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Kevin Benavides

Kevin Max Benavides (born January 9, 1989) is an Argentine motorcyclist best known for winning the 's motorcycle category twice, in 2021 and 2023, marking him as the first South American rider to achieve victory in the event's bike division during his debut triumph. Born in , , Benavides began riding bicycles at age three before transitioning to motorcycles soon after, eventually competing in enduro events and securing fourth place in the 2012 Enduro Junior World Championship. He earned four gold medals across (ISDE) competitions and claimed the 2017 Latino American Rally Cross Country Championship title. Benavides made his debut in 2016 with a fourth-place finish and one stage victory, followed by a runner-up position in 2018. His breakthrough came in 2021 riding for the Honda team, where he won overall with one stage victory, and he later joined ahead of the 2022 edition. Benavides defended his status as a contender with a second overall victory in 2023 on the bike, securing two stage wins, while his brother finished sixth overall with three stage wins that year. Recovering from a fractured sustained in December 2023, he completed the 2024 in fourth place with three stage wins. In May 2024, Benavides suffered severe injuries in a , including head , a fractured , and issues. He participated in the 2025 but retired midway on January 10 due to lingering injuries. On June 12, 2025, Benavides announced his retirement from professional , stating that injuries prevented him from performing at full capacity, though he intends to stay affiliated with KTM and mentor . In September 2025, he revealed plans to compete in the 2026 Rally's car category, transitioning to four-wheel rally-raid as a new chapter in his career.

Early life and background

Birth and family

Kevin Benavides was born on January 9, 1989, in , . He hails from a family with a strong affinity for motorcycles, where his father participated as an amateur enduro rider. Benavides' younger brother, Luciano Benavides (born June 15, 1995), shares this heritage and has also pursued a professional career in rally raid racing, achieving notable success including stage wins at the Dakar Rally. Raised in , a city nestled in Argentina's northwestern Andean region, Benavides experienced an early immersion in culture through his family's activities. He learned to ride a at the age of three and transitioned to a the very next day, fostering a lifelong connection to two-wheeled vehicles amid the province's challenging terrains. This familial and local environment provided the foundational influences that directed his interests toward from childhood. While pursuing his racing career, Benavides balanced studies and earned a degree in from Universidad Católica de .

Initial involvement in motorsport

Kevin Benavides began riding motorcycles at the age of three, quickly mastering the skill and transitioning from small bikes to larger enduro machines as he grew older. He entered competitive racing around age eight or nine, participating in local amateur events in his hometown of , Argentina, where he honed his skills in and enduro disciplines amid the rugged terrains of the region. By his mid-teens, Benavides had progressed to national-level competitions, securing multiple victories in provincial championships—totaling ten titles—and establishing himself as a rising talent in Argentine enduro circuits. His early career included four Argentine national enduro championships, with a confirmed win in 2014, alongside 34 victories that marked him as the most successful rider in the category's history at the time. He also claimed Latin American enduro titles in 2010, 2013, and 2014, including the category in the latter year, while earning six medals (four golds and two silvers) at the (ISDE) events. Internationally, he gained early recognition with a fourth-place finish in the FIM Junior in 2012, the best result for a Latin rider up to that point. Benavides' foundational training emphasized endurance and navigation in diverse terrains, supported initially by local sponsors like KTM , with whom he began competing in 2008. This period was influenced by his family's involvement in , providing encouragement and shared resources that facilitated his development. By the mid-2010s, having built a strong base in enduro, he shifted focus toward rally-style events to pursue longer-distance challenges, marking his transition from national circuits to international preparation.

