Dakar Week One Recap from the Rest Stage

2026 Dakar Rally

Relaxation Stage – Riyadh

Having reached the midway mark of the 2026 Dakar Rally, and with a day of relaxation offering a breather, we are able to check out the primary week of Dakar, by means of which 244 entries of the unique 317 have survived. That features 93 riders, 11 within the RallyGP class and 82 within the Rally2, plus 141 automobile crews and 40 truck crews.

Curiously, the highest 4 of final yr’s 2025 championship additionally maintain the highest 4 within the motorcycle class, world champion Daniel Sanders (Crimson Bull KTM Manufacturing unit Racing) on the prime. Nonetheless the competitors nonetheless has loads of struggle, notably Monster Vitality Honda HRC, with Ricky Brabec proving extraordinarily constant and now sitting in second place, in addition to Tosha Schareina in fourth.

A bunch of Rally2 contenders bumped into hassle, however Preston Campbell (Monster Vitality Honda HRC) averted their destiny and sits on the prime of the chief board.

Daniel Sanders, the favorite to defend his crown, has lived as much as his billing all through the primary half of the rally. The reigning champion was completely happy to let his younger teammate Edgar Canet hog the limelight originally of the week.

Sanders biding his time till he noticed the chance to drop the hammer and storm to the highest of the provisional rating. He would have had a a lot wider moat than his present 45-second margin over Ricky Brabec had he not been stung by a six-minute penalty for rushing between Hail and Riyadh.

Daniel Sanders

“The primary week hasn’t been as clear or managed as we might have appreciated, and there have been a couple of missed alternatives the place we must always have capitalized extra on the tempo we had. My pace and navigation have usually been very sturdy and bodily I really feel actually good on the bike, however I’ve made some small errors that add up in rally racing, particularly once you’re attempting to construct a niche. Even so, we’re nonetheless main, which reveals the potential we’ve, though it’s not a snug place but. Stage six was irritating with the pace penalty attributable to a problem with my buzzer, however except for that the sensation within the sand and on the bike was very optimistic. Going into the second week, the main focus is on being cleaner, sharper, and making higher selections within the navigation so we are able to actually benefit from what we’ve.”

Behind the Australian, the American driving for Honda has additionally had a strong first week. Brabec has but to say his first victory, however he has managed to keep away from hassle and stays a severe contender for the trophy.

Additional afield, Luciano Benavides maintain the underside step of the provisional podium, about ten minutes from the 2 males on the prime of the board. The Argentinian has been a minimize beneath the 2 different former winners within the subject, however he nonetheless managed to say stage 5.

Luciano Benavides

“General, the primary week has been actually, actually good for me. It’s the primary time I’ve been in a podium place after the primary week of Dakar, which is one thing I’m not used to. Proper now, I’m round 10 minutes off the lead, and although the second week appears like will probably be harder than the primary, I consider we’re within the struggle for a robust consequence. The sensation on the bike has been superb, the crew has accomplished an incredible job, and I had no main points within the marathon stage, plus a stage win already. Bodily I’m not at 100% but, however my rhythm and confidence are enhancing day by day, so the remaining day can be vital to recharge and be able to push once more within the second week.”

Benavides, who tends to get stronger with each passing particular, stays inside putting distance, 10′15″ behind the leaders and able to pounce on any opening. Tosha Schareina, inside twelve minutes of Sanders, can be a power to be reckoned with. The manufacturing facility rider picked up two stage wins within the opening week and seized the lead in AlUla.

Sadly, he was then slapped with a ten-minute penalty for failing to observe primary process when exiting the bivouac-refuge within the marathon stage.

Ignacio Cornejo reached the remaining day in fifth place, about half an hour down. The rider, who has not been on the identical stage because the riders forward of him within the provisional rating, is banking on his consistency to struggle for a podium spot in Yanbu.

Edgar Canet stole the present after the beginning, bagging the prologue and stage one. The younger Spaniard, who has been promoted to RallyGP this yr, went toe to toe with Sanders for a very long time earlier than wrecking his rear tyre within the second half of the marathon stage.

Edgar Canet

“The primary week was loopy for me, most likely the craziest week of my life. Beginning the rally with a prologue win after which profitable one other stage was unbelievable and I’m actually pleased with that. Then within the rocky levels and through the marathon I arrived on the bivouac in fine condition, however the subsequent day I used to be pushing arduous, catching the riders in entrance, and I broke the rear wheel. That price me lots, round six hours together with penalties, and it took me out of the highest positions. It was a very powerful day mentally, particularly simply earlier than the remaining day. I’m completely happy to be right here now and attain the midway level of the rally. I’m treating the race as an enormous studying expertise. I’ve discovered lots within the first week and I’m able to hold working arduous and pushing once more within the second.”

Now 59th general, Canet must accept extra stage wins at greatest.

Ross Department additionally light within the marathon stage after a formidable begin, as did Skyler Howes, who pushed his rear tyre too arduous in stage 4, and Adrien Van Beveren, whose difficulties matching the tempo of the leaders have been compounded by dangerous luck. He’s now virtually an hour adrift.

In the meantime, the American rookie Preston Campbell is spending the remaining day perched on the summit of the Rally2 standings. The rider, ninth general, has stayed out of the weeds up to now, not like Tobias Ebster, who needed to stop with a hand harm after stage three; Michael Docherty, who broke his rear wheel; Harith Noah, who crashed out of the race; Neels Theric, who had a calamitous prologue; and his personal teammate Martim Ventura, who struggled in stage 5.

Campbell has simply over fifteen minutes in hand over the Slovenian Toni Mulec. Konrad Dąbrowski, third at 23 minutes off the American chief, remains to be within the combine too.

Australia’s David Brock remains to be within the race, however sits 94th, and has collected over 11 hours in penalties, weighing him down.

Vehicles and Vehicles

The world champion, Lucas Moraes (The Dacia Sandriders), is operating tenth general within the automobile class. The opposite two males who stood on the collection podium are locked in a duel for victory, with Nasser Al Attiyah (The Dacia Sandriders) main Henk Lategan (Toyota Gazoo Racing W2RC). Toby Worth in the meantime sits fifteenth.

Within the Inventory class, the primary confrontation between the producer Defender and Group Land Cruiser Toyota Auto Physique has turned to the benefit of the English maker and its driver Rokas Baciuška.

The highest 2 of the 2025 season can be the highest 2 of the Challenger race. The W2RC runner-up, Pau Navarro (Odyssey Academy by BBR), is simply forward of the champion, Nicolás Cavigliasso (Vertical Motorsport). Three Can-Am Manufacturing unit drivers prime the W2RC board in SSV.

On the fringes of the primary race, 94 autos principally from the twentieth century stay in rivalry within the Dakar Traditional regularity race. The Lithuanian Karolis Raišys and the Frenchman Christophe Marques maintain the lead of their Land Rover.

The seven autos within the Dakar Future Mission 1000 problem have additionally obtained six levels left to place their cutting-edge tech to the take a look at within the Saudi desert and contribute to various gasoline analysis.

Subsequent: Stage Seven

Racing resumes with the lengthy 876-kilometre stage seven as opponents go away Riyadh to start the second half of the 2026 Dakar Rally.

2026 Dakar Rally Standings after Stage Six

2026 Dakar Rally Route/Schedule

2026 Dakar Rally Route/Schedule