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Dakar: Benavides Wins Stage Eight, Sanders Finishes Seventh

Michael Gougis
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Dakar: Benavides Wins Stage Eight, Sanders Finishes Seventh

The time spent by Luciano Benavides and Adrien Van Beveren assisting Pablo Quintanilla has been recredited to the two riders. The Argentinean Benavides has won the day’s special with a lead of 2’08’’ over the Frenchman van Beveren. In the end, Tosha Schareina has finished 3rd, 2’14’’ behind Benavides, ahead of 4th-placed Ricky Brabec, 4’21’’ back, and Skyler Howes, in 5th, 4’59’’ down. The leading Rally 2 rider, Michael Docherty, finished 6th, 6’28’’ behind the winner.

General rankings leader Daniel Sanders, completed the stage in 7th 6’44’’ behind Benavides.

The top 10 from the eighth stage of the Dakar:

 

HRC Announces 2025 Road Racing Plans

Michael Gougis
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HRC Announces 2025 Road Racing Plans

Since first entering the Isle of Man TT races in 1959, with company founder Soichiro Honda’s passion to become the world’s number one in technology, Honda has continued to participate in various motorcycle and automobile races around the world. Many riders and drivers from yesteryear have competed on the world stage, and no matter how many times they have faced challenges, have overcome and accumulated victories by pushing on, undaunted. In 2025, Honda will continue to strengthen this challenging spirit and develop motorsports activities with the riders, drivers, and people who fight alongside Honda.

In 2024, Honda won the Dakar Rally 2024, a world championship in which it competes as a factory team, for the first time in three years, and also won the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race for the third consecutive year. It also won both the FIM1 Trial World Championship and the FIM X-Trial World Championship, setting a new record of 36 consecutive titles over both series. On the other hand, Honda had a difficult year in the MotoGP class of the FIM Road Racing World Championship.

For 2025 in the MotoGP class, Honda will further strengthen its development system, including testing, in order to break out of its current situation. 2024 MotoGP riders Takaaki Nakagami and Aleix Espargaró will join the development team to accelerate development to enhance the RC213V’s competitiveness. The factory team will be named “Honda HRC” and will field two RC213Vs. For the satellite teams, Honda LCR will continue to race in 2025.
In the FIM Superbike World Championship, the factory team Honda HRC will continue to compete with two upgraded and more competitive CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP racing bikes. 

In the FIM Motocross World Championship, Honda will aim to regain the championship title in the MXGP class for the first time in three years through enhancing the competitiveness of the CRF450R and the team.

In the FIM Trial World Championship TrialGP class and FIM X-Trial World Championship, Toni Bou will aim to extend his record to 19th consecutive victories in both championships. Honda is also striving for back-to-back championships in the Dakar Rally 2025 currently being held in Saudi Arabia.

Honda aims to achieve carbon neutrality in all of its motorcycle products in the 2040s, and while continuing to work on the evolution of the internal combustion engine (ICE), is also working on the electrification of motorcycles as a key element of its future environmental strategy. In motorsports, last year Honda participated in the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup with the CR ELECTRIC PROTO. In addition, it entered three rounds of the MFJ2 All Japan Trial Championship as a wildcard entry with the RTL ELECTRIC. Its development rider Takahisa Fujinami took three consecutive wins. The RTL ELECTRIC will compete on a new stage in 2025, in the Trial World Championship Trial2 class.

Honda will continue the activities of Honda Team Asia, which will continue to compete in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes of MotoGP in the 2025 season, and also continue to utilize IDEMITSU Asia Talent Cup (IATC) as a program designed to foster young riders. Through these initiatives, Honda will strive to discover and foster more riders who can compete in world-class races.

HRC is hosting one-make races at approximately 30 circuits throughout Japan under two categories of races with different purposes – to simply enjoy motorsports and to foster future MotoGP riders.

The one-make race series hosted by HRC include HRC GROM Cup, CBR250R Dream Cup and CBR250RR Dream Cup, which feature production models, as well as the NSF100 HRC Trophy, which features the NSF100, an HRC production model racer and the HRC NSF250R Challenge which is designed to foster future MotoGP riders.

The one-make race series are being held at a number of circuits throughout Japan. In addition, HRC has been hosting some Japan-wide races (at Suzuka or Motegi) for riders who fulfill certain conditions and offering support for riders to step up through training classes. The HRC one-make race series enables participants to enjoy racing and/or strive to realize their dreams.

(Editors Note: Honda also will support teams in the FIM Endurance World Championship, the Supersport World Championship, the MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship and the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship.)

 

 

Dakar: Sanders Wins Stage Seven, Extends Overall Lead

Michael Gougis
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Dakar: Sanders Wins Stage Seven, Extends Overall Lead

Daniel Sanders took his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine to the win in the seventh stage and extended his overall lead in the 2025 Dakar rally. Americans Ricky Brabec and Skyler Howes were ninth and tenth on their Monster Energy Hondas. Sanders now leads by more than 15 minutes over Tosha Schareina and by more than 26 minutes over Adrien van Beveren.

The top 10 from stage seven of the Dakar:

 

Alpinestars Unveils Tech-Air 5 Plasma Airbag

Michael Gougis
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Alpinestars Unveils Tech-Air 5 Plasma Airbag

Alpinestars has redefined protection for motorcyclists ever since the company was established in 1963, and today sees the brand giving a technical preview of Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA, the all-new, autonomous motorcycling Airbag System.

Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA is the latest addition to the Alpinestars Tech-Air® family, which includes the Tech-Air® 10, Tech-Air® 5, Tech-Air® 7x, Tech-Air® 3, Tech-Air® 3 Canvas, Tech-Air® 3 Leather, Tech-Air® 3 Stella, Tech-Air® OFF-ROAD, and Tech-Air® MX Systems. Alpinestars continues to lead the way in active airbag technology for riders and passengers. The all-new Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA is a definitive demonstration of Alpinestars’ continued commitment to making the most versatile airbag technology products in the industry.

