Barring a dramatic turn of events, Nasser Al Attiyah has got the first round of the season in the bag, and with it, 50 points to Sébastien Loeb's 40. However, his cautious approach has cleared the way for his runner-up, who broke the record for the most consecutive stage wins today, to snap up valuable points on a daily basis. The Qatari may have finished second on the day, right behind the Frenchman, but on the eve of the finish, the two returning lead actors of season 2 are virtually tied on points in the championship! As a reminder, last year, the epilogue of the Dakar saw Nasser leave Jeddah with an advantage of a single point despite his victory in the race. If the two champions make it to the finish tomorrow, the championship will be wide open. Season 2 is about to start again with a vengeance in the car category! Among the motorbikes, the gaps on the current podium favour the two KTM factory riders, Price and Benavides, and Husqvarna's Skyler Howes, none of whom stood on the final podium in 2022. The two brands could also land a big haul of points to the detriment of the reigning world constructor champion. Honda, represented by Van Beveren and Quintanilla in fourth and fifth place, respectively, is unlikely to finish in the same solid position as last year.
