Kevin Benavides

Kevin Benavides
Kevin Benavides in 2017
Born (1989-01-09) January 9, 1989 (age 35)
NationalityArgentina Argentine
Height172 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Dakar Rally career
Debut season2016
Current teamKTM
Starts5
Wins2 (8 stage wins)
Best finish1st in 2021, 2023
FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship career
Debut season2015
Current teamHonda
Wins2
Best finish2nd in 2017

Kevin Max Benavides (born 9 January 1989) is an Argentine rally raid motorcyclist who is best known for winning the Dakar Rally twice, in 2021 and 2023, as well as coming second place in 2018.[1] He is a former driver of the Monster Energy Honda Racing. In April 2021, he signed to race for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in both the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship and the Dakar Rally onboard the KTM 450 RALLY.

Biography

He is the brother of Luciano, a rally raid biker too.[2]

Benavides won the 2021 Dakar Rally in the bike category.

He recently signed with the KTM Factory Red Bull team, starting on 7 April 2021.

Dakar Rally results

Year Class Vehicle Position Stages won
2016 Motorbike Japan Honda 4th 1
2017 Did not enter
2018 Motorbike Japan Honda 2nd 1
2019 5th 0
2020 19th 1
2021 1st 2
2022 Austria KTM 100th 1
2023 1st 2
2024 4th 3

Other results

FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship results

Year Bike Races Wins Podiums Points Position
2015 Japan Honda 1 0 0 16 18th
2016 3 0 1 36 9th
2017 5 1 3 97 2nd
2018 4 1 2 56 6th
2019 4 0 0 75 3rd

Rally raid best results (Motorbikes)

Event Wins Podiums
Argentina Desafio Ruta 40 2 1st place, gold medalist(s)x2 (2016, 2017)
Chile Atacama Rally 1 1st place, gold medalist(s)x1 (2018)
2nd place, silver medalist(s)x1 (2017)
3rd place, bronze medalist(s)x1 (2016)
Paraguay Desafio Guarani 1 1st place, gold medalist(s)x1 (2015)
Spain Andalucia Rally 1 1st place, gold medalist(s)x1 (2020)
2nd place, silver medalist(s)x1 (2022)
Morocco Rallye du Maroc 0 2nd place, silver medalist(s)x1 (2017)
United Arab Emirates Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 0 3rd place, bronze medalist(s)x1 (2018)

References

  1. ^ "Dakar moto, trionfa Walkner. A Benavides l'ultima tappa" (in Italian). gazzetta.it. Retrieved 21 January 2018.
  2. ^ "Benavides brothers enjoy their rest in Dakar lead". motorcyclesports.net. Retrieved 21 January 2018.