Argentinian rider Kevin Benavides won the Dakar Rally motorbike title for a second time as the iconic endurance race came to an end on Sunday in Dammam, Saudi Arabia.
The 34-year-old 2021 champion edged out Australian Toby Price by 43 seconds with Skyler Howes of the United States finishing third, according to race organisers Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO).
Benavides trailed two-time champion Price by 12 seconds entering Sunday’s 14th and final stage.
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However, he produced a sterling ride to win the stage and post a time 55 seconds faster than his 35-year-old rival, and after more than 44 hours of racing claimed victory.
“I made one little mistake around 130,” Price said.
“We went too far right and I took a fall while looking at the top of a dune.
“I’m happy, I’ve put a hundred percent in every day.”
In the cars category Qatari Nasser Al-Attiyah won his fifth Dakar Rally driver’s title and second in a row.
The 52-year-old won three stages and had more than an hour’s advantage in the overall standings over Frenchman Sebastien Loeb, who also finished runner-up last year.