Engineered to be ultra-lightweight, superior in comfort, and low-profile, the state-of-the-art Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA provides comprehensive upper body coverage, protecting the rider’s chest, ribs, back, and shoulders. The System is also equipped with a Nucleon PLASMA back protector for the optimum blend of comfort, flexibility, airflow, and protection. With a new dedicated algorithm featuring three Riding Modes, STREET, RACE, and OFF-ROAD, the Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA is a single-charge deployment Airbag System, and its gas canister is replaceable by the user.

With meticulous attention to weight savings, the Tech-Air® 5 PLAMSA Airbag System tips the scales at just 1530g (3.373 lbs.), more than 25 percent lighter than the existing Tech-Air® 5 Airbag System.

The ultra-slim profile features a minimalist construction design, enhancing rider comfort and the overall wearability of the system under any Alpinestars jacket. The main material features a full-stretch chassis construction for superior breathability, with a moisture-wicking treatment for maximum rider comfort, and is fully washable.

The Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA comes with a new dedicated algorithm and three Riding Modes – STREET, RACE, and OFF-ROAD – which can be changed by easily pushing the Display Button, even with gloves on. This newest addition to the Tech-Air® lineup is a single-charge deployment Airbag System that can be serviced by the user up to six times before a full-service airbag replacement is required. This new system utilizes an easily accessed Type C charging port featured on the lower right torso.

TECHNOLOGY:
The latest evolution of the Tech-Air® wearable technology features a more compact and complete active electronic system that features 6 sensors (2 tri-axial sensors). 1 tri-axial accelerometer and 1 tri-axial gyroscope located on the main electronic control unit leverage AI to accurately monitor when to deploy the airbag in the event of a crash.

The System is also extremely easy to use; just zip up the vest and close the magnetic flap, and you’re ready to ride. An LED display indicates the Airbag System’s operational status, and the integrated, certified lithium-ion battery has a battery life of 30 hours of riding time.

Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA has Bluetooth connectivity and an accompanying Tech-Air® App, which uses the rider’s phone to display the System’s operational status, battery status, and a detailed ride analysis; The System’s firmware can also be easily updated directly via the app.

Over 20 years ago, Alpinestars began development on the original Tech-Air® System. When launched in the market in 2011, the Tech-Air® System was recognized as the world’s first airbag providing full upper body protection with a completely independent electronic management system, in addition to having the versatility of the vest which could be easily zipped into a variety of Tech-Air® compatible jackets. In December 2019, Tech-Air® 5 was recognized by CES, as one of the must-see innovative products in the Wearables Technology Marketplace.

SIZES OFFERED: XS-XXL

PRICING: $789.95 (US Dollars)

OFFICIAL RELEASE: MID-MARCH 2025 (US) – OCTOBER 2025 (INTERNATIONALLY)

A History of Alpinestars Tech-Air® Airbag Technology: Pioneering Innovation in Rider Safety

2001: Tech-Air® Airbag System project begins.

2004: Alpinestars performs its first electronic airbag test; with outer airbag balloons of 2 x 60 liters. Alpinestars decided to use electronic triggering for the airbag as the company analyzed and studied all solutions and discovered that with a mechanical system, the activation is not fast enough to guarantee first-impact protection.

2004: Alpinestars also starts collecting riding data from professional riders in MotoGP.

2009: Alpinestars introduces Tech-Air® Race in MotoGP.

2011: Tech-Air® Race is integrated into Alpinestars’ top leather suit and becomes available to final customers.

2014: The Tech-Air® Street Airbag System is launched to the market at the EICMA show in Milan, as a modular self-contained electronic Airbag System that provides first impact protection for the full upper torso. Tech-Air® Street is the first System in the market to provide this level of protection. Additionally, the System allows the rider to easily switch between Tech-Air® compatible garments and to adapt these garments to his/her riding requirements and the weather conditions.

2016: Tech-Air® Race is introduced as a modular System that allows riders to not only choose between a wide variety of compatible suits and garments but to choose between algorithms; riders can switch between racetrack use and public road use with the RACE and STREET algorithms. Tech-Air® Race is the first Airbag System in the market to allow this option.

2020: The Tech-Air® 5 System is launched, joining the Tech-Air® Race and Tech-Air® Street vests, in the Alpinestars Tech-Air® line-up. The Tech-Air® Off-Road System is offered to all professional Rally riders.

2022: The Tech-Air® 3 and The Tech-Air® 10 Systems are launched to the market. The Tech-Air® Off-Road V2 system is offered to all professional Rally riders.

2024: The Tech-Air® 7x, and Tech-Air Off-Road Systems are launched to the public, and Tech-Air® MX is offered to professional riders in MXGP.

2025: Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA is revealed at CES in Las Vegas.

Moreira, Chareyre Win Rossi’s 100KM Of Champions

Michael Gougis
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Moreira, Chareyre Win Rossi’s 100KM Of Champions
Thomas Chareyre (4). Photo from TM-moto.it.

Moto2 World Championship racer Diogo Moreira and multi-time Supermoto World Champion Thomas Chareyre won the annual 100km of Champions at the VR46 ranch in Tavullia, Italy.

Valentino Rossi and Luca Marini took second, ahead of Elia Bartolini and Lorenzo Baldassari.

Americans Sammy Halbert and J.D. Beach finished eighth.

100km results

Aprilia’s Cerutti Wins Africa Eco rally

Michael Gougis
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Aprilia’s Cerutti Wins Africa Eco rally

Jacopo Cerutti and Team Aprilia Tuareg Racing write another memorable page of Africa Eco Race history. With an extraordinary win in the eleventh stage, Cerutti took the 2025 Africa Eco Race title, giving Team Aprilia Tuareg Racing their second consecutive title in this iconic rally raid.

The eleventh stage took the riders into Senegal, from Nouakchott to Mpal, for the timed section in the Sahelian Savannah through a mixture of sandy trails and complex navigation. The final standings were announced at the Mpal bivouac, since the eleventh stage is the last one valid for the rankings ahead of the triumphant procession on Sunday with the legendary Lac Rose as the destination.

