Demonstrating a remarkable performance of his KTM, the representative of Kansas (USA) Mason Klein (KTM) prevailed in the first stage of the 2023 Dakar Rally, covering the 367 kilometers of special test after 2h42m08s, and concretizing an advantage over Daniel Sanders (GasGas) by twenty seconds, who asserts himself at the top of the general classifier, with 3h31m.
After the main positions, the Australian is provisionally escorted by the Chilean Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) at seven seconds, and another American, Ricky Brabec (Honda), at ten seconds; fourth place corresponds to trans-Andean Joan Barreda Bort (Honda), 20 seconds behind Sanders.
The best Argentinian was Kevin Benavides (KTM) from Salta, who developed a very good stage, finishing third, 1m26 behind Klein with whom he is now tied in times and thus in the official table both are located 54 seconds behind the representative of Oceania. .
Regarding Sam Sunderland (GasGas), winner of the Dakar 2022, he suffered a fall at km 52 of the stage, after completing the first Way Point; In the incident, the British hit himself and complained of dorsal pain, before which he was assisted by the medical service and quickly referred to the Yanbu hospital, for more exhaustive tests, having to quickly withdraw from this competition.