Seventh place for Walkner in the Dakar prologue

Salzburg’s Matthias Walkner finished seventh at the start of the Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. The KTM rider rode the 13km prologue at Sea Camp 11 seconds slower than his winning teammate Toby Price. Defending champion Sam Sunderland (GasGas) was tenth, two seconds behind Walkner. The result of the prologue is decisive for the starting order of the first stage on New Year’s Day.

“The track was relatively easy, but fast and quite slippery. But I’m only two seconds behind third place. So I’m doing very well and I’m satisfied,” said Walkner. On Sunday, 600 km are waiting in a loop around the Sea Camp, 367 of which will be scored.