After closing the gap behind the overall leader to just nine seconds with his extraordinary victory in the tenth stage, Jacopo Cerutti started first, blazing the trail, with the goal of overturning the results of the rally in the final decisive timed section for the standings. With a fast pace, Cerutti won the stage with a 35’’ advantage, also taking the title of 2025 Africa Eco Race Champion for the second year in a row. With this result, the Aprilia Tuareg Rally confirms its status as the bike to beat and Cerutti as the rider to beat, despite the physical difficulties he faced in the final stages with extraordinary resilience.

Francesco Montanari finished the eleventh stage fourth overall, +4’03’’ behind the leader, and he is now forty-first in the overall standings, partly because of a DNF in the tenth stage. Marco Menichini, on the other hand, finished eighth overall, +8’04’’ behind the winner, consolidating his sixth place in the overall standings and also taking the win for the Under 25 category. Both riders confirmed increasingly higher performance throughout the 2025 Africa Eco Race, further reinforcing the competitiveness of Team Aprilia Tuareg Racing.

This second consecutive title and the positive results achieved by all the Aprilia Tuareg Racing riders confirm the versatile features and reliability of the Tuareg Rally in an environment with extreme conditions, such as those experienced in the 2025 edition of the Africa Eco Race.

JACOPO CERUTTI

“This win has a special flavour. Today I started really well and I knew I would have to give one hundred percent to close the gap. It was a hard race, full of unexpected surprises, but the team and I knew how to react in every situation. I wish to dedicate this win to the team and their tireless efforts. Winning the Africa Eco Race for the second consecutive year is a dream.”

MASSIMO RIVOLA

“We must celebrate Jacopo and the Aprilia Tuareg Rally who proved to be highly competitive. We should point out Jacopo’s ability to tackle challenges, in spite of the numerous misadventures such as the issues with the mousse in his rear tyre, the organisation’s navigation instrument which didn’t work, and the gastrointestinal virus. He did something truly special, keeping us all on the edge of our seats until the end – not only Aprilia fans, but all motorsport enthusiasts. This win is even more valuable when you consider that he started this stage from behind in the overall standings. Congratulations to Jacopo and Team Guareschi, who never gave up all the way to the end.”

Dakar: American Brabec Wins Stage Six

Michael Gougis
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0
Dakar: American Brabec Wins Stage Six
Ricky Brabec. Photo courtesy Dakar.com

The reigning champion claimed his first stage win of the race, marking his eleventh Dakar stage victory. Starting sixth this morning, over 29 minutes behind, the HRC rider moved up to fourth place in the provisional standings, surpassing his teammate Skyler Howes and closing in on the podium, now just 23’18” behind top man Daniel Sanders.

“Yeah, the first day on the second week is a long day. They like to make you get a little bit of rest and then put you right back into it.

“It’s been a tough day. I saw (Branch) Ross on the ground, pushed the rescue button, saw the helicopter just up ahead landing on the ground. So I figured for me it was quicker just to get out of there and go to the helicopter directly rather than try to phone some rescue. But before I even got to Ross, there was police already with them and he was conscious. So yeah, once I did that, kept going on my way.

“You know, the stage was pretty varied, with multiple conditions of terrain. And yeah, the last little bit in the dunes was tricky because all the local traffic to watch the race was crazy. There’s people going everywhere. But yeah, all is good. Six more days, so we’ll keep fighting.”

Editors Note: Americans Mason Klein, Skyler Howes and Jacob Argubright finished the stage seventh, eighth and 23rd. Daniel Sanders retained the overall lead, with Brabec in fourth.

Top 10 from stage six of the Dakar rally:

 

 

Supercross: Anaheim Opener Will Be Live On USA Network & Peacock

John Ulrich
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Supercross: Anaheim Opener Will Be Live On USA Network & Peacock

SMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES BEGINS WITH MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS SEASON OPENER THIS SATURDAY IN ANAHEIM LIVE AT 8:00 P.M. EST ON USA NETWORK AND PEACOCK

Telemundo YouTube and Facebook to Feature the Spanish Language Broadcast Live for all 2025 Races

Reigning Supercross and SMX World Champion Jett Lawrence Headlines Field

Leigh Diffey, 15-Time AMA Champion Ricky Carmichael, and Seven-Time AMA Champion James Stewart to Call Race

Peacock to Stream All Races, Qualifying and Heats Live Across the 2025 Supercross Season, Including 16 Exclusive Live Races

The 2025 SMX World Championship series and Monster Energy AMA Supercross season begins this Saturday, January 11, from Angel Stadium of Anaheim in California, starting live at 7:30 p.m. ET with exclusive pre-race coverage on Peacock followed by the race at 8:00 p.m. EST on USA Network and Peacock.

Saturday’s season opener is headlined by reigning Supercross and SMX World Champion Jett Lawrence, competing in his sophomore season in the premier class. Lawrence’s older brother, Hunter, who finished second overall in the SMX Playoffs, also looks to build on the momentum from 2024. Two-time Supercross Champions Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb, as well as reigning two-time Pro Motocross Champion Chase Sexton are all expected to compete on Saturday and begin an action-packed 2025 season. The Western Regional 250SX Championship kicks off as well with reigning two-time 250 SMX World Champion Haiden Deegan headlining the field.

2025 marks the third year of the SMX World Championship, which unifies Supercross and Pro Motocross and presents the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs, with the top racers in the world competing for the sport’s ultimate title in a style of racing that features the best that both indoor stadium Supercross and outdoor Pro Motocross seasons have to offer.

Leigh Diffey will serve as play-by-play with 15-time AMA champion Ricky Carmichael and seven-time AMA champion James Stewart serving as analysts. Will Christien and Jason Thomas will serve as reporters.

Race Day Live qualifying coverage on Saturday from Anaheim gets underway at 2:30 p.m. EST exclusively on Peacock, hosted by former racers Justin Brayton and Adam Cianciarulo. The pre-race show at 7:30 p.m. EST will be hosted by Jason Weigandt, Brayton, and Cianciarulo. All Supercross live coverage, including races, heats, and qualifying, plus on-demand replays, will be available on Peacock.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide live streaming coverage of Saturday’s race. An encore presentation of the race will air Sunday, January 12 at 2:00 p.m. EST on NBC.

