Brabec seizes control in penultimate stage, Mulec creates decisive gap in Rally2

The twelfth and penultimate stage of the Dakar Rally for the motorcycles has given the fight for overall victory a new twist. On the route to Yanbu, Ricky Brabec delivered a strong performance, claiming not only the stage win but also the lead in the overall standings. Luciano Benavides ultimately had to concede time in a stage where bonus seconds and starting strategy once again played a role. Behind the leading duo, the Honda contingent remained strongly represented, while Daniel Sanders dropped further back due to his injuries and even lost a position in the classification.

Brabec wins and takes over the lead

Ricky Brabec struck at exactly the right moment. The Honda rider won the special and kept Luciano Benavides behind him by 3 minutes and 43 seconds. As a result, Brabec completely turned the overall standings around. He started the day with a deficit of 23 seconds and now ends it as the new leader, holding a 3-minute and 20-second advantage over Benavides. With only 105 kilometers against the clock remaining, Brabec appears, barring misfortune, to be firmly on course for a third Dakar title after his victories in 2020 and 2024.

The stage also produced a notable statistic in the history of both Brabec and Honda. It was Brabec’s thirteenth Dakar stage win, putting him level with Serge Bacou and Nani Roma in the motorcycle category. For Honda, it marked the manufacturer’s 120th stage victory overall, further cementing its status as one of the most successful brands in Dakar history.

Strong Honda presence, Americans make their mark

Honda placed three bikes in the top four of the day. Brabec took the win, Tosha Schareina finished third and Adrien Van Beveren ended the stage in fourth position. The American presence in the top ten was also striking. Alongside Brabec, Preston Campbell finished eighth, Mason Klein ninth and Skyler Howes tenth. Four Americans in the top ten at this stage of the rally is a strong statement, especially on a day where pace and positioning were constantly intertwined.

Sanders drops to fifth

Daniel Sanders once again rode in survival mode. The Australian is dealing with injuries to his left shoulder and sternum and lost a significant amount of time today. He crossed the finish line 35 minutes after Brabec and as a result surrendered a position in the overall standings. Sanders drops to fifth place, as Skyler Howes moves ahead of him and now sits ten seconds in front. Adrien Van Beveren remains sixth, at 8 minutes and 26 seconds behind Sanders.

Docherty takes eighth stage win, Mulec extends his lead

In Rally2, the fastest time of the day once again went to Michael Docherty. The South African claimed his eighth class victory of this Dakar and even set the fifth fastest time overall among the Rally GP riders, an exceptionally strong performance for a Rally2 competitor. Toni Mulec finished second, 1 minute and 50 seconds down, but in sporting terms he emerged with the bigger gain in the battle for the class standings.

Mulec extended his lead over Preston Campbell by 6 minutes and 12 seconds and now holds a solid advantage going into the final day. In practical terms, the duel has clearly swung in favor of the BAS World KTM rider. Campbell appears set for second place, with Martim Ventura behind him in third, keeping the second factory Honda in Rally2 on the podium.

Final day set to be a sprint

With only 105 kilometers against the clock remaining, the calculation at the front is clear. Benavides needs to recover time, while Brabec’s priority will be control and consistency. The chances of a major strategic shake-up are small, but in Dakar, a single mistake or technical issue can still turn everything upside down. Behind them, the battle remains tight as well, with Howes and Sanders separated by just ten seconds in the overall standings. In Rally2, Mulec appears to hold the strongest cards, but there too the final stage will be all about focus, error-free riding, and making it safely to Yanbu.