Thursday at the Dakar marked the second half of the event’s marathon stage. After camping out in a temporary bivouac at Shubaytah the night before, riders entered today’s special running the same tyres and having carried out the minimum of maintenance due to no outside assistance being permitted overnight.

Featuring a mixture of sandy terrains, competitors were presented with a fast but demanding 379-kilometre timed special for stage 11. With less technical navigation, the real challenge for all was managing fuel levels, with the soft sand causing many to come close to running out by mid-stage.

Putting in a solid performance on stage 11 to claim fifth, Price finished just under six minutes down on eventual winner Quintanilla. Getting his head down right from the start of the stage, Toby soon caught the riders ahead where he then found it difficult to make up any more time and was forced to ride in a group to the finish. Third overall going into the final stage, the reigning Dakar Champion hopes to conclude his time in Saudi Arabia safely and challenge for an overall podium result.

“I was able to make up a fair amount of time today but with the stage cut short yesterday it was difficult to get enough people between myself and the leaders,” said Price. “All-in-all it’s been a good day with very similar conditions to yesterday really – very fast and open. The sand has made for some tough going and like a few people today, I nearly ran out of fuel before kilometre 229. I managed to get in with about one litre left in the tank. One day to go now and I’m still feeling good so we’ll see what tomorrow brings.”

Yamaha privateer rider Rod Faggotter finished 18th in the stage and remains in 13th overall. The rest of the Aussie contingent is still in the race. Ben Young placed 58th in the stage and is 57th overall. Trevor Wilson was 80th fastest and is 76th overall while Matthew Tisdall finished 94th for the day. He sits 96th overall.

Provisional Results Stage 11 – 2020 Dakar Rally

1. Pablo Quintanilla (CHL), Husqvarna, 4:09:22
2. Matthias Walkner (AUT), KTM, 4:09:31 +0:09
3. Luciano Benavides (ARG), KTM, 4:12:10 +2:48
4. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (CHL), Honda, 4:12:15 +02:53
5. Toby Price (AUS), KTM, 4:15:11 +5:49

Provisional Standings (after stage 11) – 2020 Dakar Rally

1. Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 38:33:28
2. Pablo Quintanilla (CHL), Husqvarna, 38:47:24 +13:56
3. Toby Price (AUS), KTM, 38:56:02 +22:34
4. Matthias Walkner (AUT), KTM, 39:03:21 +29:53
5. Joan Barreda (ARG), Honda, 39:03:37 +30:09

Trevor Wilson getting filled in by a quad!