Rally raid career

Debut and early competitions

Kevin Benavides made his professional debut in rally raid racing in 2015, transitioning from a successful enduro background to the demanding format of multi-day endurance events. His first international competition was the Desafío Guaraní in , part of the Dakar Series, where he competed in the Dakar Challenge category for newcomers aiming to qualify for the main event. Riding a , Benavides won the overall motorcycle category, securing a lead of over 54 minutes ahead of Martín Duplessis, despite challenging conditions including heavy mud, rain, and cold temperatures across more than 1,600 kilometers of timed specials. This victory marked him as a revelation in the field, leading from the prologue and outpacing experienced riders like David Casteu, while also clinching the Dakar Challenge prize that covered half the entry fee for the following year's race. Later that year, Benavides continued his strong start with a third-place finish in the Camino de la Independencia in , demonstrating quick adaptation to varied terrains. He then tackled the Rallye du Maroc, his first event outside , finishing fourth overall in the bike class while supported by Team HRC. The rally tested his navigation skills with its complex roadbooks and desert stages, where he navigated sandy dunes and rocky tracks over 2,000 kilometers, building for longer formats distinct from enduro's shorter, more loops. These early outings highlighted his ability to manage reliability under , though he noted the mental of self-navigation as a steep from enduro racing. In 2016, Benavides secured his first victory abroad at the Rally de Merzouga in , winning on a Honda CRF450 Rally and gaining confidence in European-style organization. He followed this with a dominant performance at the Desafío Ruta 40 in , claiming overall victory with three stage wins and fending off teammate Joan Barreda in the final stages across 2,500 kilometers of Patagonian routes. Initial sponsorships came from South America, providing bike support and logistics through local teams like Mec Team Racing for regional events, allowing him to focus on preparation without full factory backing. Benavides' 2017 season further solidified his progression, with wins at the Desafío Ruta 40 Norte in northern and the Atacama Rally in , where he excelled in high-altitude desert navigation. He achieved second place at the , but faced a setback with a broken hand from training, forcing him to miss key opportunities and underscoring the physical toll of the sport. These pre-major team years emphasized his growth in and strategic pacing, setting the stage for international prominence through consistent top finishes in South American and African rallies.

Honda team period (2018–2021)

Kevin Benavides joined the Monster Energy Rally Team ahead of the 2018 , marking his transition to a factory-supported effort in competition. The team, led by riders including Joan Barreda, Ricky Brabec, and José Ignacio Cornejo, emphasized collective strategy and technical development of the CRF450 Rally motorcycle, fostering a competitive environment where Benavides benefited from shared and mechanical support. This setup allowed him to focus on endurance and navigation skills while contributing to 's goal of ending a long drought in the . In 2018, Benavides secured his first major victory with the team at the Atacama Rally in , winning overall after dominating multiple stages on challenging desert terrain. He followed this with a finish of at the Desert Challenge, the opening round of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies , where he tied for the fastest time in the final stage alongside Matthias Walkner. These results built momentum for his debut with , where he achieved second overall, 16 minutes and 53 seconds behind winner Matthias Walkner, demonstrating strong consistency across 14 stages from to . The 2019 season saw Benavides claim four stage wins at the , leading early before finishing fourth overall in the 5,000-kilometer event across , , and , highlighting his prowess on varied surfaces like mud and high-speed tracks. At the , he showed promise with top-five stage finishes but incurred a significant time penalty, initially dropping him to 12th overall (later overturned on , finishing 5th). In , mechanical issues plagued his campaign; an engine failure 44 kilometers from the end of stage six forced repairs, though he rebounded to win stage seven—awarded after aiding teammate Paulo Gonçalves following a fatal crash—before ending 19th overall. These non-podium Dakar outings, combined with a at the Andalucía Rally, honed his resilience and tactical approach amid team-wide preparations emphasizing reliability testing in Saudi Arabia's dunes. Benavides' tenure culminated in the , the second edition held entirely in , where the 8,000-kilometer route from featured 12 stages of extreme , vast empty quarters, and shifting sands. He seized the overall lead with a stage five victory, briefly lost it due to a navigation error, then reclaimed it on stage ten amid intense battles with Brabec and Ross Branch. On the final stage, fraught with confusing waypoints that misled several leaders, Benavides navigated cautiously to secure first place by 6 minutes and 16 seconds over Brabec, delivering a historic one-two and marking Benavides as the first South American winner.

