Dakar 2018: Matthias Walkner crowned Dakar champion

Austrian Matthias Walkner is the new 2018 Dakar champion. The 31-year-old consolidated his lead in the final 120km timed special today to secure over all victory by 16m 53s ahead of factory Honda rider Kevin Benavides and KTM team-mate Toby Price.

Walkner’s success extends KTM’s incredible run of Dakar wins to 17 consecutive victories with Walkner joining the illustrious list of former KTM winners including Fabrizio Meoni, Richard Sainct, Cyril Despres, Marc Coma, Toby Price and Brit Sam Sunderland.

Speaking at the end of the race, Walkner said: “Sometime in this sport you need luck and this year it was on my side. It’s an amazing feeling, I never thought I could win it, the aim was always to get on the podium. It was so close this year but stage ten turned out to be a real key day. Maybe this year the luck was on my side – this really is a dream come true.

“The rider level is so high – there are five other people that could win, but it seems that I am the lucky one. When I had my big injury in 2016, this changed a lot for me. I think at Dakar you need a little bit of luck – sometimes you have it, sometimes you don’t.

“There was a lot of pressure in the last few because I had a big gap and that means there is a lot to lose, whereas when it is really close you have nothing to lose. I was really nervous and yesterday was a really long day

“I know I am one of the top seven or eight guys, but honestly I did not think I could win it. The aim was the podium because to win you need luck, the bike has to stay together and you can’t make mistakes.”

Results Stage 14

1. Kevin Benavides           ARG                 Honda              1h 26m 41sm 03s
2. Toby Price                    AUS                  KTM                 + 54s
3. Antoine Meo                FRA                  KTM                 +2m 49s
4. Daniel Oliveras            ESP                  KTM                 +3m 25s
5. Johnny Aubert              FRA                  GasGas            +4m 19s
6. Gerrard Fares               ESP                  KTM                 +5m 23s
   8. Matthias Walkner           AUT                KTM               +5m 38s

Overall results at the end of stage 14

1. Matthias Walkner       AUT                 KTM                 43h 06m 01s
2. Kevin Benavides          ARG                 Honda              +16m 53s
3. Toby Price                   AUS                  KTM                 +23m01s
4. Antoine Meo               FRA                  KTM                 +47m28s
5. Gerrard Farres              ESP                  KTM                 +1h 01m 04s
6. Johnny Aubert             FRA                  GasGas            +1h 53m 53s