The second stage of the Dakar Rally 2023 connected the Sea Camp and Alula and, along the 430 kilometres of the Special Stage, riders got mostly hard and rocky tracks.
These were conditions that demanded a lot of attention to avoid damaging the tyres and keep the pace, but American KTM rider Mason Klein (pictured) was up to the task, taking over the race lead from fellow American Ricky Brabec (Honda).
The Agua Dulce, California, native overcame a 2-minute speeding penalty to finish the 589-kilometer stage in 5 hours, 23 minutes and 4 seconds, more than a minute ahead of Portuguese rider Sebastian Buhler (5:24:13, who is riding a Hero bike). American Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) finished third (5:24:17).
With Brabec’s win in the opener, United States riders have won the first two stages and now occupy three of the top seven overall positions in bikes with 12 stages remaining.
Klein, who is making only his second Dakar start, has a 1-minute, 41-second lead over two-time Dakar Rally winner Toby Price from Australia.
Stage three of this year’s Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia will leave the Alula bivouac in the direction of Ha’il.
This special stage will have 447 kilometres, but to content the riders not so many stones in the track (13%), since the sandy and dirt road will be the main course for this day. So for now no dunes, but they are on the horizon.
Rider standings after day two:
- Mason Klein (USA), KTM, 9:38:28
- Toby Price (AUS), KTM, 9:40:09 +1:41
- Joan Barreda (ESP), Honda, 9:40:31 +2:03
- Kevin Benavides (ARG), KTM, 9:40:53 +2:25
- Daniel Sanders (AUS), GasGas, 9:41:23 +2:55
Photo courtesy KTM
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