The Dakar Rally pushes riders beyond their limits, demanding skill, endurance, and unwavering determination. Since its inception in 1979, this off-road challenge has drawn competitors into a relentless battle across thousands of miles of unforgiving terrain. In 2025, the race returned to Saudi Arabia for its sixth edition in the desert kingdom, introducing new obstacles, extreme conditions, and a lineup of elite riders prepared to take on the unknown.

This year’s rally introduced an innovation that added an extra layer of intensity: the 48-hour Chrono stage, a grueling two-day marathon where competitors had to manage time, fuel, and fatigue without external assistance. Combined with the traditional Marathon stage, where riders had to service their own bikes overnight, these brutal tests pushed even the most experienced competitors to the brink.

Every stage brings a new battle against the elements, the machine, and personal limits. Riders face endless dunes, treacherous rocky trails, and the constant challenge of navigation, where a single mistake can cost hours or even force an early exit. Mechanical failures, crashes, and extreme fatigue test even the most experienced competitors, while moments of camaraderie and sportsmanship emerge in the face of adversity. The Dakar is as much about endurance as it is about the relentless pursuit of victory, where finishing the race is already an achievement.

A Honda rider navigates rocky landscapes in the intense second week of the adventure rally.

The World’s Toughest Race

Before diving into this year’s action, it’s essential to understand what makes the Dakar Rally the most demanding race on the planet.

A Legendary History

The Dakar Rally was born in 1979 as an extreme cross-country race from Paris, France, to Dakar, Senegal. Over the decades, the event has evolved, moving first to South America in 2009 and then to Saudi Arabia in 2020. Yet, no matter the location, the Dakar remains a brutal challenge of endurance, navigation, and mechanical reliability.

Each year, riders cover nearly 5,000 miles (8,000 km) across some of the harshest landscapes on Earth—rocky mountain trails, endless sand dunes, and treacherous navigation challenges. The race’s motto, “A challenge for those who go, a dream for those who stay,” perfectly captures its allure.

The Dakar 2025 Route: A Desert Odyssey

The 2025 edition of the Dakar spanned 4,660 miles (7,500 km) across Saudi Arabia, featuring a mix of vast dunes, rugged mountains, and fast desert tracks. Riders faced 12 grueling stages, each demanding a unique blend of speed, technical skill, and survival instincts. The Empty Quarter, a notorious sea of dunes, played a pivotal role once again, pushing both man and machine to their absolute limits.

A Fierce Battle in the First Week

From the moment the first engines roared to life in the prologue, it was clear that Dakar 2025 would demand everything from its competitors. The race began with an intense pace, where Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) wasted no time in asserting himself at the front. The Australian rider, now more mature and strategic than in previous years, took command early, winning the prologue and securing victories in the first three stages. His aggressive yet calculated approach put him ahead of the field, creating a gap that his rivals struggled to close.

While Sanders controlled the rally with remarkable consistency, his main challengers fought to keep pace. Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda), Ross Branch (Hero MotoSports Rally Team), and Skyler Howes (Monster Energy Honda) showed flashes of strength, staying within striking distance in the early days, but the defining moment came in Stage 4, when a costly navigation error changed the course of the race. Brabec, Branch, and Howes, who had been pushing hard to challenge Sanders, misread a key section of the route, veering off course and losing nearly twenty minutes. That mistake buried their chances of taking the lead and reshuffled the standings, allowing Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy Honda) to move up to second overall. The battle for the podium was far from over, but Sanders now had an even greater advantage heading into the rest day.

Crashes and Withdrawals Begin to Take Their Toll

The first week of the rally was brutal, claiming multiple high-profile riders along the way. Harith Noah (Sherco TVS Rally Factory), the defending Rally 2 champion, crashed in the prologue and fractured his wrist, forcing him to withdraw immediately. It was a devastating blow for Sherco, losing one of its strongest riders before the race had truly begun. The following day, Sebastian Bühler (Hero MotoSports Rally Team) suffered a crash in Stage 1, dislocating his shoulder and becoming another early casualty.

Beyond the factory teams, privateers and lesser-known competitors faced their own struggles. The harsh terrain, mechanical failures, and sheer exhaustion forced several riders out of the rally before reaching the rest day. Dakar has never been a race of pure speed—it is about survival, and for many, simply making it to the second half of the rally is a victory in itself.

KTM rider conquers the toughest terrain in the world’s ultimate adventure rally

The Toughest Riders of Dakar

Rally 2 and Original by Motul

Dakar is as much about perseverance as it is about speed. While the Rally GP category features factory-backed riders with the best equipment and support, Rally 2 and Original by Motul bring the true essence of endurance racing. Privateers, young hopefuls, and riders taking on the desert alone, without team assistance, embody the raw challenge of this race.

