Rally2 may not have the identical status because the top-level RallyGP, however maybe that provides to its allure as amateurs and people with burgeoning rally raid careers duke it out. Most of the sixty-three Rally2 riders who in the end made the end to be categorized within the 2023 Dakar Rally got here to Saudi Arabia as privateers, riders hoping to make a reputation for themselves, or boasted little prior expertise within the self-discipline.
Romain Dumontier fell extra beneath the second class. He spent the 2022 Rally—his first time at Dakar—and the World Rally-Raid Championship chasing Mason Klein, however with Klein having since graduated to RallyGP, Dumontier instantly pounced. Using a Husqvarna with some manufacturing facility assist from HT Rally Raid, the Frenchman dominated the 2023 version after assuming the general lead in Stage #5, a day after profitable the earlier leg, and by no means relinquished the highest spot from there. Dumontier’s different victories got here in Phases #5, #6, #9, #11, #12, and the ultimate #14.
“I obtained stronger after two delicate first days, a second week with three prime tens, a prime 5, but additionally seven stage wins in Rally2,” stated Dumontier. “I used to be in a position to experience all through these two weeks at my stage, by no means above. I wished to be in management and never get scared. I used to be in a position to observe the rhythm of the stage winners and see the dedication it took to be on the prime of the rankings.”
Paolo Lucci set the tone early by profitable the primary stage however fell behind after crashing in Stage #5. Though Lucci offered the best general problem to Dumontier, the margin between them grew with even the slightest misstep by Lucci; a waypoint and punctured water pump in Stage #9 was successfully the demise blow as he fell from 16:25 again to just about half an hour. Though he closed the hole at occasions, it solely re-inflated within the ultimate 5 levels to thirty-two minutes.
Though Michael Docherty was over an hour behind Dumontier, his Dakar début was a memorable run for any Rally2 rider. His efficiency fluctuated between stage wins and hanging on within the prime ten through the first half, however the second noticed him step up his recreation to compete with each bike basically as he even saved tempo with RallyGP. He completed third general in Stage #10 behind manufacturing facility riders Ross Department and Adrien van Beveren earlier than discovering himself combating with Luciano Benavides for the Stage #13 general win. Benavides edged out Docherty however acquired a dashing penalty that briefly promoted Docherty to the highest spot earlier than the previous’s brother Kevin in the end claimed the win en path to the general Rally victory.
Rally2 was not exempt from the trials and tribulations of a very tough Dakar route than earlier years. Days earlier than the Rally even began (and possibly an indication of issues to return for the sphere), Ignacio Sanchís clipped a rock throughout pre-race shakedown and suffered a number of fractures that pressured him to abort what would have been his fourth begin. Eduardo Sánchez was the primary race-related retirement following a crash within the Prologue. Ace Nilson, pal of The Checkered Flag, fractured three of his vertebrae after wrecking within the fifth stage, whereas Edouard Leconte‘s ultimate Dakar Rally ended on the tenth leg with a damaged fibula when he fell right into a gorge. Ruben Saldaña Goñi missed some levels after hurting his clavicle in Stage #2 however returned and, considerably dubiously, obtained to be the primary rider to start out the ultimate stage because the operating order is inverted.
Finally, owing to stated challenges and their backgrounds, most of the Rally2 entries had been very happy to easily end. Amongst those that succeeded of their first tries had been Thomas Kongshøj, the primary rider from Denmark since 2011 in thirty-first, and 2019 FIM Junior Bajas World Cup champion Tomás de Gavardo in forty-sixth. Ottavio Missoni Jr., who hails from a legendary style household, was the sixty-third and ultimate categorized rider.
Whereas a lot of the Rally2 discipline ran manufacturers like Husqvarna and KTM, with others in smaller producers akin to Fantic, Hero, and Sherco, Kove Moto supplied one of many prime newcomer tales. The Chinese language make fielded a triumvirate of Kove 450s for countrymen Deng Liansong, Fang Mingji, and Sunier Sunier, all of whom efficiently accomplished the Rally with Sunier twenty-seventh in school forward of Minji and Liansong, who completed subsequent to one another in thirty-ninth and fortieth. Kove had solely been working since 2017 however is starting to broaden its presence globally with new efforts for 2023 like Dakar and even the World Superbike Championship.
Mirjam Pol was the lone feminine rider in Rally2 and completed fifty-second. It was her tenth Dakar, thereby qualifying her for Dakar Legend standing, since 2009.
“What majestic dunes we drove by means of,” recalled Pol after ending the final stage. “The previous few days within the Empty Quarter I had a lot enjoyable within the sand, great. […] All in all, I observed that I’ve grown tremendously general, and I’m undoubtedly not at my prime but. I’ve loved my tenth Dakar Rally immensely and am wanting ahead to what’s but to return my method.”
