Stage six of the 2026 Dakar Rally in the bikes delivered exactly what you expect from the longest day of the first week: an early start, a seemingly endless liaison, and a challenging special in the sand. In the Qassim region, it was all about reading dunes, maintaining rhythm and managing tyres. The stage featured a neutralised zone halfway through and time bonuses for riders who opened the track. After 331 kilometres of timed racing towards Riyadh, it looked like Daniel Sanders had the win in the bag, but a speeding penalty cost him six minutes, handing the stage victory to Ricky Brabec.
Sanders dominates the stage, Brabec wins anyway
Daniel Sanders rode a commanding dune stage. After catching Luciano Benavides shortly after the neutralised zone, the Australian took charge and set the pace all the way to the finish. He was initially ranked first in the stage classification, followed by Ricky Brabec and Tosha Schareina.
That provisional win did not stand. Sanders received a time penalty at the bivouac for speeding at 98 kilometres per hour in a 50 zone. As a result, the stage win went to Ricky Brabec. The American came out on top in Riyadh, finishing 1 minute and 14 seconds ahead of teammate Schareina, with Sanders third at 1 minute and 17 seconds. Skyler Howes and Adrien Van Beveren completed Honda’s dominance by securing fourth and fifth. Benavides, who opened the stage, finished sixth.
The penalty shook up the standings. Sanders remains in the lead, but his gap to Brabec has narrowed to just 45 seconds. Luciano Benavides is third, trailing by 10 minutes and 15 seconds, followed by Schareina at 11 minutes and 56 seconds. After a week of racing and with the rest day approaching, the title fight is wide open again.
Docherty wins again, despite penalty
In Rally2, Michael Docherty made a strong comeback after retiring earlier due to a broken front wheel. The South African was the fastest in his class and even posted the fourth-best time overall among the RallyGP riders. He too received a penalty, seven minutes for two speeding offences, but it didn’t change the day’s result. He keeps the win, although his lead over Toni Mulec is now down to 2 minutes and 33 seconds. Neels Theric completed the Rally2 podium.
Dutchman Ian Olthof is still on the stage with his HT Rally Raid Honda. He started the special at 09:45 and has been clocking around 45th position at the various waypoints.
In the overall Rally2 standings, Preston Campbell remains firmly in control. The American has built a comfortable lead after six stages, thanks to consistent performance throughout the first week. Toni Mulec has moved up to second, confirming his steady progress in recent editions, while Konrad Dabrowski is third, just behind the Slovenian. Michael Docherty’s stage win and strong pace helped him regain some ground, but earlier setbacks still keep him out of the top three. With the rest day coming up, the second week of racing may still bring major shifts in the Rally2 classification.
Melot at home in the dunes
In the Original by Motul category, the dunes once again made the difference. Benjamin Melot looked visibly more comfortable in the sand, which helped him strengthen his position in the unassisted ranking. The overall gaps remain small, and every mistake could prove costly.
Looking ahead: rest day in Riyadh
After the first Dakar week, it’s time for the well-earned rest day in Riyadh. Riders and teams can recover, inspect their equipment, and regroup. What lies ahead is a very different chapter, where fatigue, navigation, and strategy will play a growing role, and where both Rally GP and Rally2 still have plenty of surprises in store.
