Stage 7 Recap: Preston Campbell Dominates Rally2 Class at Dakar
WADI AD-DAWASIR, Saudi Arabia – In a stunning display of skill and determination, rookie racer Preston Campbell secured a fifth-place finish on Stage 7 of the Dakar Rally, maintaining his commanding lead in the overall Rally2 class by over eleven minutes.
Campbell, representing Monster Energy/Honda HRC and riding the Honda CRF450RX Rally bike, completed the demanding 876 km stage, showcasing remarkable speed and resilience. His lead now stands at 11:07 ahead of seasoned competitor Toni Mulec from Slovenia, who competes on a KTM.
“Today was super-fast. There were big valleys and fast pistes across the desert,” Campbell noted. “We navigated some small sand dunes and I had a great time riding alongside Martim (Ventura), my teammate. We really fed off each other.”
In the RallyGP class, fellow American racer Ricky Brabec, a two-time Dakar champion, currently sits in second place. However, he trails leader Toby Sanders, reflecting the challenges faced in maintaining pace against formidable competitors.
As the event progresses, Campbell’s performance continues to draw attention, marking him as a rising star within the Rally2 class. The next stages promise to test all competitors further as the Dakar Rally unfolds.
