P1racenews AI automatic summary:
Dakar 2024: Honda returns to victory lane as Brabec triumphs
Ricky Brabec won the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, securing Honda’s victory after a tough competition. He overcame a challenging start and gradually closed the gap with his rival, Ross Branch, ultimately taking the lead during Stage 6. Brabec solidified his advantage over Branch, who made mistakes in the sand dunes and grass, making it a decisive stage in Brabec’s favor. He comfortably cruised through the remaining three days to secure his second-ever Dakar win. Branch finished in second place, marking his and Hero’s best result in the race. Adrien van Beveren led the best Honda after losing significant time on two separate occasions. KTM finished as the third-best manufacturer, with Kevin Benavides and Toby Price finishing in fourth and fifth places, respectively. Luciano Benavides secured sixth place, while Daniel Sanders, Stefan Svitko, and Martin Michek completed the top 10. Harith Noah from Sherco led their charge and won the Rally2 class, placing 11th overall. Lorenzo Santolino, also from Sherco, encountered mechanical issues and had to withdraw on Stage 2.