Sainz, third in stage 2, retains the lead against Al-Attiyah

In motorcycles, Barreda overcomes the traps and is third overall

MADRID, 2 Ene. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Qatari driver Nasser Al-Attiyah (Toyota) won the second stage of the 2023 Dakar Rally on Monday, disputed between Sea Camp and Al-Ula over 430 kilometers of special, with Carlos Sainz (Audi) third and still leader in cars, while Joan Barreda (JB Team) was sixth in the stage and is third overall for motorcycles.

Leaving behind the 'Sea Camp' on the shores of the Red Sea, the race progresses and at the new Al-Ula finish line it was confirmed that the fight for this Dakar 2023 could, except for surprise, be between two champions and historical rivals such as Al-Attiyah , who won the stage, and Sainz, who more than saved the day and continues to lead.

It was quite a chaotic stage as Al-Attiyah won in his Toyota Gazoo, but with just 14 seconds to spare over the surprising Erik van Loon (Overdrive Racing). The Dutchman came close to winning the stage, and only Carlos Sainz, already 5:05 behind in the special, was also close. The rest suffered.

And it is that this second stage was hard and demanding. Especially for the Frenchman Sébastien Loeb (BRX), who dropped 1:26 hours and assured that he no longer thinks about the general classification (he is 1:21 behind), after suffering three punctures in this second special.

The Spanish Carlos Checa, 13th, surprised with his Astara at 31:45 minutes, while his teammate Laia Sanz had problems on the stage despite her good pace during the special. For his part, Isidre Esteve (Repsol Toyota) was 33rd, at 51:10 minutes.

With a 2:12 minute difference between the Spaniard and the Qatari, the tight overall situation augurs a frantic fight between the two in the following stages. The third classified overall, the Frenchman Mathieu Serradori (Century), is already at 24:55 minutes.

In the motorcycle category, the ninth place in the last Dakar and best newcomer, the American Mason Klein (BAS World KTM), was the one who took this second stage with a margin of 1:09 minutes over Sebastian Bühler (Hero) and 1:13 on his compatriot Skyler Howes (Husqvarna).

Joan Barreda (Monster Energy JB Team), who reached the Al-Ula finish line in sixth position, 2:32 behind the winner, saved a complicated stage due to the excessive presence of stones that he did not like. He entered just behind Toby Price (KTM) and ahead of Spaniard Lorenzo Santolino, seventh on his Sherco, 3:10 behind Klein.

In general, after the prologue and the dispute of the first two stages, the new leader is Klein with a 1:31 advantage over the Australian and former champion Toby Price, while Barreda is third, 2:03 behind the American, with 22 seconds ahead of Argentine Kevin Benavides (KTM), fourth. For his part, Santolino is 13th at 10:18 behind the head.