Cycle News Staff | May 1, 2023
After six days of racing, five stages, and nearly 1400 miles, Daniel Sanders came away with the overall win at the 2023 Sonora Rally. This race serves as round three of the FIM World Rally Raid Championship and is the only Dakar-style rally held in North America. Sanders finished more than eight minutes ahead of second place.
Sanders, the factory GasGas pilot, claimed three stage wins throughout the week and entered the final day with a lead of more than seven minutes. He started first on the final day and managed to take another victory, stamping his overall title in the process. Sanders’ overall time was just over the 11-hour mark (11:01:09).
Daniel Sanders captured his first career rally victory when he crossed the finish line at the Sonora Rally. Photo: GasGas
“It’s great to get my first rally win,” Sanders said. “It feels like it’s been a long time coming—obviously after a year off it’s great to be back where I want to be. Dakar’s the big one but getting wins in the world championship is also super important. I’ve had some bad luck with speed penalties and things like that in some events, so to finally get a world championship win means a lot to me. Also, I feel like I’ve ridden well at this event, leading out on several days, and generally having a good run through the event.”
Overall podium. Photo: GasGas
Spanish racer, Tosha Schareina, took second overall, 8:23 behind Sanders. The Honda rider took a win on stage one which set him up for a strong week of racing. A string of consecutive stage podiums after that allowed him to secure second overall in his first rally aboard a Honda.
Honda’s Tosha Schareina strung together multiple podiums for second overall.
Husqvarna Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides made up crucial time in the final days of the rally to take third overall. He found himself locked in a time battle with KTM’s Toby Price, the victor earning the final spot on the box. Price made a critical navigation error on the last stage which allowed Benavides to squeak by. The Husqvarna rider took third overall, only two minutes clear of Price in fourth.
Luciano Benavides claimed third overall with a strong ride on the final stage. Photo: Husqvarna
American rider, and former Sonora Rally winner, Ricky Brabec finished eighth overall after podiums on stages two and three.
Skyler Howes did not finish the race after crashing out and suffering a broken scapula. His airbag data recorded an impact of 27.5 g-forces during the fall.
Price continues to lead the World Rally Raid championship points over Benavides and Adrien Van Beveren. CN
Price still leads the championship points. Photo: KTM
Overall Results
- Daniel Sanders (GG) 11:01:09
- Tosha Schareina (Hon) +8:23
- Luciano Benavides (Hus) +17:16
- Toby Price (KTM) +19:43
- Matthias Walkner (KTM) +23:00
PROLOGUE
The 2023 Sonora Rally kicked off over the April 22-23 weekend with Sunday’s prologue. This is the only Dakar-style rally that takes place in North America and serves as round three of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship. A 26.7-mile liaison and a 6.2-mile special made up the opening day’s schedule. Nearly 33 miles of riding seeded the riders for their start positions, as they begin the five-day race.
South African Brad Cox won the Prologue for this week’s Sonora Rally in Mexico.
KTM’s Toby Price claimed the win in the Rally GP class with a time of five minutes and 28 seconds. The shortened prologue made all the top times close, as Husqvarna’s Luciano Benavides and Honda’s Adrien Van Beveren rounded out the Rally GP podium. The top five overall riders all finished within eight seconds of each other.
South African Brad Cox technically claimed the overall prologue win with a time two seconds faster than Price. Cox, however, is riding the Rally 2 class and therefore leads his division. Massimo Camurri topped the Rally 3 class which is limited to a top speed of 80 miles per hour. Matt Sutherland topped the Malle Moto division with American Brendan Crow taking the Bike Enduro class.
PROLOGUE
- Brad Cox (KTM) 5:26
- Toby Price (KTM) 5:28
- Luciano Benavides (Hus) 5:33
- Tosha Schareina (Hon) 5:34
- Adrien Van Beveren (Hon) 5:34
