On The Pegs January 2019 - Volume 4 - Issue 1 | Page 116

On The Pegs
P 116
Riding the full Red Bull liveried KTM 450 RALLY for the first time at Dakar 2019,
Luciano Benavides is hoping to make up for his early departure from the 2018
event with a strong result in Peru. Following five tough months of recovery, Bena-
vides returned to competition at his home race - the Desafio Ruta 40 in Argentina
- to place an excellent sixth. Concentrating on his navigation and strategy during
the final rounds of the year, the number 77 will be looking to build on his experi-
ence and complete his first Dakar Rally.
Joining the four-rider Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team in Peru will be Laia
Sanz and Mario Patrao. The two KTM Factory Racing riders will both be gunning
for strong results at the 2019 Dakar Rally. Sanz will be returning to competition
proper following her recent fight with the Epstein Barr virus. Patrao will be racing
his first Dakar for the factory team and hopes to be able to support the rest of the
squad by riding a solid, consistent Dakar in what looks to be a shorter, but no-less
brutal race.
Starting January 6 in Lima, the 2019 Dakar Rally covers 10 full days of racing with
one marathon stage and one rest day before the riders return to Lima for the
finish on January 17. The total distance covered by the motorcycles will be 5,541
kilometres – 2,889 kilometres of which will be timed special stages. n