Today the 41st edition of the Dakar Rally was officially presented in Paris, with the race setting out from the Peruvian capital of Lima on January 6th. Monster Energy Honda Team wheels out the big guns for the great challenge with the team poised and fully prepared.
The Peruvian Embassy in France held the presentation of the 2019 Dakar Rally with Ambassador D. Álvaro de Soto hosting the event, and race director Étienne Lavigne, announcing the main details of the event. The race is set to be, “An unusual edition, as it is the first time that the Dakar has taken place in a single country, with a somewhat different format. It promises to be unique and particular geography, where the dunes will be very present. The stages will be short but intense and you will have to be in good physical shape to be able to overcome it without problems. The capacity for improvement and navigation will be essential aspects in this 2019 edition,” outlined the senior manager of ASO, the race’s organizing body.
Going through the details, Lavigne communicated the final route, which will have a total of 5000 kilometres including some 3000 kilometres of special timed stage. A marathon stage will take place during the fourth stage, where the motorcycle riders will have the bivouac in Moquegua, while the assistants will arrive in Arequipa, where the rest day will be held on January 12. Among other novelties of this edition will be motocross-style line starts in stages five and nine and a ‘Super Ica’ that will take place in stage eight.
Monster Energy Honda Team stands out among the 167 participants in the motorcycle and quad category, lining up a full squad of five riders to take the challenge: Argentinean Kevin Benavides, second in the last edition, Portuguese rider Paulo Gonçalves, Spaniard Joan Barreda, American Ricky Brabec and Chilean Nacho Cornejo.
