00:00 |
| sixteen | O. Mena (ESP) | KTM | + 4:19:24 | 00:00:00 |
| 17 | L. Sanz (ESP) | GASGAS | + 6:29:31 | 00:12:00 |
| 18 | M. Engel (CZE) | KTM | + 6:30:29 | 00:21:00 |
| 19 | R. Goncalves (PRT) | Sherco | + 6:35:21 | 00:18:00 |
| twenty | Hn. Koitha Veettil (IND) | Sherco | + 7:39:51 | 00:02:00 |
| twenty-one | A. Gelazninkas (LTU) | KTM | + 7:46:09 | 00:00:00 |
| 22 | C. Chapeliere (FRA) | KTM | + 8:20:04 | 01:23:00 |
| 2. 3 | E. Gyenes (ROU) | KTM | + 8:48:14 | 00:02:00 |
| 24 | D. Caballero (GBR) | Husqvarna | + 8:53:11 | 00:29:00 |
| 25 | B. Melot (FRA) | KTM | + 9:21:56 | 00:06:00 |
| 26 | P. Spierings (NLD) | Husqvarna | + 9:42:17 | 00:00:00 |
| 27 | M. Burgess (AUS) | KTM | + 10:53:30 | 00:59:00 |
| 28 | K. Dabrowski (POL) | KTM | + 11:06:22 | 00:00:00 |
| 29 | M. Doveze (FRA) | KTM | + 11:49:11 | 00:05:00 |
| 30 | D. Pabiska (CZE) | KTM | + 11:53:59 | 00:01:00 |
| 31 | L. Podmol (CZE) | Husqvarna | + 12:04:44 | 00:15:00 |
| 32 | X. Flick (FRA) | Husqvarna | + 12:07:19 | 00:00:00 |
| 33 | Z. Yakp (CHN) | KTM | + 13:57:01 | 00:42:00 |
| 3. 4 | M. Calmet (ESP) | KTM | + 16:32:57 | 00:02:00 |
| 35 | C. Herbst (FRA) | KTM | + 17:32:03 | 00:23:00 |
| 36 | S. Marcic (SVN) | Husqvarna | + 17:51:14 | 00:45:00 |
| 37 | N. Hawker (GBR) | Husqvarna | + 18:34:46 | 00:29:00 |
| 38 | C. Zacchetti (ITA) | KTM | + 19:50:25 | 00:32:00 |
| 39 | E. Vlcak (SVK) | Husqvarna | + 20:09:19 | 00:27:00 |
| 40 | S. Darques (FRA) | Yamaha | + 20:52:23 | 00:53:30 |
| 41 | R. Lhotsky (CZE) | Husqvarna | + 21:10:08 | 01:16:00 |
| 42 | M. Alghuneim (SAU) | KTM | + 21:39:32 | 00:22:00 |
| 43 | F. Picco (ITA) | Husqvarna | + 21:44:00 | 00:40:00 |
| 44 | S. Garcia (ESP) | Yamaha | + 22:22:23 | 00:44:00 |
| Four. Five | Z. Hongyi (CHN) | KTM | + 22:36:12 | 00:02:00 |
| 46 | A. Baratin (FRA) | KTM | + 23:45:58 | 00:06:00 |
| 47 | J. Vega Puerta (ESP) | Yamaha | + 23:47:32 | 00:20:00 |
| 48 | Jp. Guillén Rivera (MEX) | KTM | + 24:09:46 | 01:02:00 |
| 49 | G. Barthelemy (FRA) | KTM | + 24:44:26 | 00:05:00 |
| fifty | Aj. Houlihan (AUS) | KTM | + 25:53:06 | 01:27:00 |
| 51 | F. Barlerin (FRA) | KTM | + 27:32:47 | 00:00:30 |
| 52 | W. Roelants (BEL) | Husqvarna | + 28:00:42 | 00:31:00 |
| 53 | E. Sánchez (ESP) | KTM | + 29: 33:00 | 00:01:00 |
| 54 | E. Méndez (ESP) | KTM | + 29:39:13 | 00:30:00 |
| 55 | R. Al-Lal Lahadil (ESP) | KTM | + 30:05:59 | 00:07:30 |
| 56 | F. Domínguez (ESP) | KTM | + 32:50:30 | 00:25:00 |
| 57 | O. Harmsen (NLD) | KTM | + 33:36:40 | 01:02:00 |
| 58 | Smh. Farhan (BHR) | Husqvarna | + 33:51:06 | 01:53:00 |
| 59 | A. Rossat (FRA) | KTM | + 35:07:59 | 00:21:00 |
| 60 | G. Saghmeister (SRB) | KTM | + 35:32:20 | 00:41:00 |
| 61 | J. Campdera (ESP) | KTM | + 38:46:29 | 00:01:00 |
| 62 | D. Puig Tree (ESP) | KTM | + 45:00:49 | 04:38:00 |
| 63 | J. Alexander (BWA) | Yamaha | + 66:13:01 | 06:40:00 |
