Price commences Dakar comeback as Sunderland leads
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing teammates off to strong start in stage one.
Image: Supplied.
Australia’s Toby Price is back on track as the 2018 Dakar Rally opens, completing stage one in 14th position upon return.
Injured in last year’s event, the 2016 Dakar winner was satisfied with his initial return, currently 3m21s outside of the lead.
“I’m happy to get that first stage under my belt,” Price said. “I didn’t quite get the result that I wanted, but it was a really short stage and there’s a long race ahead.
“My plan is to build things up slowly and take each day as it comes. I bombed out hard early on last year, so I wanted to get today done and then concentrate on getting into the race a little more. The pace is there and my leg feels good, so I’m excited for the rest of event.”
Price’s teammate and defending champion Sam Sunderland led the way for Red Bull KTM on day one, 33 seconds ahead of Yamaha’s Adrien van Beveren and almost a minute clear of Husqvarna-mounted Pablo Quintanilla.
Sunderland got off to the perfect start with a commanding win on the short 30km special stage in the dunes just outside of Lima, Peru.
Of the remaining Australians in the field, factory Yamaha rider Rod Faggotter trailed Price in position 25, while third of the Aussies Scott Britnell ended up 44th following the opening day of action.
For Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Racing team rookie Andrew Short, the opening stage of the Dakar Rally ended with the American posting the 27th fastest time.
Sunday’s stage two of the 2018 Dakar will consist of a short 12km liaison leading into a 267km special stage in a loop to the east of the small Peruvian town of Pisco. It’s 90 percent off-piste and begins with 40km of canyons before heading out into the soft sand dunes.
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