KTM team period (2022–2025)

In April 2021, shortly after securing the victory with , Kevin Benavides signed a contract with , effective immediately, marking a significant shift to the Austrian manufacturer's dominant rally team. The transition was controversial, as it followed Benavides' pivotal role in delivering its second consecutive Dakar win, prompting speculation about contractual disputes and team dynamics. Benavides described the move as a "dream" opportunity, expressing excitement about the change and his intent to contribute experience and motivation to KTM's established squad. He integrated into the factory lineup alongside key teammates such as and Matthias Walkner, adapting quickly to the bike during late-2021 testing and the remainder of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies season. During the 2022 season, Benavides achieved consistent top results in non-Dakar events, including a runner-up finish at the , where he trailed winner Adrien van by just over three minutes after strong performances across the four stages. At the , he placed sixth overall despite a challenging that set him back early, demonstrating resilience on varied Moroccan terrain. In the Desert Challenge, he secured multiple stage podiums, such as third on the opening day, contributing to KTM's manufacturer points. The 2023 campaign saw setbacks, including a withdrawal from the Desert Challenge after fracturing his right on stage two, which required airlifting to a and sidelined him for recovery. Later that year, he finished 11th at the , focusing on building rhythm post-injury. Benavides' 2024 non-Dakar outings were hampered by recurring injuries, starting with a leg issue during December 2023 training that limited preparation, followed by wrist surgery earlier in the year. He still managed a solid sixth place at the Rallye du Maroc, navigating sandy dunes and rocky tracks to stay competitive amid the finale. A severe training crash in May 2024—resulting in a fractured left arm, , cervical damage, and head —forced his withdrawal from the Desafío 40, significantly impacting his momentum and forcing a cautious approach to subsequent events. These injuries, compounded by a diffuse axonal brain injury, marked a physically demanding phase that tested his endurance within the KTM structure. Benavides entered the 2025 but retired at the midway point on January 10 due to lingering injuries. On June 12, 2025, he announced his retirement from professional , stating that ongoing injuries prevented him from performing at full capacity, though he intended to remain affiliated with KTM and mentor his brother . Benavides' pinnacle with KTM came at the , where he clinched overall victory aboard the , a liquid-cooled, 450cc single-cylinder bike featuring Keihin electronic , a chrome-moly steel frame, and WP XACT PRO suspension tuned for high-speed desert stability. His success hinged on a calculated , emphasizing precise roadbook adherence and steady pacing to avoid errors in the rally's complex Saudi Arabian stages, as he noted focusing intently on the device during tricky sections like the muddy final stage. The win edged out teammate by just 43 seconds, but Benavides also fended off strong rivalry from Adrien van Beveren, who finished fifth overall, approximately 24 minutes behind, after close battles in stages such as the 10th where van Beveren took second. This triumph secured KTM's 19th Dakar bike title and fulfilled Benavides' goal of winning with two manufacturers.

