Australia's pair of Dakar Rally motorcycle aces kept out of trouble but remained in contention on a demanding third stage in the Saudi Arabian desert.
Two-time winner Toby Price finished ninth in the 438km run over undulating, often rocky terrain from Al Duwadimi to Al Salamiya to remain seventh overall on his Red Bull KTM machine.
One place behind is compatriot Daniel Sanders on the Red Bull GasGas after a 13th-placed stage finish.
Price was credited with time lost while stopping, along with American Skyler Howes, to help German rider Sebastian Buhler who crashed 360km into Monday's stage and was flown to hospital for checks, suffering back pain.
Also out is Briton Sam Sunderland, winner in 2017 and 2022, who quit after three hours waiting for oil after developing mechanical problems 11km into the stage.
The stage was won by Price's KTM teammate, Kevin Benavides, the defending champion. The Argentine came in third but was awarded stage victory after initial winner Pablo Quintanilla was penalised six minutes for speeding along with runner-up Joan Barreda and race leader Ross Branch.
Price is now 22 mins 57 secs behind Botswana's Branch with Sanders 76 seconds further adrift.
Spaniard Carles Falcon, who was airlifted to hospital with serious injuries on Sunday, has been put into an induced coma in Riyadh.
In the cars Saudi Arabia's Yazeed Al Rajhi has taken the lead in a Toyota Overdrive.
Audi's Carlos Sainz, the overnight leader, was sixth and dropped to second place overall, 29 seconds behind, with Swedish team mate Mattias Ekstrom third.
Brazilian Lucas Moraes became his country's first stage winner in the car category, beating Ekstrom by nine seconds and moving up to fourth overall.
with Reuters
