Dakar 2023: The motorcycle favorites

Uncertainty and supreme equality are two of the elements that best define the motorcycle category. It is very difficult to predict who will win Dakar 2023 on two wheels. The defending champion sam sunderland (winner of Dakar 2017 and 2022), will defend his throne after winning the first World Rally-Raid FIM W2RCand will do so in front of a large group of experienced and fast pilots distributed in the official structures of GasGas, KTM, Husqvarna and Hondawith signatures like Sherco Y hero hiding, yes no Yamaha in contention after withdrawing from Dakar in 2022.

One of those who wanted to start this trial was Daniel Sanders. The Australian will once again be the partner of the reigning champion sunderlands in GasGas and will try to remove the thorn in the past Dakar. In 2022, he was the strongest man in motorcycles by winning 3 of the first 6 stages, but in the contact before stage 7 he suffered a fall on the side of the road and suffered an elbow injury which forced him to leave He had to see this from outside the race as his partner declared himself king of the world’s toughest event.

KTM, go ahead

always, KTM there will also be Matthias Walkner. The 2018 Dakar champion was third in the last Dakar afterwards Sunderland and Quintanilla (Sling). Another great KTM option is the Argentine kevin benavides, 2021 Dakar champion, who had to bid a tearful farewell last year due to a mechanical failure on his motorcycle. We must not forget any of the fireproofs Toby Price (35 years old), 2016 and 2019 Dakar champion. True to his style of always staying on top and trying to open the track as many times as possible, he will be another option for the Austrians.

Barreda will continue to work hard

Joan Barreda has a very unique style, always going to the top, leaving nothing behind, and this is shown by his 29 stages of victory in the Dakar. He is the third driver in history with the most stage wins (the active driver with the most wins), just 4 behind the record shared by Cyril Despres and Stéphane Peterhansel (33).. This year Joan will attend for the first time outside the official Honda structure, with her own team, the Monster Energy JB Teamyes, with golden wing signature support and a next generation prototype.

The Torreblanca driver will try to fight for the victory that has been so difficult for him in a race that has always been cruel to him in the general classification. In 2022 he was 5th after enduring heroics after suffering a broken pelvis and clavicle. At age 39, he will try again after focusing this course on his recovery.

Monster Energy Honda, to reclaim the crown

The place of the man from Castellón in the Monster Energy Honda Team is occupied by the Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren, fourth in Dakar 2022. The Frenchman will be one of the men to follow along with his teammates Pablo Quintanilla (2nd in 2022), Jose Ignacio Cornejo (6th in 2022) and Ricky Brabec (7th in 2022 and Dakar 2020 champion).

Santolino, so that Schareina can shine and return

the salmantino Lawrence Santolinowith the Shercowill return to the front group looking to overcome his excellent sixth position in 2021 and the Valencian Tosha Schareina back to Dakar after missing out on the 2022 edition, where he was the best rookie (12th), with the aim of rising again with GasGas private structure, with the support of Jorge Martínez Aspar.

With Spaniards usually in the top 20, it should be noted that joan pedrero Wanting to celebrate their 15th anniversary in Dakar by competing unaided, to live an experience in the purest Dakar style with Motul’s Originalalthough does not appear in said classification because he is considered an ‘elite pilot’.