Five things we learned from Stage 11 of Dakar 2023 – SBS

1 . A three-way fight for outright honours in the bikes

It’s now down to three riders in the battle for outright honours, with 2’44” between the top 3.

Skyler Howes has taken back the overall lead in the particular general classification, having finished fourth on the stage just one place behind Toby Price. Price rode another solid stage to finish in third, 18” behind fellow Aussie Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders.

The gap between top two is now only 28 seconds, and lurking within the wings is Kevin Benavides.

The Argentinian headed into the stage as the overall leader but he couldn’t capitalise on this small advantage, dropping in order to third overall after finishing 10th upon the day.

Not only is it a battle of the top three, it’s a battle for manufacturer supremacy along with Husqvarna plus KTM within the mix. The final three stages will be worth watching.

2. Loeb eyes second general as he creates more Dakar history

Sebastien Loeb and Fabian Lurquin storm through the Empty Quarter to their fourth Dakar phase win in a row and the fifth for this year’s event. (Photo by FRANCK FIFE / AFP) Source: AFP / FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images

Sebastien Loeb has pulled off one associated with the most impressive comebacks in this year’s rally.

Having suffered the triple puncture inside the second stage that dropped him over an hour behind, followed by a rollover during the fifth stage which lost him another half-hour, the particular nine-time World Rally champion has been driving like a man possessed.

With the high-profile retirements of Stephane Peterhansel and Carlos Sainz Snr amongst others, Loeb offers worked his way back in to the best three associated with the cars component of the rally. And he’s done so with his fourth stage win in the row, equalling a record that is shared with Sainz Snr, Ari Vatanen and Jacky Ickx. For the rally itself, this is his fifth stage win this year.

He is right now only 9’37” behind Brazilian rookie, Lucas Moraes, but is still 90 minutes behind current overall innovator, Toyota Gazoo Racing’s Nasser Al-Attiyah.

An downright win is highly unlikely now, but stranger things have happened.

3. Molly bounces back through deeply difficult Stage 10

Giro d'Italia - AUTO - DAKAR 2023 - STAGE 11

Molly Taylor and Andrew Short en route to eighth on phase 11 with regard to South Racing Can-Am. Photo: Florent Gooden/DPPI/LiveMedia Credit: IPA/Sipa USA

With the chances of a top 10 finish in the T4 Modified Production SSV class today gone after Stage ten, Molly Taylor and Andrew Short are now making the most of what will be left in this year’s Dakar.

Heading into the particular stage inside 15th position, the pair recovered strongly from the previous day’s dramas to finish 8th on the day, only 12 moments behind eventual stage plus overall head, Rokas Baciuska. In terms of the general classification, Taylor swift and Brief have moved up 1 spot in order to 14th.

Coincidentally, this currently equals Molly’s debut effort 12 months earlier. Here’s hoping she can do a single better near the end of the rally,

4. Austin Jones takes lead in T3 as Yamaha lock out top three in the stage

In the grand scheme associated with things of cars and buggies, Yamaha is a manufacturer that will is mostly associated along with motorcycles. Their foray into four-wheeled motorsport was limited to its brief entry into Formula 1 as an engine producer during the particular 1990s. Within terms associated with results, it was mainly disastrous.

But that’s at this point changing with the Dakar Rally. Partnering using the experienced X-Raid team from Germany, the Japanese manufacturer embarked on the five-buggy attack in the T3 Lightweight Prototype class, plus it’s starting to pay dividends, with the first 3 places of Stage eleven taken out simply by the Yamahas, led by Ricardo Porem and Agusto Sanz.

Ricardo Porem and Agusto Sanz claim stage 11 accolades in T3 for Yamaha. Photo: Florent Gooden/DPPI/LiveMedia Credit: IPA/Sipa USA

In the general category, they are usually currently 10th, 14th, 18th, 19th plus 20th.

The current overall leader will be American Austin tx Jones and Brazilian Gustavo Gugelmin regarding Red Bull Can-Am. The particular pair have inherited the particular lead through previous leaders Guillaume de Mevius plus Francois Cazalet, and have a 55-minute lead with three stages to go.

Red Bull Can-Am’s Austin Jones and Mr. gustavo stanley Gugelmin inherited the outright lead in T3 on stage 11. Credit score: IPA/Sipa UNITED STATES

5. Schey brothers keep powering along within Classic Dakar

Peter and Christopher Schey have kept their Classic Dakar campaign ticking along nicely since the rally quickly draws to a close.

The Victorians aboard their Nissan Terrano had another top 20 complete overnight, completing the eleventh stage inside 19th place. In the general classification, they have dropped only one location from when we last checked in on phase eight. They now sit 34th.

Peter and Christopher Schey are currently 34th in Traditional Dakar with three phases remaining. Picture: ASO/Photop

It’s been an impressive performance by the brothers, in what is essentially the bucket list item for them. We wish them all the best inside the final three levels.

Catch the Stage 11 highlights tonight from 5pm (AEDT) on SBS and any time via SBS On Demand.

1 . A three-way fight for outright honours in the bikes

2. Loeb eyes second general as he creates more Dakar history

3. Molly bounces back through deeply difficult Stage 10

4. Austin Jones takes lead in T3 as Yamaha lock out top three in the stage

5. Schey brothers keep powering along within Classic Dakar

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