28 regular season races plus the postseason playoffs across the series, including exclusive live coverage of Main Event races, qualifiers, and heats, will be presented across NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms in 2025, culminating with two SMX World Championship Playoff rounds and the SMX World Championship Final. Additionally, Telemundo Deportes will live stream the Spanish-language broadcast of every race this season on the Telemundo Facebook and YouTube channels.

Throughout the season, all 31 SMX World Championship rounds will be presented on NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85.

Broadcast Team

Play by Play: Leigh Diffey

Analyst: Ricky Carmichael / James Stewart

Reporters: Will Christien / Jason Thomas

Pre-Race: Justin Brayton / Adam Cianciarulo / Jason Weigandt

How To Watch (all times EST)

TV – USA Network, NBC

Streaming – Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, Telemundo Facebook/YouTube

How To Listen (all times ET)

Satellite Radio – NBC Sports Audio – Sirius XM Channel 85

MotoAmerica: American Jayden Fernandez Heads To CIV (Italian) Aprilia Trefeo Series

John Ulrich
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MotoAmerica: American Jayden Fernandez Heads To CIV (Italian) Aprilia Trefeo Series

Jayden Fernandez, a 17-year-old rider from Erie, Colorado who previously raced in the 2024 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship and achieved 2 podiums, a pole position, and finished sixth in the final standings, will race in the 2025 CIV Italian Road Racing Championship!

For 2025, Jayden has decided to take a big step, signing an annual contract with Massimiliano Morlacchi’s Team MMR to participate in the 2025 Italian Championship (CIV) in the Aprilia Trefeo Cup, racing a brand new RS660 Extrema.

Team MMR has included the option for Jayden to eventually move up and race with the SBK World Championship in 2026, in the new category that will soon replace the current SSP300. A Sportbike category, which is said to be very similar to the MotoAmerica Twins Cup. In fact, Team MMR will be supported in this project directly by Factory Aprilia Racing.

Jayden Fernandez:
“After several years of racing in America I have accomplished many things, especially my last year in MotoAmerica. I have now been given the opportunity to fulfill one of my life-long dreams, to live and race in Europe, more specifically in Spain and Italy. Which is why I’ve been guided with the help of Stefano Favaro, to move there and proudly have him as my manager.

“I would like to thank my whole family (my dad, mom and sister) for the great opportunities they support me with and the trust they have in me. I would also like to thank team owner Massimiliano Morlacchi, for enlightening me with this great opportunity. I’m eager to see what the next year brings me. I would like to thank Rossi and Steve Moor. Rossi is not only a great rider, but a close friend who is always helping me improve. And Steve for all the helpful advice he gives me at every training to help me grow. Last but not least, I would like to thank all my personal sponsors and people who have helped me throughout my years of racing in America, I truly couldn’t have done it without you.”

Massimiliano Morlacchi (Team MMR Owner:
“I am truly happy and enthusiastic to confirm the commitment of our structure for another year in the Aprilia Rs660 Trophy. We are ready to offer Jayden the maximum commitment in the Noale single-brand series that has seen us as protagonists for a few years now. In this way we strengthen our dual commitment both towards Aprilia and in the MotoAmerica channel from which we seek the best talents! Jayden has all the credentials, starting from his young age, to do well and build the foundations of his career in Italy. In the Aprilia Trophy we will try to realize the goodness of our work, achieving the best possible results for the rider and team. See you on the circuit!”

Dakar: Sanders Leads At Halfway Point

Michael Gougis
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Dakar: Sanders Leads At Halfway Point

From a news release issued by Dakar.com:

After 2,559 kilometres of specials covered by the bikes and 2,579 by the cars and trucks, 299 vehicles have reached the rest day in Ha’il in the heart of Saudi Arabia. 118 bikes (including 100 Rally 2), 58 Ultimate cars, 2 Stock, 45 Challenger cars, 33 SSV and 43 trucks will resume racing on Saturday for the seven stages remaining before the final finishing line in Shubaytah, in the Empty Quarter. 81 vehicles have been able to use a joker to remain in the race, while 36 have been forced into premature exits (i.e., 10.75%).

At the midway point, the rankings are dominated by Daniel Sanders in the Rally GP class; Edgar Canet in the Rally 2 class; Henk Lategan in the Ultimate class; Nicolas Cavigliasso in the Challenger class; Brock Heger in the SSV category; and Martin Macik in the truck race, all of whom are under the age of 36 years. The rejuvenation of the discipline is underlined by the records for youthful promise beaten by Seth Quintero and then Saood Variawa, respectively aged 22 and 19 years and both stage winners, as well as the early departures from the rally by Carlos Sainz and Sébastien Loeb.

Daniel Sanders put himself in a favourable situation from the outset. Thanks to victory on the prologue, the Australian started behind his rivals for stage 1, which he won, enabling him to achieve the same feat the next day, taking advantage of the reverse order start for the 48 HR Chrono stage. ‘Chucky’ also limited the damage when opening the way, on stages 3 and 5. This strategic approach put him in the lead in the general rankings from the very first day of the rally.

Honda is leading the resistance with 4 riders in the top 6, including Tosha Schareina (in 2nd place, 15’02’’ behind), Adrien Van Beveren (3rd, 24’31’’ back), Skyler Howes (5th, 27’59’’ down) and Ricky Brabec (6th, 29’01’’ behind). Hero rider Ross Branch (4th, 25’48’’ behind) is also keeping the pace. Luciano Benavides on his KTM completes a top 7 all within a 32’15’’ time bracket.

Edgar Canet could hardly have dreamed of a better debut. The youngest official rider in history (at the age of 19 years) won half of the Rally 2 specials on offer and leads the rankings in addition to occupying 10th place in the overall bike category. The Spaniard boasts a lead of 16’39’’ over his Austrian rival, Tobias Ebster. Michael Docherty (31’07’’ behind) completes a 100% KTM provisional podium ahead of the Hondas ridden by Romain Dumontier (49’47’’ back) and Jacob Arbugright (51’34’’ down).

