Media helicopters buzzed over bikers at the starting line in Peru's desert. The motorcyclists became almost invisible roaring across the dust bowls of Peru, while cars in the four-wheel competition plowed nose first into the sand as they flew over dunes.
In this Saturday, Jan. 13, 2018 photo, spectators wave Bolivian flags as France's Gasgas motorbike rider Johnny Aubert races during stage 7 of the Dakar Rally between La Paz and Uyuni, Bolivia. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
In this Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 photo, a Mitsubishi car, front, driven by Cristina Gutierrez Herrero and Gabriel Moiset Ferrer, both from Spain, turns over during the first stage of the Dakar Rally between Lima and Pisco, Peru. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
In this Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 photo, motorbikes and quads leave tracks along the beach during the 4th stage of the Dakar Rally in San Juan de Marcona, Peru. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Bolivian spectators waved their nation's flag to cheer on bikers who kicked up dust racing through the sand after the race entered that nation. Vehicles left tracks along a beach and drivers crisscrossed muddy trails, kicking up spray. Spectators in Argentina stretched on their bellies on dune tops to get a bird's eye view.
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Media helicopters buzzed over bikers at the starting line in Peru's desert. The motorcyclists became almost invisible roaring across the dust bowls of Peru, while cars in the four-wheel competition plowed nose first into the sand as they flew over dunes.
In this Saturday, Jan. 6, 2018 photo, a Mitsubishi car, front, driven by Cristina Gutierrez Herrero and Gabriel Moiset Ferrer, both from Spain, turns over during the first stage of the Dakar Rally between Lima and Pisco, Peru. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
In this Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 photo, motorbikes and quads leave tracks along the beach during the 4th stage of the Dakar Rally in San Juan de Marcona, Peru. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Bolivian spectators waved their nation's flag to cheer on bikers who kicked up dust racing through the sand after the race entered that nation. Vehicles left tracks along a beach and drivers crisscrossed muddy trails, kicking up spray. Spectators in Argentina stretched on their bellies on dune tops to get a bird's eye view.
In this Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, photo, a TV helicopter flies over competitors lining up for the start of the 4th stage of the Dakar Rally in San Juan de Marcona, Peru. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
In this Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 photo, KTM motorbike rider Mohammed Balooshi, of United Arab Emirates, waits for his bike to be refueled during stage 8 of the Dakar Rally between Uyuni and Tupiza, Bolivia. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
In this Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 photo, smoke rises from overheated Toyota, raced by driver Alicia Reina and co-driver Carlos Dante Pelayo, both Argentines, during the third stage of the Dakar Rally in Pisco, Peru. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Defending champion Sam Sunderland of KTM was forced to abandon the competition in the early going in Peru after the British rider crashed in the desert while leading the race.
In this Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 photo, French driver Cyril Despres, right, tries to contact his team as co-driver David Castera, also French, sits on a tire from their damaged Peugeot during the 4th stage of the Dakar Rally in San Juan de Marcona, Peru. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
In this Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 photo, defending champion Sam Sunderland holds his head on his KTM motorbike prior to the start of the 4th stage of the Dakar Rally in San Juan de Marcona, Peru. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
This year's grueling Dakar Rally covered 9,000 kilometers (5,600 miles) and began on Peruvian sand dunes. Afterward the rally took to the highlands of Bolivia and then finished in Argentina.
In this Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 photo, defending champion Sam Sunderland, of the United Kingdom, rides his KTM motorbike during the third stage of the Dakar Rally between Pisco and San Juan de Marcona, Peru. Sunderland was forced to abandon in the first stages of the race in Peru after the rider crashed in the desert while leading the race. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
In this Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018, photo, a TV helicopter flies over competitors lining up for the start of the 4th stage of the Dakar Rally in San Juan de Marcona, Peru. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
In this Sunday, Jan. 14, 2018 photo, KTM motorbike rider Mohammed Balooshi, of United Arab Emirates, waits for his bike to be refueled during stage 8 of the Dakar Rally between Uyuni and Tupiza, Bolivia. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
In this Monday, Jan. 8, 2018 photo, smoke rises from overheated Toyota, raced by driver Alicia Reina and co-driver Carlos Dante Pelayo, both Argentines, during the third stage of the Dakar Rally in Pisco, Peru. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Defending champion Sam Sunderland of KTM was forced to abandon the competition in the early going in Peru after the British rider crashed in the desert while leading the race.
KTM motorbike rider Matthias Walkner of Austria celebrated winning his category's race in Cordoba, Argentina.
"This is a dream come true, I am so happy. This took a lot from me, but here we are," Walkner said.
In this Thursday, Jan. 18, 2018 photo, driver Jakub Przygonski, of Poland, and co-driver Tom Colsoul, of Belgium, race their Mini during stage 12 of the 2018 Dakar Rally between Chilecito and San Juan, Argentina. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
In this Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 photo, French driver Cyril Despres, right, tries to contact his team as co-driver David Castera, also French, sits on a tire from their damaged Peugeot during the 4th stage of the Dakar Rally in San Juan de Marcona, Peru. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
In this Tuesday, Jan. 9, 2018 photo, defending champion Sam Sunderland holds his head on his KTM motorbike prior to the start of the 4th stage of the Dakar Rally in San Juan de Marcona, Peru. (AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)
Some perhaps weren't so happy. While in Peru, two drivers watched their vehicle go up in smoke after it overheated. And a duo piloting one Toyota stood on top of a dune, pointing in opposite directions as they argued over which way to go in crossing the desert.