Al-Attiyah wins Dakar Rally, Sunderland takes motorbike race

JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Nasser Al-Attiyah clinched his fourth Dakar Rally title on Friday in Jeddah right after leading from the 1st phase on New Year’s Day.

Al-Attiyah could afford to enable closest rival Sebastien Loeb, the previous nine-time rally entire world winner, defeat him by much more than five minutes on the 12th and final sandy phase from Bisha and still cruise to in general victory by much more than 27 minutes. The Qatari previously received in 2011, 2015 and 2019.

British rider Sam Sunderland received his next Dakar bike title right after beating phase winner Pablo Quintanilla of Chile by 3 one/2 minutes, the closest margin since 1994.

But the rally’s end was overshadowed by the street crash loss of life of a guidance workers member from the PH Sport team on a liaison route.

Quentin Lavalée, aged twenty of France, was killed when the auto he was driving collided with a local truck, law enforcement instructed Dakar Rally organizers. A passenger with Lavalée, Maxime Frere of Belgium, was wounded and taken to a Jeddah clinic. Lavalee was a chief mechanic.

Al-Attiyah was runner-up in the final two Dakars in Saudi Arabia, and focused on rallying in the earlier 12 months without the need of sharing time with activity capturing or powerboating. Plagued by punctures on the Dakar, he fine-tuned a Toyota with bigger tires and suspension and came to Saudi possessing received 7 rallies.

His most important rivals struck problems early. Defending winner Stephane Peterhansel misplaced a rear wheel and 3-time champ Carlos Sainz created a terrible navigation mistake. Loeb’s drive shaft broke and by the relaxation working day a week back, Al-Attiyah experienced a 50-minute direct.

Loeb desperately chipped at the hole in look for of his 1st Dakar title but Al-Attiyah and co-driver Matthieu Baumel expertly prevented problems.

“It was an remarkable Dakar for us. The entire race went without the need of a hitch,” Al-Attiyah mentioned. “We opened up a hole on the 1st working day and have since managed our direct. We’re really delighted, and I reckon we’ll start pondering of the upcoming Dakar in a week or ten days.”

Al-Attiyah’s fourth Dakar tied him for next most with Ari Vatanen. Peterhansel qualified prospects with eight.

Loeb’s next place matched his 2017 consequence in Argentina.

“We by no means stopped attacking, so we have no regrets,” Loeb mentioned. “Nasser has tons of practical experience and a co-driver who only tends to make faults the moment in a blue moon, so he controlled the race to perfection. I still experienced a blast, though, simply because each individual time we acquired time on him, it felt excellent.”

Saudi driver Yazeed Al Rajhi was third for his 1st Dakar podium at his eighth try.

Sunderland’s planning wasn’t excellent. Using for his new team GasGas, he experienced a terrible crash at the Rally Kazakhstan and retired sick from the Morocco Rally. But, he led all over the 1st week of the Dakar and when he was challenged in the next week, timed his profitable operate to perfection.

“I experienced a really tough period, but when you acquire the Dakar, it is all truly worth it,” Sunderland mentioned.

Quintanilla was runner-up for the next time in 3 Dakars.

“It was bodily and mentally exhausting. But I am really pleased with my general performance,” Quintanilla mentioned.

Austrian rider Matthias Walkner, the 2018 winner and two times runner-up, was almost 7 minutes back again in third in general which, he mentioned, “nearly feels like a victory.”

Sunderland’s brother-in-legislation, Adrien van Beveren of France, was fourth, and Joan Barreda of Spain fifth while carrying a shoulder injury.

Mason Klein, the twenty-12 months-aged American on debut, was ninth, 13 seconds ahead of two-time winner Toby Cost of Australia.

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