The bikes category of the 2026 Dakar Rally is shaping up to be a fierce battleground. Defending champion Daniel Sanders enters the race as the clear favorite, backed by an almost flawless season. The Australian dominated last year’s edition and went on to win the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the South African Safari Rally, and the Rally-Raid Portugal. With a second-place finish in Morocco, he also secured the W2RC title. Sanders is in top form and firmly leads the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team.
Clash at the top: KTM versus Honda
However, Sanders won’t have it easy. The Monster Energy Honda HRC squad poses a serious threat. With seasoned riders like Ricky Brabec, Adrien Van Beveren, Skyler Howes, and rising star Tosha Schareina, Honda boasts a strong and well-rounded lineup. Brabec, the Dakar winner in 2020 and 2024, is chasing a third title, but much of the attention is on Schareina. He finished second in both Dakar and the world championship last year and remains the only rider to beat Sanders this season, with a victory at the Rallye du Maroc.
At KTM, Sanders is supported by Argentine rider Luciano Benavides, who finished fourth last year, and young Spaniard Edgar Canet. Canet impressed with an eighth-place finish on his debut at age 19 and clinched the W2RC title in the Rally2 class. He is already seen as a future podium contender in Rally GP.
Other teams are also ready to challenge. Hero MotoSport is all-in with Ross Branch and “Nacho” Cornejo. Branch finished second in 2023 but had to retire early last year. Sherco Rally Factory fields Bradley Cox and Lorenzo Santolino, a duo aiming to break into the top ten.
Fierce competition in Rally2
Beyond the GP class, the Rally2 category draws significant attention. With Canet moving up to the main class, the field is wide open again. Hero places its hopes on Tobias Ebster, who finished second behind Canet in 2025. Sherco relies on Harith Noah, the 2024 winner. Also noteworthy is the entry of Michael Docherty, racing for the Dutch BAS World KTM Racing Team. The South African is not only targeting a Rally2 victory but also aiming for a spot in the overall top ten. His teammates Toni Mulec and Konrad Dabrowski, who finished 13th and 16th in 2025 respectively, complete a solid lineup.
Based in Boekel, the team plays a key role in KTM’s Rally2 ecosystem and supports ten international riders. Recently, BAS World KTM won the Rally2 team World Cup title in the W2RC championship.
Dutch debut: Ian Olthof
The Netherlands will be represented by a single rider this year. Ian Olthof from Hellendoorn makes his Dakar debut in January, carrying start number 136. The 26-year-old showed in the Rallye du Maroc that he is ready for the big stage. After a crash earlier this year, he recovered his rhythm in Morocco, regained his physical form, and delivered a strong performance.
Olthof rides for HT Rally Raid, a team with deep roots in the rally world. Based in Vorden, the team gained recognition in the 1990s and has recently shifted its focus toward motorsport. Since 2025, HT Rally Raid has been working with Honda Racing Corporation to build Honda’s official Rally2 program. For Dakar 2026, the team is traveling with seven riders, including Olthof.
All eyes on Yanbu
With several top contenders, a strong mid-pack, and talented newcomers, the stage is set for a thrilling start in Yanbu. The question is whether Sanders can become the first rider in a decade to successfully defend his title or if the pressure from Honda and other challengers will prove too great. One thing is certain: no one will be handed anything in the sands of Saudi Arabia. For the Netherlands, the excitement builds as debutant Ian Olthof takes his first steps in the world’s toughest rally.
