Dakar 2024: Adrien Van Beveren Wins Stage 6, Honda Retakes Overall Lead from Hero MotoSports

In Stage 6 of the 2024 Dakar, Sebastien Loeb, a nine-time winner of the World Rally Championship, took first place in the cars category, while Adrien Van Beveren won the motorbike category. Famous riders, such as Nasser Al-Attiyah, had to give up on winning this year owing to mechanical problems and time loss. The 549km two-day stage was quite difficult. Joan Barreda, one of Hero's finest riders, withdrew owing to technical issues, so even the formidable opponent suffered defeat.

Next in the motorbike category were Toby Price (KTM) and Ricky Brabec (another Honda). The French rider was in first place. As for the overall standings, Brabec is in the first place, followed by Ross Branch of Hero in second, and Adrien Van Beveren of Honda in third.

Dakar 2024: Stage 6 Bike Result

Adrien Van Beveren of Honda won stage six of the 48-Hour Chrono Stage in the Bikes category. After taking the lead on day one, Van Beveren and eleven other riders made it to the last rest stop (F) before the race was stopped. The determined Frenchman was the only rider to complete the special in seven hours, 57 minutes, and 29 seconds, even though there were just over 100 kilometres left on the second day. He accomplished this by pushing himself to his limits.

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Toby Price of KTM finished second in the Bikes category in Stage 6. At the end of the difficult two-day stage, the Australian rider crossed the finish line four minutes and thirteen seconds after Honda's Van Beveren. Ricky Brabec, another Honda rider, finished the stage in third place. After finishing the stage just five minutes and two seconds behind his French teammate, the American took the lead in the overall rankings.

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Dakar 2024: Hero MotoSports

Branch was the only Hero rider to finish the stage. Joan Barreda Bort, fondly referred to as "Bang Bang" by his followers, had to retire from the race on day two owing to mechanical problems, leaving Branch as the only one to finish. On Day 1, both riders made it to Rest Point F, but only Branch conquered the challenges and crossed the finish line. At the end of the stage, he was nine minutes and forty seconds behind Van Beveren.

Ross Branch said: "Here we are at the end of the longest stage ever, we rode 530 kms in the dunes yesterday and another 120 today. It was super long and tough on the bike and body. But we’re here in one piece, and the bike has been running amazingly well. Ready for the rest day tomorrow, and looking forward to a great week 2 of racing. Thank you so much everyone, for all the support!"

Joan Barreda said: "Today was not easy day for me. Was happy yesterday pushing a lot through the 48H chrono stage, opening the stage in many places in the difficult sand dunes, and enjoying it a lot as well. But today just 20 kms into the special unfortunately, I had to stop. Life is like this, races are like this. But I'm happy we are safe, and so happy to be with this team. I'm proud of the incredible work the guys have been doing all these days.”

After six gruelling stages of racing, the Dakar caravan has finally reached Riyadh. After the rest day, racers will take on Stage 7, the longest day of the Dakar 2024, which covers an astounding 873 kilometres. The difficult stage begins in Riyadh and heads west, eventually bringing the runners back to the Al Duwadimi bivouac.