Quotes
Stage 12 | Car - Ultimate
SHUBAYTAH > SHUBAYTAH
209| MATHIEU SERRADORI
Mathieu Serradori: “we’ll be a force to be reckoned with”
The leading French driver in the car category finally finished in 6th place on his first participation with the new CR7 T1+, climbing up one place in the race hierarchy compared to his 7th place obtained in 2022, in a two-wheel drive vehicle.
“We were physically prepared for it and the team worked hard to make sure we had a super vehicle. As for strategy, we took the stages one after another. With Loïc, we were really concentrated on the navigation, we worked really hard on it and enjoyed doing it at the same time. The support and...
Stage 12 | Car - Challenger
SHUBAYTAH > SHUBAYTAH
301| VALENTINA PERTEGARINI
301| NICOLAS CAVIGLIASSO
Nicolas Cavigliasso: “We are both very, very happy”
Nicolas Cavigliasso has reacquainted himself with victory after his triumph in the quad category in 2019 when he made a marriage proposal to Valentina on the podium. The couple have conquered the Dakar together, which is a first for an official couple on the rally!
“It’s an amazing day for us to win the Dakar in the Challenger class which is a very competitive class. We are so happy. We’ve trained a lot to be here, to be competitive and today, winning another Dakar for me is amazing… During the first week we tried to...
Stage 12 | Car - Ultimate
SHUBAYTAH > SHUBAYTAH
226| MATTIAS EKSTRÖM
Mattias Ekstrom: “In the end, I think it’s a fair result for us”
Mattias Ekstrom produced the best performance for the Ford M-Sport by climbing onto the podium for the Raptor’s debut on the Dakar, on his fourth participation and third in the Ultimate class.
“It’s my first Dakar podium in the Ultimate class and it’s very nice. It was a very challenging rally for all of us and I think Yazeed deserved to win. I’ve seen over the last five years how much he has been training and fighting. He’s a nice, humble guy and always very fair. I think he is a worthy winner. We tried our...
Stage 12 | Car - Ultimate
SHUBAYTAH > SHUBAYTAH
211| HENK LATEGAN
Henk Lategan: “We really gave it our best”
Henk Lategan finished on the podium for the first time in his career on his 4th participation, following 5th place in 2023. The South African could take over the mantle from Giniel de Villiers, who did not finish for the first time since 2003.
“It’s tough to come this far, to lead the race for that long and have a really good race going, just to lose out by only a few minutes at the end. We really gave it our best... The team has been absolutely unbelievable with getting us to where we are, keeping the car in the race and keeping...
Stage 12 | Car - Ultimate
SHUBAYTAH > SHUBAYTAH
201| YAZEED AL RAJHI
Yazeed Al Rajhi: “the first Saudi driver to win”
Yazeed Al Rajhi triumphed on his 11th participation, in front of home crowds, linking his story to those of Jean-Louis Schlesser (1999) and Pierre Lartigue (1994).
“I am very, very happy to do it, it is not an easy race, it’s the toughest one that I’ve done in the last eleven years. For sure, I’m very happy – me and Timo and my team did a great job like always. For sure, we have made a lot of records today: the first Saudi driver to win and also in the last twenty-five years no private team beat a factory team but...
Stage 12 | Car - SSV
SHUBAYTAH > SHUBAYTAH
425| BROCK HEGER
Brock Heger: ““Today’s my birthday, so I figured I needed to treat myself to a good birthday present”
Brock Heger has won his first Dakar on his 25th birthday on his first participation! He also offers a gift to Polaris who conserve their title won last year by Xavier de Soultrait.
“Today’s my birthday, so I figured I needed to treat myself to a good birthday present. So, we’re the Dakar champions and its pretty crazy to think about it. It hasn’t sunk in yet, but I’m sure on my plane ride back to the USA it will sink in. It’s a pretty cool accomplishment. It was a crazy two weeks… I’m just super...
Stage 12 | Bike - Rally 2
SHUBAYTAH > SHUBAYTAH
73| EDGAR CANET
Edgar Canet: “I’ll be back even more ready for next year”
Edgar Canet has unquestionably been the revelation of the year in the bike category on this edition of the Dakar. The Catalan, who finished 8th in the general rankings, the leading Rally 2 rider and best rookie, was enrolled at the last minute by the official KTM team and looks set to have a bright future in the discipline.
“The best moment was when I finished the prologue. It’s when I knew I was really in the Dakar and making a good race debut. So, I’m super happy with that, super happy with the result I’ve got in this...
Stage 12 | Bike - GP
SHUBAYTAH > SHUBAYTAH
42| ADRIEN VAN BEVEREN
Adrien van Beveren: “I have no regrets at all”
AVB is on the podium for the second time in his career on the Dakar following his 2nd place last year. He is the rider who has spent the most time opening the way on the Dakar. The Frenchman made some slight errors, including two falls like Tosha Schareina, but Adrien is not beating himself up about it.
“It was an amazing Dakar, the most difficult I have raced. I thought last year was the most difficult but this time was even more difficult. We did a good job. I pushed all the way. I have no regrets at all. I rode an amazing race and I’m...
Stage 12 | Bike - GP
SHUBAYTAH > SHUBAYTAH
68| TOSHA SCHAREINA
Tosha Schareina: “I’m supper happy for Daniel”
With 2nd place on his 4th Dakar, Tosha Schareina was the most threatening rival for Daniel Sanders, who, like the Spaniard, is one of the youngest Rally GP riders on this Dakar, apart from Edgar Canet. The new generation has taken over on this Dakar and marks a generational turning point in the motorbike hierarchy.
“I’m super happy to be here on the finishing line. It was a really hard race and many of the veterans have told me that. It was the toughest ever edition, so I’m super happy to be here on the finishing line, so happy...
Stage 12 | Bike - GP
SHUBAYTAH > SHUBAYTAH
4| DANIEL SANDERS
Daniel Sanders: “It’s a massive accomplishment”
Daniel Sanders has won his first Dakar on his 5th attempt. ‘Chucky’ has become the 2nd Australian to write his name on the Dakar roll of honour after Toby Prices two triumphs in 2016 and 2019.
“When I came out of the dunes… I could see the bivouac and I just got instant chills through my whole body, I was super nervous. I couldn’t believe it. All the emotions started coming through and I could see the finishing line. It’s the biggest race in the world motorbikes and off-roading. To win the six-day international...
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