Dakar Rally 2021 Stage 8 Results & Highlights: Buhler Scores Top 10 For Hero MotoSports

The second marathon stage of the 2021 Dakar Rally was won by Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo riding for Monster Energy Honda Team 2021. Followed by Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Team) and Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda Team 2021) completing in 2nd and 3rd position overall in the eighth stage of the Dakar Rally 2021.

Speaking about the Stage 8 the rally race, it was held between Sakaka and Neom. The final stage of the Marathon race covered a total distance of 709 kilometres including 375 kilometres of Special competitive stage. Since there was no assistance from the previous stage, the participants continued their careful charge towards the finish line.

There were no dunes for the participants to tackle in Stage 8 of the rally. However, at the start of the special, they also had to get to grips with stony portions which were not particularly kind to the wheels of vehicles.

Hero MotoSports continue their top 10 finish at the 2021 Dakar Rally. However, this time, it was Sebastian Buhler who finished in 10th place. His teammate Joaquim Rodrigues completed the Stage 8 of the rally in 26th place.

Harith Noah continues his steady performance riding for Sherco Factory Rally Team to finish in 29th position overall. He has finished the final Marathon stage in a total time of 03:44:47, which is 36 minutes and 07 seconds behind the stage winner. Lorenzo Santolino and Rui Goncalves, who are riding alongside Harith Noah in the team scored 12th and 40th position overall, respectively.

Ashish Raorane who crashed out of the Dakar Rally 2021 in Stage 5 has rejoined the race after repairing his bike and getting medical clearance from doctors. He will be participating in the remainder of the rally under the Dakar Rally Experience programme.

The programme lets participants continue to ride in the rally, however, they will not be eligible for classification. The programme will help riders complete the rally despite being dropped out of the race. Ashish Raorane has completed the Stage 8 of the rally in 80th position.

Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo, the winner of Stage 8 of 2021 Dakar Rally, said, "I started second, behind Ricky, my team-mate. He was pushing super hard at the beginning. I was pushing hard too but didn't catch him, I caught him maybe a just a little bit before refuelling. I think we rode at a very good speed today. There were no navigation mistakes. There were some tricky parts, but we found the way and didn't make any mistakes and that's where we gained a lot of time."

The 2019 Dakar Rally winner, Toby Price, said, "It was really tough for me today. I struggled with focusing a lot this morning with the road-book. I was a little bit tired from yesterday's crash. It was good to make it to the finishing line with me, myself and the bike. I'm glad I'm here and we'll fix everything up tonight, then get ready for the last few days. The chin's alright, it's just a little bit hard to eat. It's a little bit swollen and I've got a bit of a headache, but it's not too bad - there are no bones broken or anything, I just got some stitches in the cut. It's all good, it's fine."

While most participants finished the second part of the MArathon stage, some couldn't make it to the finish line. This includes Xavier De Soultraint, who was in the top 10 of the General Standings, Franco Caimi riding for Monster Energy Yamaha Rally Team and multiple time WRC Sebastien Loeb; among others.

After the completion of the final Marathon Stage of the 2020 Dakar Rally, Monster Energy Honda Team 2021 rider Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo continues his lead by just over a minute in the General classification of the race. Red Bull KTM Factory Team riders Toby Price and Sam Sunderland continue to hold their position in 2nd and 3rd place in the General Standings.

Stage 8 Provisional Results:
Hero MotoSport Rally Team Standings
10th Position - Sebastian Buhler [03:16:38]
26th Position - Joaquim Rodrigues [03:40:37]

Sherco Rally Team Standings
12th Position - Lorenzo Santolino [03:18:33]
29th Position - Harith Noah [03:44:47]
40th Position - Rui Goncalves [03:59:59]

Privateer (Dakar Experience)
80th Position - Ashish Raorane

Stage 8 Standings (Bike)
1st Position - Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo [03:08:40] (Monster Energy Honda Team 2021)
2nd Position - Toby Price [03:09:45] (Red Bull KTM Factory Team)
3rd Position - Ricky Brabec [03:11:30] (Monster Energy Honda Team 2021)

Stage 8 Winners In Other Categories
Quad:
Alexandre Giroud (Team Giroud)

Car:
NASSER AL-ATTIYAH & MATTHIEU BAUMEL (Toyota Gazoo Racing)

Lightweight Vehicle/SSV:
Francisco Lopez Contardo & Juan Pablo Latrach Vinagre (South Racing CAN-AM)

Truck:
Airat Mardeev, Dmitry Svistunov & Akhmet Galiautinov (Kamaz - Master)

Classic:
Kilian Revuelta & Oscar Sanchez Hernandez (NATURHOUSE)

General Standings After Stage 6 (Provisional)
Hero MotoSport Rally Team Standings
16th Position - Joaquim Rodrigues
19th Position - Sebastian Buhler

Sherco Rally Team Standings
9th Position - Lorenzo Santolino
25th Position - Rui Goncalves
32nd Position - Harith Noah

Overall Standings (Bike)
1st Position - Jose Ignacio Cornejo Florimo (Monster Energy Honda Team 2021)
2nd Position - Toby Price (Red Bull KTM Factory Team)
3rd Position - Sam Sunderland (Red Bull KTM Factory Team)

General Standings Leaders In Other Categories
Quad:
Manuel Andujar (7240 Team)

Car:
Stephane Peterhansel & Edouard Boulanger (X-RAID MINI JCW TEAM)

Lightweight Vehicle/SSV:
Austin Jones & Gustavo Gugelmin (Monster Energy CAN-AM)

Truck:
Dmitry Sotnikov, Ruslan Akhmadeev & Ilgiz Akhmetzianov (Kamaz - Master)

Classic:
Marc Douton & Emilien Etienne (Team Sunhill)

Thoughts About The 2021 Dakar Rally Stage 8 Result & Highlights

The final round of the Marathon Stage is completed and participants will be getting back to their team for complete assistance for repairing their vehicles. Hero MotoSports Rally Team continues their charge towards the finish line with both riders placed under top 20 in General Standings.