The Rise of Edgar Canet – A 19-Year-Old Takes Control of Rally 2

Among the emerging stars, Edgar Canet (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) stunned the field in Rally 2. At just 19 years old, the Spaniard made history as the youngest rider to win a stage in the category, proving that experience isn’t the only factor in Dakar success. He displayed remarkable navigation skills, handling the punishing terrain with the composure of a seasoned competitor. By the rest day, he led the Rally 2 standings, positioning himself as the favorite for victory.

Behind him, Tobias Ebster (KTM) and Romain Dumontier (Honda) remained in contention, but Canet’s consistency kept him in control. His performance raised eyebrows across the bivouac, suggesting that it won’t be long before he moves up to Rally GP.

The Second Half

A Battle to the End

The rest day in Ha’il offered a brief pause, but there was no time for comfort. The second week of the Dakar 2025 was set to push the remaining competitors even further, with longer distances, more dunes, and the unforgiving terrain of the Empty Quarter. Riders who had survived the first half now had to manage fatigue, maintain their machines, and navigate the final stages where one mistake could cost everything.

Daniel Sanders had controlled the race from the start, but his rivals were determined to fight until the last mile. The final days of the rally delivered intense duels, heartbreaking exits, and a performance that would etch a new champion’s name into Dakar history.

Pushing Through the Desert’s Final Trials

The second week began with Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda) and Adrien Van Beveren (Monster Energy Honda) attacking in Stage 6, determined to reduce Sanders’ lead. Brabec claimed the stage win, his 11th career victory, while Van Beveren showed outstanding navigation skills, gaining valuable time bonuses for opening the route. Their push was strong, but Sanders remained steady, keeping control of the overall standings.

As the race pressed forward, Luciano Benavides (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) emerged as one of the strongest riders of the second week. He claimed back-to-back stage wins in Stages 8 and 9, proving his ability to navigate and maintain speed in the most challenging conditions. His performance moved him up to fourth overall, marking his best Dakar finish yet.

KTM’s Triumph and the Road to Glory

As the final stage of the Dakar 2025 came to a close in Shubaytah, the desert echoed with the sounds of engines winding down, exhausted but victorious. Riders had pushed themselves beyond limits, machines had endured relentless punishment, and the journey that had begun nearly two weeks before had reached its final chapter. The rally had once again proven its status as the ultimate challenge in off-road racing, rewarding those who had mastered its demands with a place in history.

At the center of it all stood Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing), the man who had controlled the race from the very first day. His performance was nothing short of exceptional, carrying the weight of expectation and executing each stage with precision. With five stage wins, flawless navigation, and a commanding presence in the dunes, Sanders secured his first Dakar victory, becoming the second Australian to conquer the event on two wheels after Toby Price, who claimed the title in 2016 and 2018.

KTM’s Return to the Top

For years, KTM had dominated the Dakar, building a reputation as the most formidable brand in rally history. But recent years had seen fierce competition from Honda, who had claimed two of the last four victories. In 2025, KTM reclaimed its throne, taking its 20th overall win in the motorcycle category and proving once again that its machines were built to endure the toughest conditions.

The statistics spoke for themselves. KTM riders won 8 of the 13 stages in this edition:

5 victories for Sanders, showcasing his dominance.
2 for Luciano Benavides, who had a standout second half of the rally.
1 for Michael Docherty, marking his first-ever Dakar stage win.

Honda held its ground with 3 stage wins, thanks to Adrien Van Beveren, Ricky Brabec, and Tosha Schareina, while Sherco celebrated a stage victory with Lorenzo Santolino. But when it came to the big prize, KTM had taken back its crown.

The Spirit of Dakar Lives On

The Dakar Rally is about much more than crossing the finish line first. Every rider who makes it to the end has faced relentless obstacles, demanding terrain, and the constant battle against exhaustion. In 2025, that spirit was evident at every stage, in every challenge, and in every story that unfolded in the desert.

From Kevin Benavides’ courageous attempt to race despite his injuries to the emotional victories of newcomers and veterans alike, every moment on the course was a reminder of what makes this race legendary. Some left as champions, others as warriors who had fought to their last ounce of energy, but all had earned their place in Dakar history.

As the sun set over the vast Saudi desert, the final tracks in the sand slowly faded, erased by the shifting winds. But the memories, the battles, and the triumphs of Dakar 2025 would remain, inspiring those who dream of taking on the challenge in the years to come.

For the winners, it was a moment of glory. For everyone else, it was the promise of another chance, another fight, and another ride into the unknown.