The Dakar Rally 2021 is GO!!!
Sunderland and Co. are ready for the fight as race kicks off
‘They’ve thrown us in at the deep end with these first two stages’
Two stages into Dakar 2021 and the Brits are holding their own in what looks set to be a fiercely fought war of attrition. The 12-day race takes place in the deserts of Saudi Arabia with competitors set to complete 4778km of timed special stages and a total of 7775km including the liaison stages.
The 2021 race has undergone significant changes focused around slowing the pace and ultimately improving safety following high-profile crashes and two deaths in 2020.
The organisers’ claim that the terrain would be more technical was clear as early as stage one where riders spoke about having to negotiate large stretches of rocks in first gear – the polar opposite of flat-out in sixth gear across the desert normally associated with the Dakar. As a result the average speed of stage one winner Toby Price was just 71kph, a statistic that confirms this year’s race will be more technical. Another big change for 2021 is that the elite riders now only have six rear tyres to last the entire race, historically tyres were changed every day. Bike maintenance is now also banned in the fuelling zones. The organisers claim they want to re-introduce the early Dakar values where riders had to look after their bikes and tyres to ensure the got to the finish. Dakar boss David Castera is a former bike and car contender and believes that current Dakar riders were approaching the event like motocross riders doing a 40-minute race – something he feels has to change with riders needing to be far more aware of their bike and surroundings to win the prestigious challenge.
With safety in mind, airbags have become mandatory for all riders. As MCN went to press on Monday, top Brit Sam Sunderland was in 12th place, 12m 50s off the lead after two solid stages onboard his factory Red Bull KTM. Sunderland, who in 2017 became the first Brit ever to win Dakar, crashed out of the 2020 race on stage five and will be aiming for at least a podium in 2021. “They have really thrown us in at the deep end with these first two stages, but this is the Dakar
– it should be tough,” explained Sunderland. “If stage one was tricky because of the navigation, stage two was hard for slightly different reasons. Overall, the stage was a lot faster, but at the beginning we crossed some really soft dunes, and it was easy to lose time there. I’m happy with my riding and the position today is not too bad – as the race goes on we’re going to see changes to the lead each day, depending on who opens the stage. There’s a long way to go.” Monster Energy Honda rider Joan Barreda currently leads the overall standings after a convincing win on stage two – the 25th stage win of his career. The hard charging Spaniard has never lacked outright pace, but has never finished the race higher than fifth in ten attempts.
2020 race winner Ricky Brabec currently holds second place with Botswanan Monster Energy Yamaha rider Ross Branch in third.