RIYADH, Jan. 6 (Xinhua) -- Defending champion Daniel Sanders took the overall lead at the Dakar Rally on Monday after winning Stage 2 in Saudi Arabia, continuing Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's strong start alongside teammate Edgar Canet.
Sanders sealed his 10th career Dakar stage victory, becoming only the 22nd rider in the event's history to reach double figures.
The Australian capitalized on a minor fall by Canet after the Spaniard had led for around 100 kilometers, having been tasked with opening the stage following his wins in the prologue and Stage 1.
After the 400-kilometer special stage and the bonus time awarded to early starters, Sanders finished 1 minute and 35 seconds ahead of Canet and moved into the overall lead with a slim 30-second advantage.
American rider Ricky Brabec of Monster Energy Honda HRC posted the third-fastest time of the day and remained third overall, 2 minutes and 18 seconds behind Sanders. Spain's Tosha Schareina sat fourth overall, 4 minutes and 41 seconds adrift, followed by Ross Branch of Botswana at 7 minutes and 46 seconds.
In Rally2, Portuguese newcomer Martim Ventura delivered a breakthrough by giving Honda its first stage win in the class since its creation in 2022. The overall Rally2 lead remained with KTM rider Michael Docherty, who led by 19 seconds.
In the car category, American driver Seth Quintero claimed his third career stage win at this level in his Toyota Hilux T1+, racing with new co-driver Andrew Short. Although Qatar's Nasser Al-Attiyah recorded only the eighth-fastest time on the stage, he moved to the top of the overall standings, with Quintero just seven seconds behind him in the general classification.
South Africa's Henk Lategan finished second on the stage, 1 minute and 42 seconds behind Quintero, while Saudi driver Yazeed Al Rajhi, the defending Dakar car champion, placed third, 1:56 off the lead. ■
