Honda rider Benavides isn’t the first person from Argentina to win the Dakar – that honour went to Marcos Patronelli, who triumphed in the quads category in 2010. But the 32-year-old from Salta is the first to do so in arguably the most competitive class of all, motorcycles.Despite having been a regular frontrunner since his 2016 debut, Benavides isn’t necessarily a household name for Dakar fans. But the scale of his achievement, leading a first Honda one-two since 1987 ahead of last year’s champion Ricky Brabec, isn’t to be underestimated.Kevin Benavides Dakar 2021 Photo by: RideApart His career began when he was just four years old, as his father Norberto taught him to ride a motorbike. Since then, “passion, determination and perseverance” have been the watch words for Benavides’ career, according to his father, who spoke exclusively to Motorsport.com. Originally an enduro rider in Argentina, Benavides would not make the move to Europe until he earned a degree in Business Administration at the age of 21 – a key condition his father placed on him in order to pursue his dream on two wheels. “If there is one thing I have to stress about Kevin, it is his willingness to… Read full this story
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