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NewsDakar 2025 Motos: Daniel Sanders, the success of maturity

Dakar 2025 Motos: Daniel Sanders, the success of maturity

As expected, Australian rider Daniel Sanders was crowned winner of the Dakar 2025 motorcycle category in Saudi Arabia on Friday. This masterful victory crowns a career marked by injuries, overcoming challenges and the rejection of failure.

Daniel Sanders: the Holy Grail after five Dakars

At the age of 30, Daniel Sanders made history by winning his very first Dakar on his KTM. This consecration came on his fifth participation in the most demanding event in rally-raiding. By crossing the finish line in Shubaytah, at the end of the final stage of just 61 km, the native of Three Bridges in Australia confirmed his unblemished domination. In the lead since the start of the route, this victory crowns a race marked by five stage wins out of the twelve on the Dakar 2025 program.

Results of Stage 12 (Motorcycles) - Shubaytah - Dakar 2025 :

As on Wednesday, during the 10ᵉ stage, the honors of the final stage go to South African Michael Docherty, entered in the Rally2 category:

1. Docherty (AFS) - BAS WORLD KTM RACING TEAM - 54'11"
2. Van Beveren (FRA) - MONSTER ENERGY HONDA HRC - 3" behind
3. Ebster (AUT) - BAS WORLD KTM RACING TEAM - 44" away
4. Schareina (ESP) - MONSTER ENERGY HONDA HRC - 57" away
5. Svitko (SLQ) - SLOVNAFT RALLY TEAM - 59" away
6. Sanders (AUS) - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING - 1'07" behind
7. Benavides (ARG) - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING - 1'07" away
8. Dumontier (FRA) - TEAM DUMONTIER RACING - at 2'07"...

A victory with a taste of revenge (and honey)

Daniel Sanders' career has been far from smooth sailing. Since his Dakar debut in 2021, when he finished fourth and took the title of best rookie, the Australian has had to overcome numerous obstacles. In 2022, still in contention for a podium finish, he was forced to retire after a fall in the liaison, fracturing his wrist and elbow. More generally, the last few years have put his body and mind to the test. "I hate to be told no, to be prevented from doing what I'm passionate about. I'm an off-road motorcycle racer, and I'll do what I want," declared Sanders in response to his detractors. This warrior's temperament, combined with meticulous preparation despite injuries, enabled him to emerge even stronger in 2025.

Returning this year to the official KTM team, Sanders has capitalized on his experience and the support of his mentor Toby Price, a two-time Dakar winner (2016, 2019). This triumph makes him the second Australian to win this legendary event in the motorcycle category, and gives KTM its 20ᵉ rally-raid success.

Daniel Sanders, moved after his victory(L'Equipe):
When I saw the bivouac, I was overcome with emotion. Winning the Dakar is a dream come true after years of hard work and many failures.

Above and beyond his exploits, Daniel Sanders captivates with his atypical personality. Born into a family of sporty farmers, he took up motorcycling at an early age. Off the track, he is a keen beekeeper, managing more than 100 family beehives, and always carries his own homemade honey, a symbol of his connection with his roots.

Dakar 2025 final standings (Bikes):

The result of impressive consistency, Sanders finishes with a final lead of 8 minutes 50 seconds over Spaniard Tosha Schareina (Honda) and 14 minutes 46 seconds over Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren (Honda).

1. Sanders (AUS) - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING - 53h08'52"
2. Schareina (ESP) - MONSTER ENERGY HONDA HRC - 8'50" away
3.Van Beveren (FRA) - MONSTER ENERGY HONDA HRC - 14'46" away
4.Benavides (ARG) - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING - 22'16" off the pace
5. Brabec (USA) - MONSTER ENERGY HONDA HRC - 29'50" away

Adrien Van Beveren, a podium for lack of anything better?

Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren has once again demonstrated his consistency by taking third place in the Dakar 2025, as he did last year. "I have zero regrets. This third place has a lot of flavour. I think I was even better this year, but I was up against two very high-level rivals. It's an honor to be on the podium of the toughest race in the world", he confided, visibly moved.

The end of this year's race could have left a bitter taste in the mouth of the French driver, not least because of the controversy surrounding the shortening of the penultimate stage. It wasn't the first decision to be debated, but this one, taken by race director David Castera after consultation with the drivers, was perceived as an injustice by Van Beveren: "I accepted the situation, but I think some people acted for their own interests. What I didn't appreciate so much was the little conspiracy between certain drivers to obtain this shortening." This time, there will be no turning back (on stage 5ᵉ, AVB had his initial victory contested before being awarded back to him following his appeal)

The Frenchman also made no secret of his bitterness towards his teammate Tosha Schareina, who, in his opinion, played him small. "I don't understand his choice. I hope he regrets it, because he had a real opportunity," he said, revealing his frustration at the outcome. Despite the controversy, Van Beveren remained competitive right to the end, confirming his status as one of the world's top rally-raid drivers.

This morning, Yazeed Al Rajhi (Autos) conquered his first Dakar triumph. All results can be found on the Dakar website.

photo credits: A.S.O. Charly López

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