2024 Dakar Rally Stage 6 Update

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Monster Energy Honda’s Ricky Brabec now leads the overall standings after the 48-hour chrono stage. (MCH Photography/)

The 48-hour chrono will go down in the annals of the Dakar as the toughest stage not only of this edition, but at least of the last decade. For the veterans, it reminded them of times when the legendary Paris-Dakar was competing in Africa, featuring endless days in the Sahara with only the sun deciding when to stop. Climbing the dunes in the dark is suicidal. Riders would gather all together in a very spartan bivouac under the stars and wait for morning. For the young guys, this “old-school” stage is the one to post on social media and to tell family and friends about back home.

With the cars and motorcycles taking off from the same checkpoint and then separating routes, spiraling away and then crossing again, the 48-hour unassisted timed stage was the greatest adventure into the unknown for everyone, pros and amateurs alike.

On the menu: 625 kilometers (388 miles) for the bikes to be covered in two days, for the cars 570 kilometers (354 miles). The two- and four-wheels shared checkpoints, refueling, and seven spartan bivouacs under the stars. Each bivouac was located on the special, with “break point” A at 193 kilometers (120 miles) of the SS, and G at 499 (310 miles).

To have an idea of how hard it was out there with dunes reaching 250 meters (820 feet) high, no competitors reached the last break point. Only the bravest reached point F.  Twelve to be exact; among them Monster Energy Honda Adrien Van Beveren, who eventually won the 48-hour chrono; American Ricky Brabec, the new overall leader; Hero Motorsports’ Ross Branch (now second at only 51 seconds behind the America Honda rider); Nacho Cornejo; KTM’s Toby Price; Kevin and Luciano Benavides; Joan Barreda; Martin Michek; and António Maio.

Related: Dakar Rally 2024 Stage 5 Update

Adrien Van Beveren took the Stage 6 48-hour chrono win. (MCH Photography/)

On the bivouac before, at point E (434 kilometers, or 270 miles), were seven riders. Among them Mason Klein, Brad Cox (Alfie Cox’s son), and Tobias Ebster (Heinz Kinigadner’s nephew). Many stopped earlier, at point D (401 kilometers, or 249 miles). More than 10 competitors became trapped in the dunes between two points and had to stop, waiting for the sunrise; helicopters dropped sleeping bags, food rations, and water.

The main challenge of the 48-hour chrono was represented by lots of long dune climbs with hard-to-see “funnels” at the top, the soft sand, and the management of the fuel due to that soft sand. To add more spice: fast and tricky dry lake beds called “chotts.”

“I usually like the rocks, but it was a good stage for me,” said Monster Energy Honda’s Brabec, the new overall leader. “The challenge was to go on for many kilometers. I pushed really hard in the dunes on day one, while the following day I played it safe and I slowed down a bit  because it’s better not to open on Stage 7 after the rest day. I really liked camping with the boys. It was so much fun. We had no satellite phones, no coverage, no electricity, so we didn’t even know the result, but It was cool. I loved the format.

“It was a very long stage,” he continued. “It was really hot and a stage in the desert with dunes reaching 250 meters [820 feet] high. It was a new format—a return to the origin of the legendary Paris-Dakar with the competitors riding till there was no light and then sleeping in one of the seven spartan bivouacs in the middle of the desert.”

Riders spent the night in the desert unassisted by their teams. It may look like a friendly campout, but this is one of the toughest stages of the Dakar Rally. (Maria Guidotti/)

“Only ten of us reached 530 kilometers [329 miles] out of 625 [388]. With me also Adrien Van Beveren and Ricky Brabec. It was nice to camp under the stars and talk with the other riders by the fire,” echoed Branch, leader of four stages out of six and currently second at 51 seconds behind Brabec after 27 hours, 12 minutes, 12 seconds of racing. “I’m really happy. It has been a demanding first week and it’s nice to have reached the first target: the rest day in Riyadh. It’s going to be a long rally, so we are not worried by the overall standing. Our approach doesn’t change; day at a time.

“Many riders suffered, including my teammate Joan Barreda. It was a pity because unfortunately Joan had to stop for a mechanical issue after 529 kilometers [329 miles], so I am the only one remaining in the Hero Motorsports team.”

Ross Branch is the lone Hero Motorsports rider after Stage 6, sitting second overall. (MCH Photography/)

“I had the hard task to open so the target was to minimize the loss,” Honda’s Nacho Cornejo stated. “I pushed as far as I could all day, giving my best, and I am happy with this result. I felt awesome with the bike. I feel very comfortable with the new Honda CRF450 Rally. Looking back, maybe we lacked a bit of strategy because opening in the dunes is hard and you lose time. Fortunately we have one more week ahead of us and we know that it will be another tough one.”

José Ignacio “Nacho” Cornejo says (and looks) that he is very comfortable on the new Honda CRF450 Rally. (MCH Photography/)

Frenchman Van Beveren completed the list of the happy racers in the Monster Energy Honda squad. He will be remembered as the first winner of the 48-hour chrono, saying: “The main challenge was to manage the fuel; so in a way, it was hard to have to slow down on the dunes.”

The other side of the coin for Honda was Pablo Quintanilla, SS 5 winner, with a fuel problem that spoiled his race at 197 kilometers (122 miles). “It’s a sad moment,” he said. “I was being careful with the fuel but 10 kilometers [6 miles] before the refueling point I ran out of fuel.” He eventually finished the stage but without any hope to fight for the victory.

American Skyler Howes too suffered a mechanical problem which forced him to retire on the first day of the 48-hour chrono.

Mason Klein takes a break for a picture with Dakar car legend Nasser Al-Attiyah. Klein’s race would be over the next day. (Maria Guidotti/)

The race was more fiendish with Barreda (Hero Motorsport) and Klein (Kove). They both had reached the night bivouac, respectively at 475 kilometers (295 miles) and 437 (272). Both were aiming to reach the finish line after so much effort and many troubles.

Klein had a very tough 48-hour chrono having to fight with several mechanical issues during Stage 6A. He managed to reach the point E bivouac. It was a different night for him sleeping in the open desert, but the following morning, his bike didn’t want to start. He worked hard to fix it to start on time but with 90 kilometers (56 miles) to the finish his bike quit. Game over.

“It’s so frustrating. I did my best, I tried it all, but this very last time there was nothing I could do. I left the bike in a hole and climbed up a big dune to be visible and had to call for help,” said the 22-year-old, who since his arrival on the rally-raid scene has surprised the whole field with his speed and determination.

“See you in Riyad,” he said, going on to confess, “We need to find a different solution to come back.” Life—like racing—is unpredictable. Who knows if this Dakar that has been cruel to him so far could produce a surprise in the future.

To complete the hectic 48-hour chrono, the riders reached Riyadh via air for their well-deserved rest day while their teams covered 800 kilometers (497 miles) on the road to reach the capital.

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