Honda emerges as the strongest brand in the first week of the 2024 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. With Jose Ignacio Cornejo and Ricky Brabec, the Honda team took the first two places in the fourth stage. With his second win of the day, Cornejo also pushed Hero rider Ross Branch off the top of the overall standings.
It was the second part of the marathon stage. The RallyeGP drivers had to continue driving today with the used set of tires from yesterday. From Al-Salamiya to Hofuf we continued east for 631 kilometers. The classified special was 299 kilometers.
The route and terrain were a little easier than the previous day. In general, the route was a little faster, but rally director David Castera had again picked out some difficult puzzles to navigate. That was the focus.
On Tuesday Kevin Benavides (KTM) celebrated his 35th birthday. As the winner of the previous day, the defending champion was allowed to open the stage. The driver leading on the route was able to collect up to 3:42 minutes of time credit today.
After technical problems on the previous two days, Mason Klein was back at the start with his Kove. The American lost around nine hours in the overall ranking. There are only test kilometers left with the relatively new motorcycle from China.
Branch initially led at the first split, but after 82 kilometers Cornejo was already ahead. At the front of the field, Brabec had caught up with Kevin Benavides. Brabec also collected time bonuses.
Cornejo also led the virtual daily classification at the 188 kilometer mark. Branch began to lose some ground. Even after 233 kilometers, Cornejo was leading the classification ahead of Brabec, whose time bonuses were not enough to overtake his teammate.
After almost three hours of driving in the special, Cornejo secured his second victory of the day (after Stage 2) this year. At the finish he was almost three minutes ahead of his teammate Brabec. Kevin Benavides held the KTM flag high with third place.
Branch finished fourth, 4:26 minutes behind. When he arrived at the finish, his handlebars were bent. As a result, he lost the lead in the overall standings. Cornejo took the lead and is now 1:15 minutes ahead of Branch.
“I’m happy with my driving and navigation,” says Cornejo. “I rode with Ross for a while. Maybe he got stuck in the dunes or crashed at the beginning because then he fell behind. Overall I think it was a solid day.”
Brabec is third, almost five minutes behind. In the overall ranking, the top three already have some buffer. Kevin Benavides is fourth and is already 20 minutes behind. The Honda duo Adrien van Beveren and Pablo Quintanilla round out the top 5 in the overall standings.
The day was difficult for two Australians. Shortly before the 229 kilometer mark, Daniel Sanders (GasGas) stopped for a few minutes. He is not in the top 10 overall. KTM rider Toby Price also lost more time. He is eighth, 35 minutes behind.
On Wednesday we continue to Shubaytah. There is a 526 kilometer long connection route to overcome. The special is relatively short at 118 kilometers. However, it goes to the “Empty Quarter” in the large sandy desert. There are dunes to overcome as far as the eye can see.
Result of the 4th stage (Top 10):01. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) – 2:51:11 hours 02. Ricky Brabec (Honda) +2:59 minutes 03. Kevin Benavides (KTM) +3:18 04. Ross Branch (Hero) +4:26 05 .Adrien van Beveren (Honda) +5:25 06. Joan Barreda Bort (Hero) +7:15 07. Luciano Benavides (Husqvarna) +7:22 08. Rui Goncalves (Sherco) +9:51 09. Skyler Howes ( Honda) +10:05 10. Romain Dumontier (Husvqarna) +11:54
Overall ranking after 4 of 12 stages (Top 10):01. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Honda) – 17:27:13 hours 02. Ross Branch (Hero) +1:15 minutes 03. Ricky Brabec (Honda) +4:56 04. Kevin Benavides (KTM) +20:39 05 .Adrien van Beveren (Honda) +22:30 06. Luciano Benavides (Husvqarna) +31:11 07. Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) +31:44 08. Toby Price (KTM) +34:54 09. Martin Michek (KTM ) +38:11 10. Romain Dumontier (Husqvarna) +38:44