Dakar Rally participation

2021 victory

The 2021 Dakar Rally marked the event's debut entirely within Saudi Arabia, shifting from previous multi-country formats to a dedicated desert odyssey starting and ending in Jeddah. Covering a total of 7,846 kilometers over 12 stages—including a prologue and two marathon stages—the route traversed vast arid landscapes with 4,767 kilometers of timed specials, emphasizing endurance through shifting sand dunes, rocky wadis, and intricate navigation challenges in extreme heat and isolation. Competitors faced heightened risks from disorientation in the featureless terrain and mechanical strains on equipment, testing riders' physical and mental resilience in one of the harshest environments yet encountered in the rally's history. Kevin Benavides, riding for the Monster Energy Team on the CRF450 Rally motorcycle, delivered a calculated performance amid fluctuating fortunes. He started strongly, securing second place on Stage 1 (a 622 km leg from to ) to sit second overall, just 23 seconds behind leader . On Stage 3 ( loop, 627 km), Benavides finished runner-up again, maintaining his overall second position. However, Stage 4 ( to Ad-Dawasir, 465 km) brought a setback with a 14th-place finish due to navigation errors, dropping him to third overall, 5 minutes and 24 seconds off the lead held by Xavier de Soultrait. Undeterred, he rebounded dramatically on Stage 5 ( Ad-Dawasir, 563 km), claiming victory despite breaking his nose in a fall early in the stage, which propelled him into the overall lead for the first time. The lead changed hands twice more as the rally progressed through its demanding middle stages, with Benavides briefly relinquishing the top spot to after Stage 7 (Ha'il loop, 474 km), where he placed fourth. He responded with consistent top-five finishes, including a pivotal third on Stage 10 (, 539 km), regaining the lead by just 36 seconds over Price amid a stage marked by Cornejo's retirement. Benavides then defended his position through the final stages, finishing 18th on the decisive Stage 12 ( to , 174 km timed) to secure overall victory in 47 hours, 18 minutes, and 14 seconds—4 minutes and 56 seconds ahead of teammate Brabec, who took second for a one-two. His stage wins (primarily Stage 5) and recoveries from setbacks like the nasal highlighted his tactical and stamina, supported by the Honda Racing Corporation's (HRC) robust team logistics, including dedicated mechanics and strategic pit stops that minimized downtime on the CRF450 's reliable engine and suspension tuned for dune traversal. Benavides' triumph made him the first South American rider to win the motorcycle category, ending KTM's 18-year dominance and marking Honda's second consecutive bike victory. Upon returning to , he was hailed as a national hero, with Governor Gustavo Sáenz of appointing him an international sports ambassador during multitudinous celebrations in his hometown, where thousands gathered despite restrictions—though the events sparked controversy over crowd sizes. This win elevated his profile, solidifying his status as an icon of Argentine and inspiring a surge in interest domestically.

2023 victory

The presented an extended challenge with a 15-day itinerary, comprising a and 14 stages that traversed over 8,500 kilometers across , featuring 70% new tracks to heighten navigation demands. The route emphasized endurance, including four days in the formidable Empty Quarter desert, where competitors tackled three dune-heavy stages, one of which was a marathon format requiring self-sufficiency overnight without mechanical support. These sections tested riders' skills in shifting sands and extreme heat, amplifying the rally's physical and strategic rigors. Kevin Benavides showcased tactical maturity throughout the event, achieving consistent top-5 finishes in numerous stages, including second place on stage 1 and fourth on stage 4, which kept him within striking distance of the leaders. He assumed the overall lead after stage 10, a pivotal 388-kilometer special in the Empty Quarter, and maintained pressure on rivals despite close competition. In a dramatic finale, Benavides won stage 13 to trail provisional leader Toby Price by just 12 seconds entering the last day, then dominated the 112-kilometer coastal stage 14—marked by muddy beaches and fast tracks—to secure victory by 43 seconds over Price, marking KTM's 19th bike category title. Riding the , Benavides benefited from the machine's engineering focused on reliability, including an optimized Keihin electronic system for consistent power delivery across varied terrains and enhanced cooling to withstand prolonged dune exposure. These modifications minimized mechanical issues, allowing him to prioritize pace and recovery from minor setbacks, such as navigation adjustments in the sand seas. This triumph represented Benavides' second victory overall and his first with KTM, redeeming a 2022 retirement due to injury and achieving a core contractual milestone for the team. The win underscored his evolution as a defender of the title, blending prior experience with refined strategy to edge out factory teammates in a tightly contested finale.