KTM has left its mark on the first half of the competition, winning 5 specials out of 6 in the Rally GP class (4 for Sanders and one for L. Benavides) and 6 out of 6 in the Rally 2 class (3 for Canet, 2 for Ebster and one for Docherty). Sherco (avec Lorenzo Santolino) and Honda (with AVB) have taken the other two victories. After being dethroned in both classes last year, the Austrian firm is in the process of setting the record straight.

Emanuel Gyenes and Benjamin Melot, both specialists in the unassisted bikers’ race, finished first and second in 2020. Five years later, the duel has recommenced. Both men have dominated the Original by Motul class, with the advantage for the Romanian by 13’16’’ ahead of the Frenchman. The last step on the provisional podium is also hotly contested, between Jérôme Martiny (58’03’’ behind the current leader), Jaromir Romancik (1:03’29’’ back) and Mike Wiedemann (1:04’28’’ down), who are all within a 6-minute bracket.

The young brands that have recently arrived on the Dakar are performing well while obtaining experience. Chinese manufacturer Kove is in the Top 20 for the first time in its history with Neels Theric, who is 18th overall and 6th in the Rally 2 class. Italian brand Fantic is battling to achieve its first top 30 finish with Jeremy Miroir (in 28th place), while the three Hoto bikes, also from China, which are making their debut this year, are all still in the race, in the top 50.

Dakar: Benavides Wins Stage Eight, Sanders Finishes Seventh

Luciano Benavides. Photo courtesy Dakar.com

The time spent by Luciano Benavides and Adrien Van Beveren assisting Pablo Quintanilla has been recredited to the two riders. The Argentinean Benavides has won the day’s special with a lead of 2’08’’ over the Frenchman van Beveren. In the end, Tosha Schareina has finished 3rd, 2’14’’ behind Benavides, ahead of 4th-placed Ricky Brabec, 4’21’’ back, and Skyler Howes, in 5th, 4’59’’ down. The leading Rally 2 rider, Michael Docherty, finished 6th, 6’28’’ behind the winner.

General rankings leader Daniel Sanders, completed the stage in 7th 6’44’’ behind Benavides.

The top 10 from the eighth stage of the Dakar:

 

HRC Announces 2025 Road Racing Plans

Luca Marini (10) on the factory Honda RC213V in testing at Barcelona. Photo by Michael Gougis.

Since first entering the Isle of Man TT races in 1959, with company founder Soichiro Honda’s passion to become the world’s number one in technology, Honda has continued to participate in various motorcycle and automobile races around the world. Many riders and drivers from yesteryear have competed on the world stage, and no matter how many times they have faced challenges, have overcome and accumulated victories by pushing on, undaunted. In 2025, Honda will continue to strengthen this challenging spirit and develop motorsports activities with the riders, drivers, and people who fight alongside Honda.

In 2024, Honda won the Dakar Rally 2024, a world championship in which it competes as a factory team, for the first time in three years, and also won the Suzuka 8 Hours Endurance Road Race for the third consecutive year. It also won both the FIM1 Trial World Championship and the FIM X-Trial World Championship, setting a new record of 36 consecutive titles over both series. On the other hand, Honda had a difficult year in the MotoGP class of the FIM Road Racing World Championship.

For 2025 in the MotoGP class, Honda will further strengthen its development system, including testing, in order to break out of its current situation. 2024 MotoGP riders Takaaki Nakagami and Aleix Espargaró will join the development team to accelerate development to enhance the RC213V’s competitiveness. The factory team will be named “Honda HRC” and will field two RC213Vs. For the satellite teams, Honda LCR will continue to race in 2025.
In the FIM Superbike World Championship, the factory team Honda HRC will continue to compete with two upgraded and more competitive CBR1000RR-R FIREBLADE SP racing bikes. 

In the FIM Motocross World Championship, Honda will aim to regain the championship title in the MXGP class for the first time in three years through enhancing the competitiveness of the CRF450R and the team.

In the FIM Trial World Championship TrialGP class and FIM X-Trial World Championship, Toni Bou will aim to extend his record to 19th consecutive victories in both championships. Honda is also striving for back-to-back championships in the Dakar Rally 2025 currently being held in Saudi Arabia.

Honda aims to achieve carbon neutrality in all of its motorcycle products in the 2040s, and while continuing to work on the evolution of the internal combustion engine (ICE), is also working on the electrification of motorcycles as a key element of its future environmental strategy. In motorsports, last year Honda participated in the FIM E-Xplorer World Cup with the CR ELECTRIC PROTO. In addition, it entered three rounds of the MFJ2 All Japan Trial Championship as a wildcard entry with the RTL ELECTRIC. Its development rider Takahisa Fujinami took three consecutive wins. The RTL ELECTRIC will compete on a new stage in 2025, in the Trial World Championship Trial2 class.

Honda will continue the activities of Honda Team Asia, which will continue to compete in the Moto2 and Moto3 classes of MotoGP in the 2025 season, and also continue to utilize IDEMITSU Asia Talent Cup (IATC) as a program designed to foster young riders. Through these initiatives, Honda will strive to discover and foster more riders who can compete in world-class races.

HRC is hosting one-make races at approximately 30 circuits throughout Japan under two categories of races with different purposes – to simply enjoy motorsports and to foster future MotoGP riders.

The one-make race series hosted by HRC include HRC GROM Cup, CBR250R Dream Cup and CBR250RR Dream Cup, which feature production models, as well as the NSF100 HRC Trophy, which features the NSF100, an HRC production model racer and the HRC NSF250R Challenge which is designed to foster future MotoGP riders.

The one-make race series are being held at a number of circuits throughout Japan. In addition, HRC has been hosting some Japan-wide races (at Suzuka or Motegi) for riders who fulfill certain conditions and offering support for riders to step up through training classes. The HRC one-make race series enables participants to enjoy racing and/or strive to realize their dreams.

(Editors Note: Honda also will support teams in the FIM Endurance World Championship, the Supersport World Championship, the MFJ All Japan Road Race Championship and the FIM Asia Road Racing Championship.)

 

 

Dakar: Sanders Wins Stage Seven, Extends Overall Lead

Daniel Sanders. Photo by Edo Bauer/courtesy KTM.

