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On the penultimate day of the race, Sam Sunderland had to postpone the decision for the 2021 Dakar Rally until the final on Friday. The Red Bull KTM rider did what he had to do with the stage win.
Dakar Rally fans can look forward to a thrilling finale. If it seemed like an unequivocal matter for Honda for Wednesday, after the eleventh stage it is again completely open who will win the most difficult rally in the world this year. With Kevin Benavides, a Honda rider continues to lead the overall standings, but with his first stage win, Red Bull KTM star Sam Sunderland was up to four minutes.
At the same time, a Honda rider, Joan Barreda, retired and last year’s winner, Ricky Brabec, is now three minutes from Sunderland.
“I knew today would be one of my last chances to win, and I worked hard all day for that,” the Briton said beaming. «I have nothing to regret when I give everything and try everything. Unfortunately, I have not recovered any more time, but I am happy with my performance. “
Sunderland already has a Dakar win in his life (2017), the next inning could follow on Friday.
“We only have one day left and a lot can happen in one stage,” Sunderland said, referring to the dramatic events of the past few days. «It was a very hard day and a very difficult Dakar in general. But I am very grateful to the team and to everyone who put so much work into it. Also for being able to drive our motorcycle through the desert with the current situation in the world. I can’t complain at all, but now I’m looking forward to taking a break. “
The twelfth stage will start in the order Sunderland, Pablo Quintanilla (Husqvarna), Benavides, Red Bull KTM riders Daniel Sanders and Matthias Walkner and Brabec. There will be no time for tactical games on the 225 km route.
| Dakar Rally 2021 – preliminary result stage 11 | ||||
| Pos | Driver (nation) | motorcycle | Time / difference | punishment |
| 1 | S. Sunderland (GBR) | KTM | 04:35:12 | 00:00:00 |
| 2 | P. Quintanilla (CHL) | Husqvarna | + 0:02:40 | 00:00:00 |
| 3 | K. Benavides (ARG) | Sling | + 0:06:24 | 00:00:00 |
| 4 | D. Sanders (AUS) | KTM | + 0:08:34 | 00:00:00 |
| 5 | M. Walkner (AUT) | KTM | + 0:09:27 | 00:00:00 |
| 6 | R. Brabec (United States) | Sling | + 0:12:46 | 00:00:00 |
| 7 | A. Van Beveren (FRA) | Yamaha | + 0:14:48 | 00:00:00 |
| 8 | L. Santolino (ESP) | Sherco | + 0:15:09 | 00:00:00 |
| 9 | S. Svitko (SVK) | KTM | + 0:16:45 | 00:00:00 |
| 10 | O. Mena (ESP) | KTM | + 0:18:15 | 00:00:00 |
| eleven | T. Schareina (ESP) | KTM | + 0:21:39 | 00:00:00 |
| 12 | S. Bühler (DEU) | Hero | + 0:23:49 | 00:00:00 |
| 13 | S. Howes (United States) | KTM | + 0:25:53 | 00:00:00 |
| 14 | R. Goncalves (PRT) | Sherco | + 0:27:06 | 00:00:00 |
| fifteen | M. Michek (CZE) | KTM | + 0:27:47 | 00:00:00 |
