Home » Docherty Does It! Stage win for the BAS World KTM Racing Team

Docherty Does It! Stage win for the BAS World KTM Racing Team

With just the second-ever stage win in the Dakar Rally by a Rally2 rider—following Danilo Petrucci’s triumph in 2022—Michael Docherty has etched his name into Dakar history, firmly establishing himself as a rising star in the sport.

Early in the rally, the South African rider suffered a significant crash, resulting in a minor fracture in his shoulder blade. However, this setback didn’t stop him. On the contrary, it seemed to fuel his determination to finish the rally strong. Despite the injury, Docherty has consistently proven that he belongs at the front of the pack. His results throughout the rally have been impressive, with only three finishes outside the top 10. However, those three weaker stages, coupled with a 30-minute penalty, have left him in sixth place in the Rally2 classification, over two hours behind the leader. While he would have liked to be in a stronger position overall, his performance today shows his potential.

On his driver profile page on the Dakar website, Docherty shared his thoughts before the rally:

“Finding the budget to race rally-raid as a privateer isn’t easy and not sustainable in the long term. The problem is that to attract a factory ride you have to show your worth, and that means pushing the envelope, with the risks that entails. I think now all the decision makers know I have the speed. What I need to prove to them is that I also have the consistency. Hopefully, a solid 2025 Dakar with a win in Rally2 and a Top 10 Overall result will unlock a few doors.”

Stage 10 was a grueling test, featuring a short special section after more than 500 kilometers of riding in just 7°C temperatures—a challenge in itself! Docherty claimed the stage win, with Vice-Motocross World Champion Rui Gonçalves finishing second, 1 minute and 20 seconds behind. Ebster rounded out the top three, finishing 2 minutes and 21 seconds back, solidifying his hold on second place in the Rally2 standings.

Docherty’s triumph not only demonstrates his speed but also reinforces his status as a serious contender in rally-raid.