Daniel Sanders took his Red Bull KTM Factory Racing machine to the win in the seventh stage and extended his overall lead in the 2025 Dakar rally. Americans Ricky Brabec and Skyler Howes were ninth and tenth on their Monster Energy Hondas. Sanders now leads by more than 15 minutes over Tosha Schareina and by more than 26 minutes over Adrien van Beveren.

The top 10 from stage seven of the Dakar:

 

Alpinestars Unveils Tech-Air 5 Plasma Airbag

Alpinestars Tech-Air 5 Plasma airbag. Photo courtesy Alpinestars.

Alpinestars has redefined protection for motorcyclists ever since the company was established in 1963, and today sees the brand giving a technical preview of Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA, the all-new, autonomous motorcycling Airbag System.

Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA is the latest addition to the Alpinestars Tech-Air® family, which includes the Tech-Air® 10, Tech-Air® 5, Tech-Air® 7x, Tech-Air® 3, Tech-Air® 3 Canvas, Tech-Air® 3 Leather, Tech-Air® 3 Stella, Tech-Air® OFF-ROAD, and Tech-Air® MX Systems. Alpinestars continues to lead the way in active airbag technology for riders and passengers. The all-new Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA is a definitive demonstration of Alpinestars’ continued commitment to making the most versatile airbag technology products in the industry.

Engineered to be ultra-lightweight, superior in comfort, and low-profile, the state-of-the-art Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA provides comprehensive upper body coverage, protecting the rider’s chest, ribs, back, and shoulders. The System is also equipped with a Nucleon PLASMA back protector for the optimum blend of comfort, flexibility, airflow, and protection. With a new dedicated algorithm featuring three Riding Modes, STREET, RACE, and OFF-ROAD, the Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA is a single-charge deployment Airbag System, and its gas canister is replaceable by the user.

With meticulous attention to weight savings, the Tech-Air® 5 PLAMSA Airbag System tips the scales at just 1530g (3.373 lbs.), more than 25 percent lighter than the existing Tech-Air® 5 Airbag System.

The ultra-slim profile features a minimalist construction design, enhancing rider comfort and the overall wearability of the system under any Alpinestars jacket. The main material features a full-stretch chassis construction for superior breathability, with a moisture-wicking treatment for maximum rider comfort, and is fully washable.

The Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA comes with a new dedicated algorithm and three Riding Modes – STREET, RACE, and OFF-ROAD – which can be changed by easily pushing the Display Button, even with gloves on. This newest addition to the Tech-Air® lineup is a single-charge deployment Airbag System that can be serviced by the user up to six times before a full-service airbag replacement is required. This new system utilizes an easily accessed Type C charging port featured on the lower right torso.

TECHNOLOGY:
The latest evolution of the Tech-Air® wearable technology features a more compact and complete active electronic system that features 6 sensors (2 tri-axial sensors). 1 tri-axial accelerometer and 1 tri-axial gyroscope located on the main electronic control unit leverage AI to accurately monitor when to deploy the airbag in the event of a crash.

The System is also extremely easy to use; just zip up the vest and close the magnetic flap, and you’re ready to ride. An LED display indicates the Airbag System’s operational status, and the integrated, certified lithium-ion battery has a battery life of 30 hours of riding time.

Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA has Bluetooth connectivity and an accompanying Tech-Air® App, which uses the rider’s phone to display the System’s operational status, battery status, and a detailed ride analysis; The System’s firmware can also be easily updated directly via the app.

Over 20 years ago, Alpinestars began development on the original Tech-Air® System. When launched in the market in 2011, the Tech-Air® System was recognized as the world’s first airbag providing full upper body protection with a completely independent electronic management system, in addition to having the versatility of the vest which could be easily zipped into a variety of Tech-Air® compatible jackets. In December 2019, Tech-Air® 5 was recognized by CES, as one of the must-see innovative products in the Wearables Technology Marketplace.

SIZES OFFERED: XS-XXL

PRICING: $789.95 (US Dollars)

OFFICIAL RELEASE: MID-MARCH 2025 (US) – OCTOBER 2025 (INTERNATIONALLY)

A History of Alpinestars Tech-Air® Airbag Technology: Pioneering Innovation in Rider Safety

2001: Tech-Air® Airbag System project begins.

2004: Alpinestars performs its first electronic airbag test; with outer airbag balloons of 2 x 60 liters. Alpinestars decided to use electronic triggering for the airbag as the company analyzed and studied all solutions and discovered that with a mechanical system, the activation is not fast enough to guarantee first-impact protection.

2004: Alpinestars also starts collecting riding data from professional riders in MotoGP.

2009: Alpinestars introduces Tech-Air® Race in MotoGP.

2011: Tech-Air® Race is integrated into Alpinestars’ top leather suit and becomes available to final customers.

2014: The Tech-Air® Street Airbag System is launched to the market at the EICMA show in Milan, as a modular self-contained electronic Airbag System that provides first impact protection for the full upper torso. Tech-Air® Street is the first System in the market to provide this level of protection. Additionally, the System allows the rider to easily switch between Tech-Air® compatible garments and to adapt these garments to his/her riding requirements and the weather conditions.

2016: Tech-Air® Race is introduced as a modular System that allows riders to not only choose between a wide variety of compatible suits and garments but to choose between algorithms; riders can switch between racetrack use and public road use with the RACE and STREET algorithms. Tech-Air® Race is the first Airbag System in the market to allow this option.

2020: The Tech-Air® 5 System is launched, joining the Tech-Air® Race and Tech-Air® Street vests, in the Alpinestars Tech-Air® line-up. The Tech-Air® Off-Road System is offered to all professional Rally riders.

2022: The Tech-Air® 3 and The Tech-Air® 10 Systems are launched to the market. The Tech-Air® Off-Road V2 system is offered to all professional Rally riders.

2024: The Tech-Air® 7x, and Tech-Air Off-Road Systems are launched to the public, and Tech-Air® MX is offered to professional riders in MXGP.

2025: Tech-Air® 5 PLASMA is revealed at CES in Las Vegas.

