Four Aussies in Dakar Bike Class

By Kendall Jennings

Four Australians have made it to the start line of the 43rd Annual Dakar Rally being held in Saudi Arabia from 03-15 January 2021. 

Queensland’s Toby Price (dual winner 2016, 2019) and Rookies Daniel Sanders (Victorian), Michael Burgess (Victorian) and Andrew Houlihan (New South Wales) have entered the most challenging Navigation Rally in the world 7646 kilometres over twelve days, a physical challenge of mind, machine and mother nature, a marathon. 

To win the Dakar, an athlete must achieve the quickest combined time from Special Sections from all Stages.

Prologue (Liasion 118 kilometres, Special 11 kilometres) 02 January 2021.

• 3rd Daniel Sanders 6 minutes 14 seconds.

• 9th Toby Price 6 minutes 24 seconds.

• 39th Michael Burgess 7 minutes 15 seconds.

• 97th Andrew Houlihan 13 minutes 47 seconds. A Navigation Equipment Gremlin caused a Time Penalty 5 minutes.

Stage 1 Jeddah - Bisha (Liasion 345 kilometres, Special 277 kilometres) 03 January 2021

Highest point 1400 metres and lowest 1200 metres above sea level—soil Types Sand, Tera and Cailoux (rocks), six checkpoints.

The ninth athlete to start, Toby Price finished the Stage 3 hours 18 minutes and 26 seconds winning the Stage by 31 seconds, an achievement with a navigational error near the end of the special section.

“It’s just the first Stage, so Today [was] quite difficult with the navigation. I got lost a little bit about 7 kilometres from the finish. I took a little bit of time just trying to get back on track here. It’s been a good, clean day for us. I think you’re gonna see a lot of chopping and changing in the standings in this race. You just gotta stay calm and let it cruise along and make it work.” Said Toby Price.

Victorian Daniel Sanders was third to start the Stage due to his impressive Prologue. The Rookie finished twenty-fifth for Stage 1 in a year of learning opportunities.

“It was really cool to start off third after the Prologue yesterday. I saw the Honda guys turn left on this point… I wasn’t too sure because it’s my first year, not much navigation, but I should’ve followed my instincts…” Stated Sanders.

There aren’t many opportunities in Australia to learn and practise navigation in a racing environment. Navigation is a weakness that Sanders is aware of, and the longer he is in the saddle, the better he will be.

Victorian Rookie Michael Burgess completed Stage 1 in thirty-third position with a journey of 3 hours 56 minutes and 45 seconds.

New South Welshman Andrew Houlihan has recovered well after his navigation equipment issues during Prologue which caused a 5-minute penalty, and the Rookie finished 68th for the Stage (5 hours 25 minutes and 27 seconds).

Stage 2 Bisha - Wadi Ad-Dawasir (Liasion 228 kilometres, Special 457 kilometres) 04 January 2021.

Highest point 1200 metres and lowest 1000 metres above sea level—soil Types Sand, Tera and Dunes, 12 checkpoints.

Toby Price in conserver mode as the rear fuel tank on his KTM had an issue; the dunes were also problematic for Price, losing valuable time getting caught in the soft sand finishing 28th Overall for Stage 2, 15th Overall.

“Today was difficult to lead out, the first 100km felt good and traded back and forth for the lead with Kevin, but at the 300km mark I started to have an issue with the rear tank, and the fuel wasn’t working so then I had to conserve running only the front tanks. Tough one but we’ll work on the bike this afternoon, and we’re at another finish line, so I’m happy! Still, a long way to go.” Said Toby Price on social media.

Rookie Daniel Sanders continued to impress, running up the front and in podium contention for the Stage before falling back 16 minutes from the leaders, starting from 25th and finishing 9th in Stage 2.

Rookie, Michael Burgess finished 45th for Stage 2 and is sitting 42nd Overall.

Rookie, Andrew Houlihan was consistent with his ride during Stage 2. In his first Dakar, he is just focusing on Safety and completing the event. Unfortunately, Andrew missed a checkpoint and was penalised 20 minutes finishing 67th for Stage 2 and will be the 68th bike to start Stage 3.

In an impressive performance, riding in the twenty-nine riders in front of him, Toby Price won Stage 3 Wadi Ad-Dawasir, in 3:33:23. Six hundred twenty-nine kilometres with a 403-kilometre special section, comprising of Sand, Terre and Dunes.

 “So far, it’s been up and down. It’s quite frustrating to be in front one day and then at the back the next. The difficulty of the navigation means it’s hard to open the road. I’m going to have to do it tomorrow, but I hope there’ll be a bit of respite and that it will be a day that’s less complicated on the navigational front. The result doesn’t mean much, because there are ups and downs. But anyway, it’s been a good day for me. The bike’s working well, I didn’t fall, and I didn’t have any fuel problems like yesterday. Every day is going to count right up until the last one, but so far there have been no major problems”. said Toby Price.

 Rookie Victorian Daniel Sanders also impressed finishing 8th for the Stage (3:44:45). Fellow Victorian Rookie Michael Burgess finished 37th (4:12:08). New South Welshman Andrew Houlihan finished 72nd (5:35:53).

After Stage 3, Toby Price is in 4th place overall, Andrew Sanders 16th, Michael Burgess 40th and Andrew Houlihan 69th.

Racing continues to the Friday 08 January, Saturday the 9th a rest day is scheduled and will continue Monday 11 January to Friday 15 January 2021.