Australian Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has maintained his advantage at the top of the 2019 Dakar Rally standings on the penultimate day of racing, as top three newcomer Michael Metge (Sherco TVS Rally Factory) won the stage.

Stage nine of the rally saw another motocross style mass-start with riders setting off in waves of 10, determined by their finishing positions from the previous day’s stage. Heading into the dunes for the 313-kilometre timed special, the first group of riders stuck together for the majority of the stage.

Metge, starting in the second wave of riders off the line, lodged a time of 3h46m38s to edge out yet another top three newcomer Daniel Jager (MEC HRC), while Pablo Quintanilla (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) wound up in third.

Defending champion Matthias Walkner (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was fourth followed by Price, who leads Quintanilla in the classification by 1m2s, as the top five is rounded out by Walkner, Andrew Short (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) and Xavier de Soultrait (Yamalube Yamaha Rally).

Aussie Dakar rookie Ben Young (KTM) is now ranked 53rd, advancing two positions after finishing up 62nd in the stage, while compatriot James Ferguson (KTM) was able to re-enter the event for the second time, winding up 74th for a 68th ranking. Rodney Faggotter (Yamalube Yamaha Rally) was ruled out of the competition earlier in the event.

Stage 10, the final of the 2019 Dakar Rally will see competitors return to the host city of Lima, Peru. Covering a total of 359 kilometres, riders will face a short and intense 112-kilometre timed special.

Detailed results

Australian Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has taken control of the Dakar Rally lead following a strong performance in stage eight, although it was defending champion Matthias Walkner (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who topped the day.

Stage eight pitted the fastest 10 bikes, 10 cars and the top five trucks from the previous day together, setting off at three-minute intervals according to their stage seven results. At 360 kilometres, the timed special was the longest of the event and took competitors over fast, open pistes for the first half, before once again challenging them with the mountainous sand dunes.

Walkner navigated his way to a 3m55hm25s time, just a slender 45s ahead of former leader Pablo Quintanilla (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing), while Price closely followed being just 1m13s behind the number on.

The top five was rounded out by Sam Sunderland (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) and Andrew Short (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing), as Price leads the rally with a 1m3s advantage over Quintanilla, followed by Walkner, Sunderland and Adrien van Beveren (Yamalube Yamaha Rally).

Aussie Dakar rookie Ben Young (KTM) is now ranked 55th after finishing up 60th in the stage, while compatriot James Ferguson (KTM) was ruled out of the rally again after attempting to rejoin the race. Rodney Faggotter (Yamalube Yamaha Rally) was also ruled out of the competition earlier in the event.

Stage nine of the 2019 Dakar marks the second of the two mass-starts at the rally. In another looped stage, riders will leave Pisco and cover a total of 409 kilometres, 313 kilometres of which is a timed special, before returning to the coastal town.

Detailed results

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Sam Sunderland has taken out stage seven of the 2019 Dakar Rally, while the race for the crown has tightened with the event witnessing another change of lead, with Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda Team) shooting to the top of the standings.

Stage seven was all about the 323-kilometre timed special, although the day’s racing was delayed and also halted momentarily midway through, due to fog causing safety issues for the competitors.

Sunderland stormed through the day to record a 3h51m41s time, just 1m51s ahead top three newcomer Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Monster Energy Honda Team). Brabec was third ahead of Adrien van Beveren (Yamalube Yamaha Rally) and Luciano Benavides (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), while Australian Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was eighth in the stage.

Overall in the classification it’s Brabec from van Beveren, Price, Sunderland and former leader Pablo Quintanilla (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing), who faced difficulties being the first rider out in stage seven to lodge a 14th place result.

Aussie Dakar rookie Ben Young (KTM) is now ranked 63rd after finishing up 70th in the stage, while compatriot James Ferguson (KTM) was able to re-enter the event, winding up 92nd for an 81st ranking. Rodney Faggotter (Yamalube Yamaha Rally) was ruled out of the competition earlier in the event.

Stage eight of the rally, the ‘Super Ica’ will see the top 10 bikes, cars and the top five trucks set off in their finishing order from the previous day. As the fastest competitor from all classes, Sam Sunderland will have the task of opening the track. The total distance travelled for the day will be 575 kilometres, 360 of which is a timed special.

Detailed results

A win on stage four of the 2019 Dakar Rally has granted Monster Energy Honda Team’s Ricky Brabec the lead, following yet another shake up in the standings.

