The 2025 Dakar Rally kicked off with a thrilling prologue stage near the city of Bisha, featuring a sequence of sandy tracks that favored riders and drivers skilled at navigating through the bushes. The 29-kilometer stage, free of navigational challenges, set the tone for the grueling competition ahead.
Sanders and Lategan Shine in the Saudi Bush
Australian Daniel Sanders, known for his strong starts at the Dakar, claimed victory in the prologue, just as he did in 2022. The Rallye du Maroc winner finished 12 seconds ahead of 2024 W2RC winner Ross Branch and promising Spanish debutant Edgar Canet. The 19-year-old Catalan, now an official KTM rider, was the fastest in the Rally 2 category. However, the category suffered an early blow when title holder Harith Noah crashed, fracturing his wrist and forcing him out of the race.
In the car category, South African Henk Lategan made a triumphant return, securing the best time in the prologue. He edged out Mattias Ekström’s Ford Raptor by a single second, while Nasser Al Attiyah’s Dacia completed the day’s podium, 20 seconds behind Lategan. Prologue times do not count towards the overall car rankings, providing relief for Guillaume de Mévius, who lost 4’16” due to a puncture.
Debutants Shine in Challenger and SSV Categories
American rookie Corbin Leaverton set the fastest time in the Challenger class, beating his Red Bull Off-Road Junior Team teammate Gonçalo Guerreiro by 4 seconds. Close behind were Nicolás Cavigliasso (3rd, 11″ behind) and reigning champion Yasir Seaidan (4th, 19″ behind), the leading pair in the category’s W2RC rankings.
Another American newcomer, Brock Heger, claimed victory in the SSV category driving a Polaris, ahead of Argentinean Jeremías González Ferioli and defending champion Xavier de Soultrait. The battle between Sébastien Loeb Racing drivers and Can-Am vehicles, piloted by Sara Price and ‘Chaleco’ López, is heating up, with the duo finishing 4th and 5th, respectively.
Žala Impresses in Truck Debut
Vaidotas Žala, a newcomer to the truck category, nearly pulled off a dream debut, finishing just 7 seconds behind stage winner Mitch Van den Brink and an impressive 16 seconds ahead of defending champion Martin Macík.
Canet and Leaverton: Red Bull Off Road Junior Team’s Rising Stars
The Red Bull Off Road Junior Team’s eye for talent was on full display during the prologue, with their two new recruits claiming the top spots in the Challenger class. Californian Corbin Leaverton’s victory echoes the success of his friend and neighbor Seth Quintero, who debuted with the team in 2021. Portuguese driver Gonçalo Guerreiro, a test driver for his family’s JB Racing business, also lived up to expectations, having previously set the fastest SSV times in the Baja Aragon and Baja Norte Portugal.
Noah’s Early Exit a Blow to Sherco
Harith Noah, the 2024 Rally 2 winner and 11th overall in the motorcycle category, suffered a premature end to his Dakar campaign after fracturing his wrist in a crash during the prologue. His exit is a significant loss for the Sherco team, who were hoping for a top 10 finish from the Indian rider. However, the French team can still rely on Rally GP riders Lorenzo Santolino and Rui Gonçalves to battle with the elite.
W2RC: A World of Opportunity
The FIM’s new rules for the 4th season of the W2RC have opened the championship to riders from around the globe. Any Rally 2 class rider on a calendar leg can now score points and appear in the rankings, making Edgar Canet a potential frontrunner after joining mid-2024. Michael Docherty, Tobias Ebster, and American Jacob Argubright also made their intentions clear with strong performances on the prologue.
“It was a field day for the Saudi Next Gen academy participants, who had the honor of making the first tracks on the Dakar prologue route and then tackled the Dakar Classic route for a total daily distance of 117 kilometers. The five crews were introduced on the bivouac podium at ‘prime time,’ between the elite bikers and car drivers. Coach Edo Mossi closely observes their behavior, not just their speed. ‘Their learning curve is very impressive. Their level is already transformed in relation to three days earlier,’ he explains.”
The Dakar Classic: A Game of Strategy
The 5th edition of the Dakar Classic prologue featured a 59-kilometer stage split into two specials. However, the real competition began the night before, with a game of bluff revealing the competitive spirit that will fuel the coming fortnight. Two crews, including the title holder and last year’s runner-up, made last-minute category changes, catching their rivals off guard. The Dakar Classic rules allow competitors to change categories until the evening of the prologue, setting the stage for an intense battle in the days ahead.