Moreira, Chareyre Win Rossi’s 100KM Of Champions

Diogo Moreira (10) in testing at Barcelona. Photo by Michael Gougis.
Thomas Chareyre (4). Photo from TM-moto.it.

Moto2 World Championship racer Diogo Moreira and multi-time Supermoto World Champion Thomas Chareyre won the annual 100km of Champions at the VR46 ranch in Tavullia, Italy.

Valentino Rossi and Luca Marini took second, ahead of Elia Bartolini and Lorenzo Baldassari.

Americans Sammy Halbert and J.D. Beach finished eighth.

100km results

Aprilia’s Cerutti Wins Africa Eco rally

Jacopo Cerutti. Photo courtesy Aprilia.

Jacopo Cerutti and Team Aprilia Tuareg Racing write another memorable page of Africa Eco Race history. With an extraordinary win in the eleventh stage, Cerutti took the 2025 Africa Eco Race title, giving Team Aprilia Tuareg Racing their second consecutive title in this iconic rally raid.

The eleventh stage took the riders into Senegal, from Nouakchott to Mpal, for the timed section in the Sahelian Savannah through a mixture of sandy trails and complex navigation. The final standings were announced at the Mpal bivouac, since the eleventh stage is the last one valid for the rankings ahead of the triumphant procession on Sunday with the legendary Lac Rose as the destination.

After closing the gap behind the overall leader to just nine seconds with his extraordinary victory in the tenth stage, Jacopo Cerutti started first, blazing the trail, with the goal of overturning the results of the rally in the final decisive timed section for the standings. With a fast pace, Cerutti won the stage with a 35’’ advantage, also taking the title of 2025 Africa Eco Race Champion for the second year in a row. With this result, the Aprilia Tuareg Rally confirms its status as the bike to beat and Cerutti as the rider to beat, despite the physical difficulties he faced in the final stages with extraordinary resilience.

Francesco Montanari finished the eleventh stage fourth overall, +4’03’’ behind the leader, and he is now forty-first in the overall standings, partly because of a DNF in the tenth stage. Marco Menichini, on the other hand, finished eighth overall, +8’04’’ behind the winner, consolidating his sixth place in the overall standings and also taking the win for the Under 25 category. Both riders confirmed increasingly higher performance throughout the 2025 Africa Eco Race, further reinforcing the competitiveness of Team Aprilia Tuareg Racing.

This second consecutive title and the positive results achieved by all the Aprilia Tuareg Racing riders confirm the versatile features and reliability of the Tuareg Rally in an environment with extreme conditions, such as those experienced in the 2025 edition of the Africa Eco Race.

JACOPO CERUTTI

“This win has a special flavour. Today I started really well and I knew I would have to give one hundred percent to close the gap. It was a hard race, full of unexpected surprises, but the team and I knew how to react in every situation. I wish to dedicate this win to the team and their tireless efforts. Winning the Africa Eco Race for the second consecutive year is a dream.”

MASSIMO RIVOLA

“We must celebrate Jacopo and the Aprilia Tuareg Rally who proved to be highly competitive. We should point out Jacopo’s ability to tackle challenges, in spite of the numerous misadventures such as the issues with the mousse in his rear tyre, the organisation’s navigation instrument which didn’t work, and the gastrointestinal virus. He did something truly special, keeping us all on the edge of our seats until the end – not only Aprilia fans, but all motorsport enthusiasts. This win is even more valuable when you consider that he started this stage from behind in the overall standings. Congratulations to Jacopo and Team Guareschi, who never gave up all the way to the end.”

Dakar: American Brabec Wins Stage Six

Ricky Brabec. Photo courtesy HRC.
Ricky Brabec. Photo courtesy Dakar.com

The reigning champion claimed his first stage win of the race, marking his eleventh Dakar stage victory. Starting sixth this morning, over 29 minutes behind, the HRC rider moved up to fourth place in the provisional standings, surpassing his teammate Skyler Howes and closing in on the podium, now just 23’18” behind top man Daniel Sanders.

“Yeah, the first day on the second week is a long day. They like to make you get a little bit of rest and then put you right back into it.

“It’s been a tough day. I saw (Branch) Ross on the ground, pushed the rescue button, saw the helicopter just up ahead landing on the ground. So I figured for me it was quicker just to get out of there and go to the helicopter directly rather than try to phone some rescue. But before I even got to Ross, there was police already with them and he was conscious. So yeah, once I did that, kept going on my way.

“You know, the stage was pretty varied, with multiple conditions of terrain. And yeah, the last little bit in the dunes was tricky because all the local traffic to watch the race was crazy. There’s people going everywhere. But yeah, all is good. Six more days, so we’ll keep fighting.”

Editors Note: Americans Mason Klein, Skyler Howes and Jacob Argubright finished the stage seventh, eighth and 23rd. Daniel Sanders retained the overall lead, with Brabec in fourth.

Top 10 from stage six of the Dakar rally:

 

 

Supercross: Anaheim Opener Will Be Live On USA Network & Peacock

The AMA Supercross opening ceremony fireworks show at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports.
The 2024 AMA Supercross opening ceremony fireworks show at Angels Stadium in Anaheim, California. Photo courtesy Feld Motor Sports.

SMX WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES BEGINS WITH MONSTER ENERGY SUPERCROSS SEASON OPENER THIS SATURDAY IN ANAHEIM LIVE AT 8:00 P.M. EST ON USA NETWORK AND PEACOCK

Telemundo YouTube and Facebook to Feature the Spanish Language Broadcast Live for all 2025 Races

Reigning Supercross and SMX World Champion Jett Lawrence Headlines Field

Leigh Diffey, 15-Time AMA Champion Ricky Carmichael, and Seven-Time AMA Champion James Stewart to Call Race

Peacock to Stream All Races, Qualifying and Heats Live Across the 2025 Supercross Season, Including 16 Exclusive Live Races

The 2025 SMX World Championship series and Monster Energy AMA Supercross season begins this Saturday, January 11, from Angel Stadium of Anaheim in California, starting live at 7:30 p.m. ET with exclusive pre-race coverage on Peacock followed by the race at 8:00 p.m. EST on USA Network and Peacock.

