Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1531664
BY RENNIE SCAYSBROOK PHOTOGRAPHY BY ASO, KTM, HONDA A ustralia has a long list of fast off-road riders, but success in the Dakar Rally, the most prestigious event of its kind on the planet, has been somewhat elusive. The pioneering Andy Calde- cott looked on course to be the country's first Dakar champion until the two-time stage winner for the then-factory Repsol KTM squad passed away on the ninth stage of the 2006 rally when it was still held deep in the heart of Africa. Toby Price then famously took up the baton as Australia's leading rally racer and marched to two Dakar triumphs in 2016 and 2018, both for the factory Red Bull KTM team and both events held during the Dakar's South American era. And now Daniel Sanders, the apple farmer from Victoria in Australia's south, has taken over the mantle from Price by win - ning the 2025 Dakar Rally, the first for an Australian since the rally moved to its new home in Saudi Arabia. And, you guessed it, he triumphed as a factory Red Bull KTM rider. It was KTM's 20th triumph in the Dakar Rally. In his fifth attempt at the Dakar, Sanders was dominant, taking the first three stages and marching out to a substantial early lead that stood at just over eight minutes by Stage Three. Sanders was almost always in the right place at the right time, and even had a bit of luck on his side when on Stage Five he was awarded back a substantial amount of time for a malfunc - tioning GPS unit that saw his lead balloon to over 15 minutes from the man chasing him from day one, Monster Energy Hon- da's Tosha Schareina. That was as far as the lead got for Sanders, who took another win on Stage Seven and then went into protection mode to bring the Dakar title home. "So, we have just won the Dakar Rally!" Sanders said. "It's ROUND 1 / JANUARY 3-17, 2025 BISHA TO SHUBAYTAH, SAUDI ARABIA OFF-ROAD I FIM WORLD RALLY-RAID CHAMPIONSHIP / DAKAR RALLY P80 DANIEL "CHUCKY" SANDERS BECAME THE SECOND AUSTRALIAN TO WIN THE DAKAR RALLY AFTER DOMINATING THE 2025 EDITION a massive accomplishment for myself and the team after a tough year, and I can't thank everyone enough for the sup - port. It's been a long journey, and I can't wait to celebrate with everyone! Now it's time to kick back and relax after a long two weeks." CHUCKY BRINGS IT HOME