2024 and 2025 results

In the 2024 , Kevin Benavides competed for the team and secured three stage victories—stages 3, 8, and 12—demonstrating flashes of his competitive prowess despite ongoing physical challenges from a pre-rally leg injury sustained during December 2023 training. He finished fourth overall in the Rally GP motorcycle category, trailing winner Ricky Brabec by approximately 10 minutes, in a season marked by no major on-course injuries but evident struggles with consistency amid recovery efforts. Benavides entered the 2025 Dakar Rally after a focused pre-race preparation emphasizing gym work, cycling, and injury rehabilitation, aiming to defend his form on the KTM 450 Rally bike. However, persistent injuries from severe accidents in May 2024—including fractures to his left arm, humerus, elbow, and cervical spine, plus a torn radial nerve and head trauma—hampered his performance from the outset. He completed the first week, logging over 30 hours across the prologue and five stages, but retired midway on January 10 after stage 5, citing inadequate physical recovery and frustration at not matching rivals' paces, which heightened risks of further harm. At withdrawal, he held 26th in the overall standings, without any stage wins. Compared to his dominant overall victories in prior years, Benavides' 2024 and 2025 results reflected a marked decline in form, shifting from race-leading consistency to mid-pack positioning and early exit, largely attributable to the cumulative toll of injuries that limited his training intensity and on-bike aggression. The KTM team provided robust support throughout, including mechanical assistance and strategic pacing to mitigate his physical limitations, though these efforts could not fully offset the setbacks. Across his career, Benavides made 9 starts in the , accumulating 11 stage wins in the motorcycle category.

Other achievements

FIM Cross-Country Rallies

Kevin Benavides competed in the FIM Cross-Country Rallies from to 2024, a series comprising five to six multi-stage events annually, held on varied terrains including deserts, dunes, and rocky tracks to test riders' navigation, endurance, and speed. The championship awards points to the top 20 finishers in each round's overall classification, with 20 points for first place, 17 for second, 15 for third, and decreasing by one point per position down to 1 for 20th; season titles are determined by cumulative points across all rounds. These events provided Benavides with essential preparation for the , allowing him to refine bike setup, pacing, and recovery strategies in competitive conditions similar to the but with shorter durations of 4-6 days per round. Benavides' most successful season was 2019 with the Monster Energy Honda team, where he secured third place overall through consistent top-five finishes, including fourth at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and strong results at subsequent rounds like the Rally of Kazakhstan. This performance marked his career-best championship ranking, accumulating sufficient points to podium behind champion Matthias Walkner and runner-up Sam Sunderland, while establishing early rivalries with emerging talents such as Ross Branch. In 2021, following his victory and mid-season switch to , Benavides focused on select rounds amid recovery from prior exertions; he finished sixth overall at the Rallye du Maroc, the , contributing to a solid but limited campaign impacted by the COVID-altered calendar of four events. His participation emphasized tactical riding in sandy sections, directly aiding his adaptation to the KTM machinery for future Dakars. The 2022 season highlighted Benavides' prowess with a strong performance at the Desert Challenge, where he led after stage two before finishing 4th overall due to a technical issue, behind winner , securing key points en route to seventh in the final standings across six rounds. This result, amid intense battles in the dunes, underscored his consistency and rivalry with , who won multiple stages against him that year. Benavides maintained top-tier form in 2023, finishing fifth overall with podium contention in several rounds, including competitive duels with that often decided stage outcomes and bolstered his points tally. In 2024, despite injuries from the , Benavides finished 3rd overall at the Desert Challenge. A severe training accident in May sidelined him from subsequent events like Desafío Ruta 40, limiting his W2RC participation to two rounds and preventing a higher ranking. Throughout his tenure, Benavides' campaigns complemented preparation by simulating high-stakes navigation and physical demands, with his 2019 third-place finish representing the peak of his championship impact.

