Australian Daniel Sanders continues to lead the 2025 Dakar Rally in the Saudi Arabian desert, despite suffering a setback on stage three yesterday.
After opening the stage and encountering an issue with his ‘roadbook’, KTM star Sanders came home in 17th on stage three but he still maintained his overall rally lead.
Technical navigation and long, rocky tracks ensured another tough day in the saddle on stage three of the Dakar Rally. Covering a total distance of 793 kilometers from Bisha to Al Henakiyah, the stage required both focus and endurance from all competitors.
Capitalising on his advantageous start position as the sixth rider to set off into stage three, Argentine rider Luciano Benavides charged hard throughout the physically demanding special to secure an impressive fifth-place result as Spanish Sherco rider Lorenzo Santolino won the stage ahead of American Honda rider, defending Dakar champion Ricky Brabec, fellow American Honda star Skyler Howes (USA) and Hero bike brand rider Ross Branch, from Botswana.
Opening stage three was never going to be easy for Sanders, particularly with the timed special featuring tricky navigation and rough terrain. Unfortunately, an issue with his digital roadbook mid-way through the special proved costly for “Chucky”, causing him to lose valuable time to his rivals as he struggled to navigate.
The Australian was awarded some time back after the stage and finished 17th.
Despite the setback, Sanders’ earlier stage victories allow him to hold onto the overall rally lead by nearly seven minutes, a margin he aims to build upon when he starts mid-pack tomorrow.
Daniel Sanders: “I felt really good on the bike today and my navigation this morning was spot on through some of the really difficult parts. Unfortunately, I had an issue with my roadbook tablet after the refueling stop so I really struggled to navigate.
“I was lost for a while as I had no way of knowing the route, and I decided to follow a rider who then also got lost which cost me even more time. The good thing is I’m still leading the overall, so all I can do now is freshen up, recover and get ready to claim some time back tomorrow.”
Provisional Results – 2025 Dakar Rally, Stage 3:
- Lorenzo Santolino (ESP), Sherco, 3:44:34
- Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 3:48:35 +4:01
- Skyler Howes (USA), Honda, 3:48:44 +4:10
- Ross Branch (BWA), Hero, 3:48:48 +4:14
- Luciano Benavides (ARG), KTM, 3:49:29 +4:55
Provisional Standings – 2025 Dakar Rally (after 3 of 12 stages):
- Daniel Sanders (AUS), KTM, 20:05:00
- Skyler Howes (USA), Honda, 20:11:51 +6:51
- Ross Branch (BWA), Hero, 20:11:59 +6:59
- Ricky Brabec (USA), Honda, 20:14:15 +9:15
- Tosha Schareina (ESP), Honda, 20:18:11 +13:11
Photo courtesy KTM, Matteo Gebbia/Edophoto
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