RIYADH, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- American rider Ricky Brabec delivered a masterclass in strategy on Friday at the Dakar Rally, claiming his 13th career Dakar stage victory and tightening his grip on the overall lead ahead of the final stage.
Brabec had relinquished the overall lead a day earlier to Argentina's Luciano Benavides, a calculated move that allowed him to start six minutes behind his rival, with the gap between them standing at just 23 seconds. The decision paid off as the Honda rider capitalized on his technical strength to overturn the deficit and surge ahead.
The result leaves Brabec on the brink of a third Dakar Rally title, underscoring his experience and composure in one of motorsport's most demanding endurance events.
South Africa's Michael Docherty clinched stage victory in the Rally2 category, clocking three hours 36 minutes and 12 seconds to lead a strong showing by the BAS World KTM Team.
Portugal's Martim Ventura, riding for Monster Energy Honda HRC, finished second, one minute and 40 seconds behind the winner, while Slovenia's Toni Mulec secured third place for BAS World KTM Team, a further 10 seconds adrift.
The result underlined BAS World KTM Team's strength in the category, placing two riders on the podium and consolidating their competitive presence as the rally heads into its decisive stages. ■
