Selected driver quotes after Dakar 2019 finish 18.01.2019: Nasser Al-Attiyah: “It was a very hard race. I’m really happy to win this race. It was a fantastic job from the team. There’s been a lot of people working on this car for a long time, always believing we

Nasser Al-Attiyah: “It was a very hard race. I’m really happy to win this race. It was a fantastic job from the team. There’s been a lot of people working on this car for a long time, always believing we could win the Dakar. I’m so proud of these guys right now. My job was to bring the car home in first place and I’m so glad I could do my part.”



Sébastien Loeb: “I prefer to finish first rather than third, but it was a good fight. We were with Nasser (Al-Attiyah) for all of the rally. We had good speed, but too many problems. Now this is finished we go to Monte Carlo.”



Kuba Przygonski: “It was such a tough race and in the end we've done really good so we’re happy. We’re both tired after 10 long days of racing. The first week was perfect and then we had some problems. Then we made these last days in the dunes almost perfectly and we made it back to fourth place.”



Cyril Despres: “I know how it feels to make a Dakar with no problems and it’s a pity it didn’t happen for us this time. When you have no big mechanical problems and navigation is good there is nothing more enjoyable than the Dakar. The 2019 Dakar will not be too high up in my best memories of this race.”



Giniel De Villiers: “For the team and Nasser’s win I’m very happy. Unfortunately we had some bad luck on stage three, we hit a rock and that ended our own chance to win. All credit to Nasser and Mathieu. They didn’t put a foot wrong on this race. Other than ourselves winning, this is the next best result.”



Carlos Sainz: “A few days ago when we had to drive around 200 kilometres without the power steering I thought it was the end of our race. We got to the end of the stage that day and now we’ve made it to the finish line of another Dakar. The stages at this Dakar were quite repetitive and I would’ve liked a bit more variety.”




Toby Price: “This is so great and I really don’t know what to think. It seems like I’m in a fake world right now, a dream and in two weeks the Dakar will actually start. The last six weeks have been a rollercoaster with my wrist injury and I never even thought I’d make it to the Rest Day. I just gritted my teeth and kept putting up with it. I’m glad I didn’t quit because the outcome has been well worth it.”


Matthias Walkner: “The team spirit makes KTM so strong. Everybody knows what there is to do, it works perfectly together and it’s an amazing group.”



Sam Sunderland: “It’s always nice to finish the Dakar and all the guys have done a great job again. It was a tough race for everyone involved: the mechanics, the riders and the organisers. My bike was flawless throughout the race so I have to thank my mechanic for this. I’m disappointed that I couldn’t get the result I worked for but this is racing. You have to take the rough with the smooth.”



Luciano Benavides: “I’m here at the end of the Dakar. I’ve finished in the Top 10 and this is really a great result for me. I got injured on stage 10 at the Dakar last year and broke five vertebrae. After that I needed to get back my confidence. Now to finish in the Top 10, it feels amazing and I’m so happy.”





Daniel Nosiglia: “It’s a dream come true to be among the 10 best riders at the Dakar. It’s something absolutely incredible for me. This means that next year I’ll be put into the elite category and my number will have a yellow background.”





Laia Sanz: “I’m so happy and surprised. This Dakar has been tough. My preparation was not great because I was sick and not training. After coming through this I could not be more happy. I want to say thanks to my KTM team. Everybody stood by me when I couldn't race and helped me to be here now.”





Mohammed Balooshi: “It’s great to finish my second Dakar in row. I didn’t feel like I had one really good stage, but still to finish feels good. I picked up an injury on one of the first stages so I couldn’t show my best in the dunes. The mission was to bring the bike to the finish line everyday and I’m so pleased to have done this.”



Anastasiya Nifontova: “This was the toughest ever adventure for me. Two or three days ago I nearly quit, I was so tired. I even cried in the tent when nobody could see me. Now I’m at the finish line and I’m totally elated. I needed to conquer myself to finish this race and I did that. I also had to beat the terrain, the heat and fixing the bike myself and I did it!”





Eduard Nikolaev: “It has been such a difficult race. The route was so challenging on all of the 10 stages. I want to thank the organisers for coming up with such an interesting route. I love to drive in the dunes and we had lots of dunes this time.”


Dmitry Sotnikov: “It has been a good result for the team. Without the support of the entire team it’s impossible for Eduard (Nikolaev) to win and for me to come second.”




Chaleco Lopez: “I’m very happy that this new side-by-side adventure has been a success. I tried to win the Dakar on a bike many times and now I know how it feels to win the Dakar. The victory is perfect.”



Christine Fial-