| sixteen | J. Betriu (ESP) | KTM | + 0:28:05 | 00:00:00 |
| 17 | J. Garcia (ESP) | KTM | + 0:30:33 | 00:00:00 |
| 18 | J. Rodrigues (PRT) | Hero | + 0:37:30 | 00:00:00 |
| 19 | Hn. Koitha Veettil (IND) | Sherco | + 0:41:16 | 00:00:00 |
| twenty | M. Engel (CZE) | KTM | + 0:45:23 | 00:00:00 |
| twenty-one | D. Caballero (GBR) | Husqvarna | + 0:46:51 | 00:00:00 |
| 22 | L. Sanz (ESP) | GASGAS | + 0:49:37 | 00:00:00 |
| 2. 3 | L. Podmol (CZE) | Husqvarna | + 0:53:56 | 00:00:00 |
| 24 | P. Spierings (NLD) | Husqvarna | + 0:54:52 | 00:00:00 |
| 25 | C. Chapeliere (FRA) | KTM | + 0:56:20 | 00:00:00 |
| 26 | A. Gelazninkas (LTU) | KTM | + 0:57:08 | 00:00:00 |
| 27 | J. Brabec (CZE) | KTM | + 1:02:20 | 00:15:00 |
| 28 | B. Melot (FRA) | KTM | + 1:03:33 | 00:00:00 |
| 29 | E. Gyenes (ROU) | KTM | + 1:03:58 | 00:00:00 |
| 30 | M. Doveze (FRA) | KTM | + 1:16:08 | 00:00:00 |
| 31 | M. Burgess (AUS) | KTM | + 1:18:28 | 00:00:00 |
| Dakar rally 2021 – status after stage 11 | ||||
| Pos | Driver (nation) | motorcycle | Time / difference | punishment |
| 1 | K. Benavides (ARG) | Sling | 45:01:44 | 00:02:00 |
| 2 | S. Sunderland (GBR) | KTM | + 0:04:12 | 00:00:00 |
| 3 | R. Brabec (United States) | Sling | + 0:07:13 | 00:00:00 |
| 4 | D. Sanders (AUS) | KTM | + 0:33:05 | 00:07:00 |
| 5 | S. Howes (United States) | KTM | + 0:49:07 | 00:06:00 |
| 6 | L. Santolino (ESP) | Sherco | + 0:49:26 | 00:00:00 |
| 7 | P. Quintanilla (CHL) | Husqvarna | + 1:00:18 | 00:00:00 |
| 8 | A. Van Beveren (FRA) | Yamaha | + 1:20:46 | 00:15:00 |
| 9 | S. Svitko (SVK) | KTM | + 1:26:40 | 00:00:00 |
| 10 | M. Michek (CZE) | KTM | + 2:14:55 | 00:03:00 |
| eleven | J. Rodrigues (PRT) | Hero | + 2:18:58 | 00:02:00 |
| 12 | M. Walkner (AUT) | KTM | + 2:29:20 | 00:02:00 |
| 13 | J. Betriu (ESP) | KTM | + 3:07:07 | 00:06:00 |
| 14 | T. Schareina (ESP) | KTM | + 3:26:32 | 00:00:00 |
| fifteen | S. Bühler (DEU) | Hero | + 3:48:33 | 00:18:00 |
| sixteen | J. Garcia (ESP) | KTM | + 3:58:22 | 00:00:00 |
| 17 | O. Mena (ESP) | KTM | + 4:05:27 | 00:00:00 |
| 18 | M. Engel (CZE) | KTM | + 5:51:09 | 00:01:00 |
| 19 | L. Sanz (ESP) | GASGAS | + 6:06:04 | 00:10:00 |
| twenty | R. Goncalves (PRT) | Sherco | + 6:21:35 | 00:15:00 |
| twenty-one | A. Gelazninkas (LTU) | KTM | + 7:12:15 | 00:00:00 |
| 22 | Hn. Koitha Veettil (IND) | Sherco | + 7:15:43 | 00:02:00 |
| 2. 3 | C. Chapeliere (FRA) | KTM | + 7:29:57 | 01:01:00 |
| 24 | E. Gyenes (ROU) | KTM | + 8:21:26 | 00:02:00 |
| 25 | D. Caballero (GBR) | Husqvarna | + 8:22:34 | 00:24:00 |
| 26 | B. Melot (FRA) | KTM | + 8:53:20 | 00:01:00 |
| 27 | P. Spierings (NLD) | Husqvarna | + 9:12:04 | 00:00:00 |
| 28 | M. Burgess (AUS) | KTM | + 9:59:23 | 00:39:00 |
| 29 | L. Podmol (CZE) | Husqvarna | + 10:48:21 | 00:15:00 |
| 30 | M. Doveze (FRA) | KTM | + 11:14:43 | 00:05:00 |
