Sanders becomes second Aussie to win famous Dakar Rally

[ad_1] Daniel Sanders has raced into the historical past books, turning into solely the second Australian to triumph on the Dakar Rally and the primary motorcyclist in 16 years to guide from begin to end within the nice two-week race.

The person identified all through the demanding endurance sport as Chucky flew residence throughout the desert dunes to Shubaytah on his Purple Bull KTM on Friday to seal a powerful wire-to-wire triumph in Saudi Arabia.

The 30-year-old from the Yarra Valley completed sixth over the ultimate mass-start 61-kilometre dash, having determined to "play it protected" as he protected his nine-minute lead over his nearest rival, Spain's Monster Power Honda rider, Tosha Schareina.

Sanders ended up shedding solely 10 seconds to Schareina as he triumphed within the provisional ultimate standings by 8 minutes and 50 seconds to change into the primary Aussie for six years since his buddy, two-time motorbike winner Toby Value, to prevail in 47 editions of the world's most difficult rally.

"It is large. After I got here over the past dune, I might see the bivouac after which I simply received immediate chills by means of the entire physique," mentioned the emotional Sanders afterwards.

"I used to be tremendous, tremendous nervous, yeah, could not consider it. All of the feelings began coming by means of as you would see the end line.

"It is the largest race on the planet for motorbikes and off-road, so to win the Six-Day Worldwide Enduro after which now the Dakar, it is simply ticked off all of the objectives for my profession and all the things I've wished to realize. So it is a large accomplishment."

Sanders, who hails from the agricultural Victorian city of Three Bridges the place he grew up on the household's apple farm, is a eager beekeeper in addition to being one thing of a cult determine amongst petrolheads as he is change into top-of-the-line riders on the planet.

His rivals had been definitely stung from day one when Chucky received the prologue of the forbidding 7700km race, and he continued to wreak injury by successful 4 of the primary 5 phases to open up a lead he by no means appeared like relinquishing.

Sanders has lastly prevailed in his fifth try on the brutal race within the Saudi deserts, his earlier efforts having been dogged by dangerous luck and accidents after he completed as the highest rookie in fourth place again in 2021.

The next 12 months, he was going properly with two stage wins underneath his belt however, whereas mendacity third, fractured his elbow and wrist in an accident. In 2023, he limped residence seventh after a nasty bout of meals poisoning and a thorn caught in a muscle in his arm.

One 12 months, he even received stung beneath his race helmet by a bee which, luckily, as a bloke who's used to taking care of over 100 hives, did not trouble him an excessive amount of.

Within the build-up to final 12 months's race, he broke his femur coaching within the outback, and wasn't at full health as he completed eighth, however victory within the Rally of Morocco final October set him up for the largest win of his profession.

The Dakar is the traditional off-road marathon problem that began life because the Paris to Dakar Rally, which swept throughout Africa to Senegal. However due to safety risks, it has morphed right into a desert problem throughout Saudi Arabia.

AAP

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