Image: Supplied.

Australia’s Daniel Sanders led the way on the opening day of the 2022 Dakar Rally, the GasGas Factory Racing rider controlling Saturday’s Prologue to commence proceedings.

Sanders topped the 19-kilometre timed sprint from Jeddah in 55m30s and then completed the 614km liaison to Ha’il. He has opted to start tomorrow’s stage 1B in 15th position.

Behind Sanders was Monster Energy Honda signing Pablo Quintanilla, a full minute in arrears, in turn ahead of Ross Branch (Monster Energy Yamaha), defending champion Kevin Benavides – now at Red Bull KTM – and his teammate Matthias Walkner.

Sixth through 10th places included Adrien Van Beveren (Monster Energy Yamaha), Sam Sunderland (GasGas Factory Racing), Australian legend Toby Price (Red Bull KTM), Andrew Short (Monster Energy Yamaha) and Joan Barreda (Monster Energy Honda).

Two-time winner Price completed the Prologue in eighth position, 2m55s off the pace of Sanders in these early stages, while KTM-mounted Australian Andrew Houlian was 115th on the time-sheets.

Detailed results