Dakar 2023
Australians attack
The 121 riders have now completed their road trials and administrative checks ahead of the 2023 Dakar Grand Prix and are now ready to take part in the 14-stage event in Saudi Arabia and leading the Australian team will be Toby Price and Daniel Sanders.
Held in the Middle East for the fourth year in a row, the legendary Dakar Rally celebrates its 45th anniversary in 2023.
Offering a great challenge to all riders from day one, the event will be held over 14 full races with competitors covering a total of more than 8,500 kilometers of arduous roadwork. Approximately 4,700 km of that will be raced against the clock in the 14 special timed qualifiers and the only opening qualifier that makes up the event.
After the first eight full races, the drivers will enjoy a well-deserved rest in Riyadh before taking on the final six to finish the race at Dammam on January 15.
Coming to his ninth Dakar, Toby Price will be looking to correct the navigation problem that left him fighting to make up for lost time right from the start of the 2022 event.
With strength, endurance and the ability to stay focused in any condition, Price is well-suited to events as long as the 14-stage 2023 Dakar and will aim for a third win in the motorcycle class for myself and the Red Bull KTM team.
Price Toby
“I’m really looking forward to Dakar 2023 getting underway. 2022 hasn’t been very good for me – I have good speed, but after taking so long early on, getting that speed back is a tall order. If anything, it just motivated me more this year, so I can’t wait for the race to start and we can be in. The common sense goal may be even more important than ever with such an extended event this year – to be smooth, consistent and always there at the end. Overall, it’s going to be a tough challenge, but make sure it’s a good one!”
GASGAS Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders is getting ready for a quick, short 11km sprint that will be used to determine the starting order for the 14-race event, with the first real special leg taking place on Day 1. January 2023.
After his incredible Dakar debut in 2021 where he placed a stunning fourth, Daniel Sanders confidently enters the 2022 edition with high hopes of securing a spot on the podium. Topping the timesheet in two of the first six legs to a third overall as he entered his second week, he showed his ability, until an unfortunate crash and elbow injury. seriousness on stage seven caused the tough Australian to be dropped from the race. After nearly a year of rehab, Sanders is back and ready to roll up his sleeves and head into Dakar 2023.
Daniel Sanders
“It’s been a while since I’ve raced and a long time to recover from last year’s crash but here we are and almost ready to start. My elbows aren’t completely 100% healthy but once I’m out riding, I know it’s going to be okay. This is probably going to be the hardest race of my career after a long time without cycling, especially this time with two more races to go, but I can’t wait to get back to racing. I will be looking for a steady start to the race with the ultimate goal of finishing. It’s a modest goal but it’s a long way to go back to racing and I can’t wait to get back in that dune and race with the boys again.“
After a short opening leg on December 31, positions will be decided for the first day of the rally, where riders will take part in a 590km circuit that begins and ends at the bivouac at Sea Camp. . A 368km timed special ride will give riders a first-hand feel of desert conditions at the 2023 event.
