Dakar Rally 2021 Stage 9 Results & Highlights: Spectacular Performance By Harith Noah

The 2021 Dakar Rally Stage 9 has come to an end with most participants making it to the finish line. There were a few riders who couldn't make the finish line including the 2019 Dakar Rally winner Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Team). He has, unfortunately, crashed out of the race.

The ninth stage of the 43rd edition on the Dakar Rally was held in Neom, Saudi Arabia. The start and the endpoint of today's stage were the same creating a loop around the city of Neom. The loop covered a total distance of 579 kilometres with 465 kilometres of the Special stage.

The first kilometres of the ninth Special stage, the participants go along the coast of the Red Sea. Later in the stage, they encountered quicker tracks and sandy tracks, before returning to Neom. The stage was demanding and the desert continues to challenge the participants of the rally race.

All three podium of Stage 9 of the 2021 Dakar Rally was won by Monster Energy Honda Team 2021 riders. Taking the top step is Kevin Benavides. Followed by his teammates Ricky Brabec and Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo completing in 2nd and 3rd position overall in the ninth stage.

It was an emotional day for Hero MotoSports Rally Team and other participants of the rally race. It was on this stage that the Indian motorsports team lost their best rider, Paulo Goncalves in the last edition of the rally race. Despite an emotional day, Joaquim Rodrigues and Sebastian Buhler completed the ninth stage of the rally in 13th and 24th position, respectively.

The highlight of today's stage will go to Harith Noah for his scintillating perfromance. The Indian riders completed the Stage 9 of the 2021 Dakar Rally in 17th position overall. He improves massively in the General Standings of the race to get placed in the 25th position.

Lorenzo Santolino in the Sherco Factory Rally Team brings home another top 10 finish for the team with a 7th place finish on Stage 9 of the race. While his teammate Rui Goncalves has finished over 90 minutes behind the stage leader to complete in the 39th position, overall.

Ashish Raorane who is currently competing in the Dakar Rally Experience programme has crossed the finish line in 60th position. However, he won't be classified into the General Standings due to the rally experience programme.

Laia Sanz is currently one of the two women riders left in the 2021 Dakar Rally race contention. She has finished 23rd in today's stage improving her General Rankings in the race. Laia riding for Gas Gas Factory Team is now placed in the 20th position of the race.

Kevin Benavides, the winner of Stage 9 of 2021 Dakar Rally, said, "Just now I've received the news that my brother crashed, so I am so disappointed with that and I hope he is ok. Also, today was a special day for me, one year on from Paulo. So, I tried to push all day, to stay focused, to keep the speed up and not make mistakes. So, I think it was a good stage. Nacho did a good job.

At the end, I heard Toby also crashed, so it was a really dangerous day today. I am happy to be here okay and so is the bike. We have three more days to go and to continue fighting. We have a lot of kilometres left, so I think the strategy is to continue to be focused because everything can change in one second. For me, I'll take it day by day."

After the 9th stage, the 2021 Dakar Rally is currently being led by Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo riding for Monster Energy Honda Team with a lead of over 11 minutes. After Toby Price's unfortunate crash, Kevin Benavides riding alongside the race leader is placed second in the General Rankings. Sam Sunderland (Red Bull KTM Factory Team) continue to hold his 3rd position in the General Standings fo the race.

There were a couple of withdrawals in the race apart from Toby Price. This includes Ross Branch (Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team) because of engine failure and Luciano Benavides (Rockstar Energy Husqvarna Factory Rally Team) who also, unfortunately, crashed in today's stage.

Stage 9 Provisional Results:
Hero MotoSport Rally Team Standings
13th Position - Joaquim Rodrigues [05:21:03]
24th Position - Sebastian Buhler [05:47:43]

Sherco Rally Team Standings
7th Position - Lorenzo Santolino [05:05:58]
17th Position - Harith Noah [05:29:49]
39th Position - Rui Goncalves [06:35:13]

Privateer (Dakar Experience)
60th Position - Ashish Raorane [08:21:05]

Stage 9 Standings (Bike)
1st Position - Kevin Benavides [04:49:15] (Monster Energy Honda Team 2021)
2nd Position - Ricky Brabec [04:50:33] (Monster Energy Honda Team 2021)
3rd Position - Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo [04:50:49] (Monster Energy Honda Team 2021)

Stage 9 Winners In Other Categories (Provisional)
Quad:
Giovanni Enrico (Enrico Racing Team)

Car:
Stephane Peterhansel & Edouard Boulanger (X-RAID MINI JCW TEAM)

Lightweight Vehicle/SSV:
Francisco Lopez Contardo & Juan Pablo Latrach Vinagre (South Racing CAN-AM)

Truck:
Martin Macik, Frantisek Tomasek & David Svanda (Big Shock Racing)

Classic:
Kilian Revuelta & Oscar Sanchez Hernandez (NATURHOUSE)

General Standings After Stage 9 (Provisional)
Hero MotoSport Rally Team Standings
12th Position - Joaquim Rodrigues
16th Position - Sebastian Buhler

Sherco Rally Team Standings
8th Position - Lorenzo Santolino
22nd Position - Rui Goncalves
25th Position - Harith Noah

Overall Standings (Bike)
1st Position - Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (Monster Energy Honda Team 2021)
2nd Position - Kevin Benavides (Monster Energy Honda Team 2021)
3rd Position - Sam Sunderland (Red Bull KTM Factory Team)

General Standings Leaders In Other Categories
Quad:
Manuel Andujar (7240 Team)

Car:
Stephane Peterhansel & Edouard Boulanger (X-RAID MINI JCW TEAM)

Lightweight Vehicle/SSV:
Francisco Lopez Contardo & Juan Pablo Latrach Vinagre (South Racing CAN-AM)

Truck:
Dmitry Sotnikov, Ruslan Akhmadeev & Ilgiz Akhmetzianov (Kamaz - Master)

Classic:
Marc Douton & Emilien Etienne (Team Sunhill)

Thoughts About The 2021 Dakar Rally Stage 9 Result & Highlights

Harith Noah posts his best-ever performance in the 2021 Dakar Rally in the ninth stage of the race. Hero MotoSports Rally Team continue their position in General Standings of the race. With 3 stages left for the completion of the 2021 Dakar Rally, things are looking good for Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo with over 11-minute lead from Kevin Benavides.

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Read more on: #dakar rally #motorsport
Article Published On: Tuesday, January 12, 2021, 21:32 [IST]
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