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
Five, and could have been in the fight for the overall rally win had Sanders not decimated the pack in the opening four stages. Still looking for his first Dakar overall win, Van Beveren, regard - less, made it a second podium in as many years since switching to the factory Honda team after a career spent with Yamaha. Van Beveren added another stage win, that of Stage Five, boosting his career total to three. "We have to risk so much to be up front," Van Beveren said. "I really tried to be on the top of the podium, and we couldn't do it this time, but I like to ride mo - torcycles in the desert so I will come back." win, but by then it was too little, too late, as Sanders was nine min- utes clear and with only a 62-kilo- meter special remaining between him and the Bedouin trophy. "This year was really, really hard for everybody, but I'm super happy with this second place because we had quite a lot of problems," Schareina said. "Three years ago, I was fighting just to race here at the Dakar Rally, and now I'm fight - ing for the win. I'm super happy and hungry for more." Third in the 2025 Dakar Rally went to veteran Adrien Van Bev- eren (Honda). The Frenchman did his usual trick of taking it easy on the first week, moving into the top four after the marathon Stage Although Sanders' win was never really in doubt, he was kept honest the whole rally by Honda's sophomore, Tosha Schareina. The heir apparent to Spanish rally legends like Marc Coma, Joan Barreda and Laia Sanz had a bone to pick with the Dakar this year, having crashed out of the 2024 rally on the opening stage after winning the Prologue. Schareina effectively became the lead Honda rider after 2024 champion Ricky Brabec made a critical navigational error on Stage Four, effectively ruling out any chance the Californian had of mak - ing it back-to-back Dakar wins. Schareina waited until the pen- ultimate Stage 11 to take his first ROUND 1 / JANUARY 3-17, 2025 BISHA TO SHUBAYTAH, SAUDI ARABIA OFF-ROAD I FIM WORLD RALLY-RAID CHAMPIONSHIP / DAKAR RALLY P82 Sanders charged out to an early lead in the rally's first week that proved impossible for the chasing pack to overcome. (Right) The final stage gets underway with a spectacular, old- school mass start as Luciano Benavides (leading) lofts the front wheel of the factory KTM.