The American Skyler Howes has won stage 11 to become the 9th American rider to win on the Dakar after Chuck Stearns, Danny Laporte, Jimmy Lewis, Jonah Street, Kurt Caselli, Ricky Brabec, Kellon Walch and Mason Klein.

The leading America, Brabec, who leads the overall placings slowed down at the end of the stage in order to start stage 12 tomorrow behind his rival for overall triumph on the Dakar, namely Luciano Benavides. The time he gave up during the final kilometres has changed the situation in the overall rankings: although Brabec was the leader throughout the special and had a lead of 3'47’’ after 319 km, Benavides has finally finished the day with an advantage of 23 seconds over the American.

Ricky Brabec: We are getting close to the end and things are shaking up. Just one day to push and a little bit of strategy today and tomorrow we go back into the rocks and that is better for us. The first 100 k’s today was super fast. I had to be ready for tomorrow. It is always stressful battling for a podium spot, but I have been in this situation before and I am just trying to relax and be confident. I am thankful to be here and happy to be here.

Daniel Sanders, weakened by his crash yesterday, has finished 10 minutes behind Skyler Howes. The Australian is still 4th in the overall rankings between the Hondas ridden by Tosha Schareina (in 3rd) and Howes (in 5th), who is now within 10'48’’ of Sanders.

Full results here: Dakar - Live race coverage