Cycle News Staff | January 16, 2017
2017 Dakar Rally Final Results: Sam Sunderland became the first Briton to win the Dakar Rally when he crossed the finish line in sixth place in the final 12th stage of the race over the weekend in Rio Cuarto, Argentina. It was also the first time that he even finished the event, having done so with a 32-minute cushion over Red Bull KTM teammate Matthias Walkner, who had also never finished the Dakar Rally before.
2017 Dakar Rally Final Results
“It’s overwhelming,” Sunderland said. “When I crossed the line, the emotion really took over. It’s taken some time to change [from his motocross background]. I’ve learned the hard way like everybody. I kept fighting and never gave up and I’m really grateful for all the people I have around me that have guided me. Everybody in the team has worked so hard, they all deserve this victory.”
Third overall went to Spain’s Gerard Farres (Himoinsa Team), France’s Adrien Van Beveren (Yamalube Yamaha Official Rally Team), and Joan Barreda (Monster Energy Honda), who was never able to overcome a one-hour penalty earlier in the race for refueling outside a designated area. Barreda, winner of four stages, finished 43 minutes behind winner Sunderlund.
“The end of the rally has arrived and the sensation that you’ve spent the whole year working towards this race,” Barreda said. “Here, I did everything that I could, but we were unable to reach the goal. But from the inside the feeling is a good one. I feel calm because I’ve given it my best shot and have done the best that I possibly could. Over the whole year I’ve worked really hard and that shows. Last year we made some changes to get to the Dakar even stronger and these have been very positive: we have developed a really magnificent bike which hasn’t given the slightest problem throughout the race and the team has worked really well together. Ricky has taken a giant leap forward; Mika was always very close and Paulo was always in the top positions. We have a really strong team and we have to be pleased about that.
Sixth went to Barreda’s teammate Paulo Goncalves.
Unfortunately, American Ricky Brabec was unable to finish this year’s race, after damaging his bike’s radiator in a crash during stage 10.
“Stage 10 was going good for me,” said Brabec who earlier in the week recorded his first ever stage win in Dakar. “I felt comfortable and confident and I had the speed. Early on a tip-over damaged the motorcycle but I went on to win the first special. Then, six kilometres from the finish, the bike died on me and that was the end of my Dakar. I called for some water and they told me that it wasn’t safe for me to stop there and wait to get a tow. They made me go to the helicopter to get a ride to the finish-line, which was six or seven kilometres from where I was. That was the end of my Dakar. Next year I hope to come back and finish better than I did this year.” CN
2017 Dakar Rally Final Results
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