A strategic approach has given 2X Dakar Rally champ Toby Price the overall lead going into the rest day at the half-way point. The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing rider from down under put in another strong performance, finishing 7th on today’s Stage 6 to take the provisional overall lead going into Saturday’s rest day.
Another Australian racer, Rally rookie Daniel Sanders, finished the day as top KTM pilot, claiming his second top-three result of the event in third. Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Matthias Walkner and Sam Sunderland also placing well in 5th and 9th respectively.
“Today they cut about 100km out of the stage and that definitely helped us because it’s still been a really tough day out there," said Price from the bivouac. "It took a while, but I managed to catch the two guys ahead of me and luckily we were able to keep up a really good pace right at the front. I did have one little get-off that twisted the road book tower a little bit but apart from that there were no problems.
"It feels great to have taken the overall lead, but after such an up and down week the most important thing is we’re fit and in good shape for the second half of the rally. The plan now is to enjoy the rest day and then hopefully more of the same next week.”
Provisional Standings (after stage six) – 2021 Dakar Rally
1. Toby Price (AUS), KTM, 24:08:43
2. Kevin Benavides (ARG), Honda, 24:10:59 +2:16
3. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (CHL), Honda, 24:11:40 2:57
4. Ross Branch (BWA), Yamaha, 24:12:24 3:41
5. Xavier de Soultrait (FRA), Husqvarna, 24:12:24 +3:41
6. Sam Sunderland (GBR), KTM, 24:13:06 4:23