Daniel "Chucky" Sanders has maintained an ideal start in his bid to become Australia's second Dakar Rally champion as the Yarra Valley motorcyclist forged into a two-minute lead of the great endurance race in the Saudi Arabian desert.
After victory in Friday's prologue gave the 30-year-old Red Bull KTM rider the ideal starting position, he dominated the opening stage 24 hours later, a 413km trek lasting over four-and-a-half hours around the southwestern town of Bisha.
Sanders is two minutes and four seconds clear of Monster Energy Honda's defending champion Ricky Brabec, of the United States as he prepares for Sunday and Monday's gruelling 48-hour Chrono stage.
