Dakar: Defending champion Price lays down a marker

Defending Dakar Rally champion Toby Price has laid down a big marker on only the second stage of this year’s race, smashing the field from his 17^th place starting position to take not only the stage win but also the overall lead by a huge three minutes.

There were a number of riders who looked like it could be their day, including Price’s Red Bull KTM teammate Matthias Walkner, who led at the half way point and looked to be the man to beat – but a stunning second half of the stage from the Australian left him firmly in control of the race.

It was a good day all round for the factory KTM riders, with British racer Sam Sunderland coming home in fifth, with only Paulo Goncalves and yesterday’s fastest man Xavier de Soultrait between them.

However, problems right at the end of the day for Monster Energy Honda’s number one man Joan Barreda could well damage his chances at the overall, after finishing the day some six minutes behind Price.

Lyndon Poskitt was the second of the Brits over the line after Sunderland, coming home in a strong 39^th place, a dramatic improvement from yesterday’s 49^th and his starting position of 100^th.