WIND
IN THE
P56
Sanders Leads The Way At
Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge
D
aniel Sanders claimed victory
in Stage Two of the Abu Dhabi
Desert Challenge on Monday,
February 24. The stage loop cov-
ered a total of 188 miles, with 142
miles dedicated to special stages
through the stunning southern
fringes of the Liwa Oasis.
Sanders dominated the bike
category, leading the special
stage from start to finish. The
Australian Red Bull KTM Factory
rider secured a comfortable win,
finishing three minutes and 59
seconds ahead of Hero Motors
-
ports' Jose Ignacio Cornejo and
more than five minutes ahead
of Monster Energy Honda HRC's
Adrien Van Beveren.
Overnight leader Tosha Scha
-
reina was the first to set off in
the early morning, laying down
tracks for the riders behind. This
ultimately worked against him,
as the Spaniard finished seventh,
dropping to third overall behind
new event leader Sanders and
fellow Red Bull KTM Factory
rider Luciano Benavides.
Monster Energy Honda HRC's
Skyler Howes sits fifth overall,
moving up one position ahead
of American teammate Ricky
Brabec. Schareina follows, with
Michael Docherty (SRG Motors
-
ports Husqvarna), Tobias Ebster
(SRG Motorsports KTM), and
Konrad Dabrowski (Duust Rally
Team KTM) rounding out the
current top 10 standings.
Defending FIM World Rally-
Raid Champion Ross Branch was
forced to withdraw from the rally
after a clutch issue on his Hero
450 Rally proved irreparable.
Stage Three marks one of the
most challenging sections of the
rally as competitors head toward
the remote Al Qua'a region.
There are three more stages left
to run to decide the winner of
the 2025 Abu Dhabi Desert Chal
-
lenge.
CN
Stage Two (Top 5)
1. Daniel Sanders (KTM)
2. Jose Ignacio Cornejo (Her)
3. Adrien Van Beveren (Hon)
4. Luciano Benavides (KTM)
5. Skyler Howes (Hon)
Daniel Sanders has
taken control of the
2025 Abu Dhabi
Desert Challenge
after Stage Two.
