The Argentine beat Toby Price on the final stage to take his second Touareg trophy, the first with a KTM reigning supreme
Argentina ended 2022 by declaring itself world champion for the third time and a big football fan like Kevin Benavides from Salta starts 2023 by doing it for the second time at the Dakar. The KTM rider took an epic win, one of those who know better, by leaving Toby Price not just the 12 seconds he left at the start of the day, but another 43 seconds.
Benavides’ latest arrest is a demonstration of his irreparable character. Together with his brother Luciano, another Dakar ‘cockerel’ in the motorcycle category, he is one of those riders willing to risk everything for everything. On this occasion, it was his second week that gave him his second win after waiting in the first week as Howes and the Husqvarnas tried to surprise.
KTM’s commitment to him over other candidates is cemented with this win. Benavides joined from Honda, with whom he had won his first Dakar in 2021, feeling he would have to demonstrate twice as much to lead the Austrian marque’s project ahead of many others. The first, Toby Price himself, who assured that he was very disappointed with the finish line he had lost on this Dakar because he had to tune too much to pass two checkpoints, which this year have reduced their range by only 20 meters.
Benavides, who is also the first to win the Dakar on motorcycles with two different brands in such a short time, was delighted with the finish. “I had nothing in mind but to keep focusing on each of the kilometers to be covered, from zero to 136. It’s incredible to win after this crazy Dakar and with so little difference. I feel very proud,” he said. Argentina has a new national hero, although he will not reach the repercussions of his football compatriots, but let no one doubt that it will celebrate him at his peak.
Source: La Verdad
I am Shawn Partain, a journalist and content creator working for the Today Times Live. I specialize in sports journalism, writing articles that cover major sporting events and news stories. With a passion for storytelling and an eye for detail, I strive to be accurate and insightful in my work.
