Red Bull KTM Factory Racing had a strong showing on stage six of the 2023 Dakar Rally, with riders Toby Price, Kevin Benavides, and Matthias Walkner all finishing in the top 10. The stage featured a mix of terrain, including dunes and sandy tracks, and was made more unpredictable due to overnight rain.
Price, who finished in third place, had a strong start to the stage, chasing after the two riders ahead of him. However, he lost a few positions due to his focus on navigation. After refueling, he pushed on and moved back up the leaderboard to ultimately complete the stage in third place. Despite a crash on the previous stage, Price reported that he was feeling sore but overall things were going well for him.
Benavides, who placed fifth on the stage, was third-quickest through the first 100 kilometers. However, he made a small mistake midway through and lost some time as a result. He was able to regroup and claw back some of that time to finish the stage in fifth place. His consistency has paid off, as he has finished no lower than eighth so far at the 2023 event and currently lies in third place overall in the provisional standings.
Walkner, who finished in the top 10 on stage six, sustained an injury to his wrist on stage two of the rally. Despite this, he has been regaining his strength and putting in solid rides to stay in contention. His top-10 finish on stage six helped him minimize the time lost to the leaders and he currently lies just outside the top 10 overall in 11th place.
Overall, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing had a successful stage six of the 2023 Dakar Rally, with all three of their riders finishing in the top 10. Stage seven of the rally is the first half of the event’s marathon stage, which will cover a total distance of 713 kilometers, with 398 kilometers raced against the clock. The rally is known for its unpredictable nature and is a test of both the rider and their motorcycle.
