In a captivating twist during the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally, Argentinian brothers Kevin and Luciano Benavides emerged triumphant with an unexpected 1-2 podium finish, adding a dash of sibling rivalry to the legendary race.
Initially, José Ignacio Cornejo from Chile claimed the top spot, but a surprising penalty reshaped the leaderboard, propelling the Benavides brothers to a well-deserved victory.
Navigating a challenging 873 km (483 timed) route from the Saudi capital to Al Duwadimi, Kevin (KTM), the elder of the two, crossed the finish line just 32 seconds behind the race leader. Hot on his heels, Luciano (HUSQVARNA) followed closely at 3 minutes and 12 seconds.
But nothing is ever as it seems… and apparently, fate had other plans because the competition took a dramatic turn as the race organizers penalized Cornejo with 3 minutes and 32 seconds for speeding, solidifying Kevin and Luciano’s 1-2 positions on the podium.
The stage is now set for a brotherly duel, where each participant is eager to outdo the other.
Amidst the podium drama, Kevin Benavides, the reigning champion and 2021 title holder, secured a commendable fifth place in the overall competition and detailed the day’s challenges, highlighting the diverse terrains faced by the competitors.
Luciano Benavides, currently holding the eighth position in the general rankings, expressed his satisfaction after making adjustments to his bike’s settings.
In a statement translated from his social media app “X”, he shared: “Today went quite well. I made a significant change to the bike’s setting and felt much more comfortable. I didn’t expect to be so far ahead because I made a navigation mistake. I felt good and had a very good pace. We continue the fight for what lies ahead!”
Who knows, maybe, with the new changes to the bike’s settings, Luciano Benavides will be able to recover positions in the final parts of the race. It seems a difficult task as he lies 39′ 35″ behind the leader, but the Dakar Rally has already proved to be unpredictable.
This captivating competition between siblings adds an extra layer of excitement to the Dakar Rally narrative, leaving fans on the edge of their seats. As the race progresses, the question lingers: which of the Benavides brothers will emerge as the ultimate Dakar champion? The unpredictability of the race continues to unfold, promising more thrills and spills on the challenging desert terrain.
By Camila Ricciardi in Buenos Aires for Action Sports Network.