Motorcycle leader Brabec out of Dakar Rally

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Honda rider Ricky Brabec's hopes of becoming the first American to win a Dakar Rally disappeared in the Peruvian sands on Tuesday after an engine failure forced him to retire while leading.

Brabec, who also retired last year with an engine breakdown, had started the day with a lead of seven minutes and 47 seconds but his participation ended in bitter disappointment just 56 kilometers down the road.

US biker Ricky Brabec gestures during the Dakar Rally Stage 8 between San Juan de Marcona and Pisco, in Peru, January 15, 2019. /VCG Photo

Australian Toby Price took over at the top of the motorcycle standings on a KTM, leading Chilean Pablo Quintanilla by just over a minute after the sandy eighth stage from San Juan de Marcona to Pisco.

“My wrist is on fire now, so it's been a long stage, 360 kilometers, but we've made it here to the finish and there's just two more to go – this is a good thing,” said Price, who was racing with a wrist injury.

“There's times when you can rest it and when you can't, but it's just difficult.”

In the car standings, Qatar's two times Dakar winner Nasser All-Attiyah stretched his lead to 46 minutes and 29 seconds for his South African Toyota team.

France's nine times world rally champion Sebastian Loeb won the stage, his fourth victory of this year's event in a privately-entered Peugeot, to move up to third overall and behind Spaniard Nani Roma.

Stephane Peterhansel, a 13 times Dakar winner, dropped to fourth.

The rally is held entirely in Peru this year, with the end in Lima on Thursday.

Source(s): Reuters