Quotes
Stage 12 | Ssv
Haradh > Qiddiya
400| FRANCISCO LOPEZ CONTARDO
"A podium place isn't that bad after all"
"Chaleco" López won the race in Lima last year, but this time round he will have to settle for the bottom step of the podium. A mechanical in the stage after the rest day pushed him behind American Casey Currie and Russian Sergey Karyakin.
"Finishing on the podium is good, but the second week didn't go well for us. We had a huge problem the day before yesterday, so a podium place isn't that bad after all. The first edition in Saudi Arabia was interesting, I'm sure the rally will be even better next year."
Stage 12 | Bike
Haradh > Qiddiya
1| TOBY PRICE
"It's not the result we came for"
The two-time Dakar champion finished this year's edition in third place, 24 minutes behind Ricky Brabec.
"I'm still on the podium. Definitely, it's not the result we came for, but I'm quite glad. Every time that I've lined up and I've made the finish line, I've been on a podium step. This, for me, is a big achievement, especially after these two weeks being tough. We just regroup and get ready for the Dakar 2021 and we come back here to try and get that number 1 plate back. Some things were out of my control. I lost 16 minutes with...
Stage 12 | Ssv
Haradh > Qiddiya
411| SERGEI KARIAKIN
"The best race in the world"
Former quad champion Sergey Karyakin finished as runner-up in this year's SSV race. Saudi Arabia was gentler to the Russian than South America used to be.
"Sometimes, it was rough. Sometimes, I was not really lucky. But I still think second place is a good thing. We enjoyed the race, we like how the scenery changes, it's not like in Peru, where you only have sand, sand, sand, sand. So boring. I hope next year there will be more driving stages than going on straights, but the Dakar is still the best race in the world. Next year, we have to improve and improve our...
Stage 12 | Car
Haradh > Qiddiya
302| STÉPHANE PETERHANSEL
"We're right where we deserve to be"
The most prolific stage winner in Dakar history finished this year's edition in third place overall and claimed his 80th career special along the way.
"Another one done and dusted! Things took a turn for the worse when Andrea got bumped from the co-driver's seat before the start. All things told, we came through and we're right where we deserve to be. I don't know yet whether this'll be my last special, I have to talk it over with Andrea. The four specials are a nice consolation prize, it's always nice to win. It proves we've still got the...
Stage 12 | Ssv
Haradh > Qiddiya
405| CASEY CURRIE
"I'm blown away, man!"
On the same day that Ricky Brabec won the motorbike race, Casey Currie capped a great day for the USA in Saudi Arabia with his first victory in the SSV category.
"Two Americans on top! I'm blown away, man! Sean and my team did a phenomenal job. The car ran great all the time. It's just an epic experience, and I'll never forget it, for sure. This is my most emotional win ever. The amount of pressure that was on me was incredible. I love this rally! We're coming back next year to defend our title. I'm very stoked for Ricky Brabec, he deserves it more than I do."
...
Stage 12 | Quad
Haradh > Qiddiya
265| SIMON VITSE
"So happy"
The Frenchman managed to finish the Dakar for the first time in three attempts and did so in style, taking second place overall.
"It's very emotional. I'll never forget how it felt to finish the race, especially as runner-up. I'm so happy. Everything went well."
Stage 12 | Car
Haradh > Qiddiya
300| NASSER AL-ATTIYAH
"I'm coming back to win next year"
The 2019 champion opened his 2020 account on the very last day and finished second overall, 6′13″ behind Carlos Sainz.
"I'm quite happy, we did a good job to finish second even though we wanted to win. We made two or three mistakes along the way and had loads of punctures, but I'm rather happy. I'm elated that we are racing here. I'm coming back to win next year. I just needed a bit more luck."
Stage 12 | Quad
Haradh > Qiddiya
250| IGNACIO CASALE
"We worked hard"
After two victories in South America, the Chilean rider, now heading towards the Qiddiya Grand Prix to make it official, marked his return to the quad category with a win in the first edition of the Dakar held in Saudi Arabia.
"I'm delighted to be here. I've won my third Dakar. I'm elated because it was a long, gruelling race. I had some problems during the second week, but we solved them as well as we could. We worked hard all year long with the mechanics and now I can celebrate this win. Thanks a lot and Viva Chile!"
Stage 12 | Bike
Haradh > Qiddiya
5| PABLO QUINTANILLA
"I already feel like a winner"
The Chilean biker, now heading towards the Qiddiya Grand Prix to make it official, is the runner-up of the 2020 Dakar —his best result so far— and made amends for last year, when an injury knocked him out of the race when he was also tackling the final stage in second place overall.
"I gave it everything until the last kilometre. It's an amazing feeling. I just wanted to thank everyone, my team, my family, my friends and everyone supporting me during this time. The race was tight. Being in [second] position, I already feel like...
Stage 12 | Car
Haradh > Qiddiya
305| CARLOS SAINZ
"We have gone flat out from the beginning"
The Spaniard, now heading towards the Qiddiya Grand Prix to make it official, has landed his third Dakar victory. Each of his wins has come in a different car: a Volkswagen in 2010, a Peugeot in 2018 and a Mini in 2020.
"I feel very happy. There's a lot of effort behind this. A lot of training, practice, physically, with the team… We started winning this Dakar on day one and we have gone flat out from the beginning.
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