Australian Daniel Sanders dominated the opening day of the 2025 Dakar Rally, clinching victory in the Bike prologue on Friday morning. The factory KTM rider edged Botswana’s reigning World Champion, Ross Branch, who finished second aboard his Hero.
Meanwhile, KTM’s Rally 2 rookie Edgar Canet stunned the field by securing an impressive third place, showcasing remarkable pace against the more established riders in the Dakar 2025 field.
The prologue, a 29-kilometre dash through the dunes near the Bisha bivouac in Saudi Arabia, saw riders pushing hard to secure strategic starting positions for Saturday’s opening stage. Sanders’ triumph ensures he will have the first pick, with the top ten riders expected to opt for reverse starting positions to avoid leading the road.
South African Michael Docherty delivered a strong performance to claim seventh on his Rally 2 BAS World KTM, finishing ahead of several factory riders. Among the other Southern African competitors, Bradley Cox, the 2024 World Rally 2 Champion, played a tactical hand to secure 12th place on his BAS World KTM.
Aaron Mare brought his HT Husqvarna home in 19th, while rookies Dwain Barnard and Willem Avenant had mixed fortunes. Barnard impressed with 83rd on his Nomade Racing KTM, while Avenant completed a cautious run in 124th on his HT Husqvarna.
Factory Teams and Global Line-up
The Honda factory team showed strong consistency, with 2024 Dakar winner Ricky Brabec leading a quartet that included Tosha Schareina, Pablo Quintanilla, and Adrien Van Beveren. They filled positions four through eight, demonstrating the team’s depth. American Skyler Howes (Honda) and Germany’s Sebastian Bühler (Hero) rounded out the top ten.
Australian rookie Toby Hendricks had briefly led early in the day on his Rally 2 KTM before the favourites took to the stage. Docherty initially held second before being overtaken by Branch and the Honda riders. Canet’s impressive hold on third highlighted the potential of KTM’s Rally 2 programme, which led the category on day one.
This year’s Dakar Rally features 335 machines and 580 participants from 52 countries, underscoring its global appeal. The prologue opened the event with a blend of excitement and strategy, setting the tone for the gruelling competition ahead.
Saturday’s first full stage will see riders tackle a 413-kilometre loop around Bisha, combining dirt, gravel, and sand tracks as the race transitions from a sprint to a test of endurance.
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