Image: Supplied.

Joan Barreda (Monster Energy Honda Racing Team) maintains his position atop the standings in the 2019 Dakar Rally, but it was reigning champion Matthias Walkner (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) who captured victory on day two.

Walkner charged through the fast and rough 342-kilometre timed special, lodging a time of 3h23m57s, bumping him up to second behind Barreda in the standings – just 1m31s separating the duo.

American Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda Racing Team) was second fastest in the gruelling stage followed by Barreda and Australian Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), who overcame an issue in the dunes to edge out Pablo Quintanilla (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing).

The results from day two now see Brabec trailing the leaders in third ahead of Quintanilla and Price – the former Dakar victor advancing one position from his day one classification.

Compatriot Rodney Faggotter (Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team) was 29th in the stage, placing him 28th in the standings, as fellow Aussies Ben Young (KTM) and James Ferguson (KTM) wound up in 102nd and 115th, granting the pair positions 103 and 116 respectively in the overall results.

Stage three of the 2019 Dakar Rally leaves the bivouac at San Juan de Marcona and again heads south along the coast of the South Pacific towards the city of Arequipa. The 798-kilometre stage includes another long timed special of 331 kilometres.

Detailed results