The stage marked the first half of the marathon of the event, where riders left Arequipa and headed for the temporary bivouac in Moquegua, receiving no outside assistance from their teams. The 511-kilometre stage included a gruelling 405-kilometre timed special – the longest of the rally.

Brabec lodged a time of 3h40m30s, edging out last year’s champion Matthias Walkner (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) by 6m19s – a crucial result for the number one after a horrid stage three.

Australian Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was third, bumping him up to third in the overall classification, and was followed by Adrien van Beveren (Yamalube Yamaha Rally) and Sam Sunderland (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing).

The overall standings now sees Brabec in P1 ahead of former leader Pablo Quintanilla (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing) – who battled to 14th in the stage – while Price holds down third over Sunderland and van Beveren.

Australian’s Ben Young (KTM) and James Ferguson (KTM) are now ranked 78th and 101st respectively after recording P67 and P99 results on the day. Compatriot Rodney Faggotter (Yamalube Yamaha Rally) was ruled out of the competition during stage three with a technical issue.

Friday’s 776-kilometre stage five will see the first of two mass starts at this year’s event. Riders will set off motocross-style into the Ilo dunes as they contest the 345-kilometre timed special. As the day makes up the second half of the marathon stage, competitors will need to conserve their tyres and machines in order to arrive back at the bivouac safely.

Detailed results

Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Pablo Quintanilla has promoted himself to P1 in the overall classification of the 2019 Dakar Rally, while Yamalube Yamaha Rally’s Xavier de Soultrait earned top honours on day three of the event.

De Soultrait navigated his way through the difficult 331-kilometre timed special with a time of 4h7m42s, narrowly edging out newly-appointed leader Quintanilla by a slender 15 seconds.

Kevin Benavides (Monster Energy Honda Team) was third in the stage, followed by Adrien van Beveren (Yamalube Yamaha Rally) and Sam Sunderland (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), as Australian Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) wound up in ninth.

The running order now sees Quintanilla lead with an 11m23s advantage ahead of Benavides, Sunderland, van Beveren and Price, with reigning champion Matthias Walkner (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) demoted to eighth after a challenging outing.

Monster Energy Honda Team rider Joan Barreda was forced out for the second year in a row, leading into stage three but exiting altogether following a crash at the 143-kilometre mark. He was eventually evacuated by helicopter to safety.

Aussie contender Rodney Faggotter (Yamalube Yamaha Racing) was also forced to exit the rally when he ran into technical issues during the stage, while compatriot Ben Young (KTM) made significant gains, finishing 59th on the day, bumping him to 84th in the classification. Fellow Australian James Ferguson (KTM) was 106th fastest, placing him 107th overall.

Stage four of the 2019 Dakar Rally marks the first half of the marathon stage. Riders will leave Arequipa and head for the temporary bivouac in Moquegua where they will receive no outside assistance from their teams. The 511-kilometre stage includes a gruelling 405-kilometre timed special – the longest of the rally.

Detailed results

Australian Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) has completed day one of the 2019 Dakar Rally in sixth position, while it was Monster Energy Honda Team’s Joan Barreda who topped the opening stage.

The Spaniard recorded a 57m36s time in the Lima to Pisco leg, granting him a 1m34s advantage over Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Pablo Quintanilla and American ace Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda Team).

The top five was completed by Adrien van Beveren (Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team) and Sam Sunderland (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), as reigning champion Matthias Walkner (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) wound up seventh.

Aussie Rodney Faggotter (Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team) was 29th at the conclusion of day one, with compatriots Ben Young (KTM) and James Ferguson (KTM) finishing up in 86th and 117th respectively.

Stage two of the Dakar Rally leaves Pisco and heads for San Juan de Marcona. The total stage distance is 553 kilometres including a tough 342-kilometre timed special.

Detailed results

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Taddy Blazusiak has won the opening round of the 2019 FIM SuperEnduro World Championship held in Krakow, Poland, ahead of FMF KTM’s Cody Webb in second.

On a dry and fast track at the Tauron Arena, Blazusiak delighted his home fans by taking the overall win at the opening round of the championship. He went 1-1-4 to clinch the overall despite an early fall in final three.

Blazusiak rode his 350 EXC-F to the winner’s circle ahead of Webb, as he recorded a consistent effort of 2-3-2 finishes. Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Colton Haaker completed the podium, with teammate Alfredo Gomez fourth after topping the final encounter.

The 2019 SuperEnduro World Championship continues with round two in Riesa, Germany, at the beginning of next year on 5 January, with Blazusiak leading the standings ahead of defending title-holder Webb.

Detailed results link