KTM Primed for Dakar
R
ed Bull KTM Factory Racing
says it's primed and ready
for the January 3-17 Dakar Rally
after winning the 2025 FIM World
Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC).
Leading the charge for KTM will
be defending champion Daniel
Sanders, Luciano Benavides
and Edgar Canet, with the young
Spaniard transitioning to the Ral-
lyGP category for the first time.
Sanders heads to Dakar as
both the reigning World Rally-Raid
Champion and 2025 Dakar win-
ner. The Aussie says he is deter-
mined to defend his crown and
add another triumph to his career.
"Everything's going to plan;
I'm keeping the same setup,
so I'm really comfortable with
where we are with the bike,"
Sanders said. "I'm confident in
my fitness; everything is feeling
great after Morocco, and we're
back in fighting shape. We're in
the middle of a training block
with the team in Morocco over
the next few weeks. Obviously,
there is some pressure after the
win this year, but we're training
hard for this, and I know I can
perform. The team is in a good
place, I feel ready, so we are all
committed to getting out there
and getting the job done again.
It's a long race for sure. Every
Dakar is different, so we always
take it day by day and do the
best we can. The 2025 Rally2
World Cup Champion, Canet,
says he's ready to step up to the
plate in the premier class.
"Moving up into the top cat
-
egory with the big dogs in Ral-
lyGP after just one year is super
exciting," Canet said. "I have a
great feeling on the bike, and I'm
happy with my fitness, as I have
worked hard to get to a good
level. I know how unpredictable
Dakar can be day to day, but I
believe I have the speed and the
navigation skills needed to run
up front the entire time. I learned
a lot from the 2025 Dakar from
my teammates, so I'm feeling a
lot more prepared heading into
my second attempt."
CN
WIND
IN THE
P50
The 2026 Red Bull KTM Factory
Rally Team—Daniel Sanders
(center), Edgar Canet (left) and
Luciano Benavide—says it's all
systems go for the upcoming Dakar
Rally.
PHOTO: SEBAS ROMERO