Additional rally raid successes

Benavides demonstrated his prowess in regional South American s early in his career, securing an overall victory at the 2016 Desafío Ruta 40 in after claiming three stage wins and maintaining a consistent lead over competitors like teammate Joan Barreda. This triumph highlighted his navigation skills across diverse terrains, including high-altitude Andean passes and gravel sections spanning over 2,500 kilometers. In 2018, Benavides added another South American success by winning the Atacama Rally in outright, where he dominated the final stage in the dunes to edge out rivals and claim the top spot on his CRF450 Rally. The event's challenging desert conditions tested his endurance, as he recovered from mid-pack positions to finish ahead of Paulo Gonçalves and Ricky Brabec. In 2019, Benavides won stage two of the Atacama Rally to take the temporary lead but finished 5th overall, behind winner Pablo Quintanilla, with teammate Ricky Brabec in 2nd for a strong performance. His result underscored adaptability to the 's mix of fast tracks and sandy sections. Beyond , Benavides achieved a podium at the 2018 Desert Challenge, finishing third overall despite opening the track on multiple stages in the UAE's dunes and wadis. He battled closely with winner Pablo Quintanilla, staying within striking distance until the final kilometers, which emphasized his strategic pacing in extreme heat. In the 2019 Silk Way Rally across , , and , Benavides secured four stage victories, including the grueling Chinese leg through the , though he finished fourth overall due to earlier navigation challenges. These wins showcased his stage dominance and recovery ability over the 5,000-kilometer route. Benavides' additional rally raid successes include a second-place finish at the 2017 Rallye du Maroc, where his consistent stage performances in Morocco's varied landscapes positioned him just behind winner Joan Barreda. Overall, these achievements include outright wins at the 2016 Desafío Ruta 40 and 2018 Atacama Rally, plus multiple podiums and stage victories outside flagship events, affirming his versatility across international and regional formats.

Retirement and legacy

2025 retirement

On June 12, 2025, two-time champion Kevin Benavides announced his retirement from professional motorcycle racing through an official statement released by , citing ongoing injuries that prevented him from competing at 100% capacity. The decision stemmed from a series of severe injuries sustained in 2024, particularly a major crash on May 11 during a training session with his brother Luciano Benavides at the Mantillo dunes in , . This accident resulted in a diffuse axonal injury, fractures to his left and , damage to part of his cervical spine, and a torn in his left arm, sidelining him from key events like the Desafío Ruta 40 rally and contributing to chronic recovery challenges that persisted into 2025. These issues culminated in his withdrawal from the 2025 at the midway point on January 10, marking the end of his competitive participation. Benavides' final professional motorcycle race was the 2025 , where he started alongside his brother but was unable to complete the event due to incomplete recovery from the prior year's injuries. No dedicated farewell event was organized, though KTM later honored his career with a video on June 25, 2025, reflecting on his five years with the team. Post-retirement, Benavides expressed intentions to remain involved with the KTM family, supporting his brother in endeavors and contributing to the sport in non-competitive capacities, such as advisory or developmental roles. In his statement, he noted, "My injury prevents me from competing at 100 percent... I hope to stay close to the KTM family," while team directors emphasized his enduring place within the organization. On September 24, 2025, Benavides announced his transition to four-wheel rally-raid , debuting in the SSV category at the 2025 Baja (October 2–6) in a T3 Max and planning to compete in the Challenger car category at the 2026 with BBR .

Impact on Argentine motorsport

Kevin Benavides' victory in the marked him as the first Argentine and first South American rider to win the motorcycle category, establishing him as a pioneer in Argentine . This achievement not only elevated the profile of within but also highlighted the potential of local talent on the global stage, inspiring a surge in national interest and participation in endurance events. His success has had a profound influence on family and emerging riders, particularly his younger brother Luciano Benavides, who credits Kevin as a key from an early age and went on to become the 2023 FIM World Rally-Raid Champion. Luciano's accomplishments, including multiple Dakar stage wins and podium finishes, exemplify how Kevin's trailblazing path has motivated the next generation of Argentine competitors, fostering a competitive environment that has seen more local riders enter international rallies post-2021. Benavides set enduring records with two overall Dakar victories—the only rider to win with two different manufacturers ( in 2021 and KTM in 2023)—and amassed over 11 stage wins across his career, contributing to key South American milestones in history. These feats have solidified his status as Argentina's preeminent off-road star of the past decade, encouraging greater investment in youth development and safety initiatives in regions like , his hometown, to sustain the sport's growth.

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