Saturday’s season opener is headlined by reigning Supercross and SMX World Champion Jett Lawrence, competing in his sophomore season in the premier class. Lawrence’s older brother, Hunter, who finished second overall in the SMX Playoffs, also looks to build on the momentum from 2024. Two-time Supercross Champions Eli Tomac and Cooper Webb, as well as reigning two-time Pro Motocross Champion Chase Sexton are all expected to compete on Saturday and begin an action-packed 2025 season. The Western Regional 250SX Championship kicks off as well with reigning two-time 250 SMX World Champion Haiden Deegan headlining the field.

2025 marks the third year of the SMX World Championship, which unifies Supercross and Pro Motocross and presents the season-ending SMX World Championship Playoffs, with the top racers in the world competing for the sport’s ultimate title in a style of racing that features the best that both indoor stadium Supercross and outdoor Pro Motocross seasons have to offer.

Leigh Diffey will serve as play-by-play with 15-time AMA champion Ricky Carmichael and seven-time AMA champion James Stewart serving as analysts. Will Christien and Jason Thomas will serve as reporters.

Race Day Live qualifying coverage on Saturday from Anaheim gets underway at 2:30 p.m. EST exclusively on Peacock, hosted by former racers Justin Brayton and Adam Cianciarulo. The pre-race show at 7:30 p.m. EST will be hosted by Jason Weigandt, Brayton, and Cianciarulo. All Supercross live coverage, including races, heats, and qualifying, plus on-demand replays, will be available on Peacock.

NBCSports.com and the NBC Sports app will provide live streaming coverage of Saturday’s race. An encore presentation of the race will air Sunday, January 12 at 2:00 p.m. EST on NBC.

28 regular season races plus the postseason playoffs across the series, including exclusive live coverage of Main Event races, qualifiers, and heats, will be presented across NBC, Peacock, USA Network, and NBC Sports digital platforms in 2025, culminating with two SMX World Championship Playoff rounds and the SMX World Championship Final. Additionally, Telemundo Deportes will live stream the Spanish-language broadcast of every race this season on the Telemundo Facebook and YouTube channels.

Throughout the season, all 31 SMX World Championship rounds will be presented on NBC Sports Audio on SiriusXM Channel 85.

Broadcast Team

Play by Play: Leigh Diffey

Analyst: Ricky Carmichael / James Stewart

Reporters: Will Christien / Jason Thomas

Pre-Race: Justin Brayton / Adam Cianciarulo / Jason Weigandt

How To Watch (all times EST)

TV – USA Network, NBC

Streaming – Peacock, NBCSports.com, NBC Sports app, Telemundo Facebook/YouTube

How To Listen (all times ET)

Satellite Radio – NBC Sports Audio – Sirius XM Channel 85

MotoAmerica: American Jayden Fernandez Heads To CIV (Italian) Aprilia Trefeo Series

Jayden Fernandez, a 17-year-old rider from Erie, Colorado who previously raced in the 2024 MotoAmerica Junior Cup Championship and achieved 2 podiums, a pole position, and finished sixth in the final standings, will race in the 2025 CIV Italian Road Racing Championship!

For 2025, Jayden has decided to take a big step, signing an annual contract with Massimiliano Morlacchi’s Team MMR to participate in the 2025 Italian Championship (CIV) in the Aprilia Trefeo Cup, racing a brand new RS660 Extrema.

Team MMR has included the option for Jayden to eventually move up and race with the SBK World Championship in 2026, in the new category that will soon replace the current SSP300. A Sportbike category, which is said to be very similar to the MotoAmerica Twins Cup. In fact, Team MMR will be supported in this project directly by Factory Aprilia Racing.

Jayden Fernandez:
“After several years of racing in America I have accomplished many things, especially my last year in MotoAmerica. I have now been given the opportunity to fulfill one of my life-long dreams, to live and race in Europe, more specifically in Spain and Italy. Which is why I’ve been guided with the help of Stefano Favaro, to move there and proudly have him as my manager.

“I would like to thank my whole family (my dad, mom and sister) for the great opportunities they support me with and the trust they have in me. I would also like to thank team owner Massimiliano Morlacchi, for enlightening me with this great opportunity. I’m eager to see what the next year brings me. I would like to thank Rossi and Steve Moor. Rossi is not only a great rider, but a close friend who is always helping me improve. And Steve for all the helpful advice he gives me at every training to help me grow. Last but not least, I would like to thank all my personal sponsors and people who have helped me throughout my years of racing in America, I truly couldn’t have done it without you.”

Massimiliano Morlacchi (Team MMR Owner:
“I am truly happy and enthusiastic to confirm the commitment of our structure for another year in the Aprilia Rs660 Trophy. We are ready to offer Jayden the maximum commitment in the Noale single-brand series that has seen us as protagonists for a few years now. In this way we strengthen our dual commitment both towards Aprilia and in the MotoAmerica channel from which we seek the best talents! Jayden has all the credentials, starting from his young age, to do well and build the foundations of his career in Italy. In the Aprilia Trophy we will try to realize the goodness of our work, achieving the best possible results for the rider and team. See you on the circuit!”

Dakar: Sanders Leads At Halfway Point

Daniel Sanders. Photo by Edo Bauer/courtesy KTM.

From a news release issued by Dakar.com:

After 2,559 kilometres of specials covered by the bikes and 2,579 by the cars and trucks, 299 vehicles have reached the rest day in Ha’il in the heart of Saudi Arabia. 118 bikes (including 100 Rally 2), 58 Ultimate cars, 2 Stock, 45 Challenger cars, 33 SSV and 43 trucks will resume racing on Saturday for the seven stages remaining before the final finishing line in Shubaytah, in the Empty Quarter. 81 vehicles have been able to use a joker to remain in the race, while 36 have been forced into premature exits (i.e., 10.75%).

At the midway point, the rankings are dominated by Daniel Sanders in the Rally GP class; Edgar Canet in the Rally 2 class; Henk Lategan in the Ultimate class; Nicolas Cavigliasso in the Challenger class; Brock Heger in the SSV category; and Martin Macik in the truck race, all of whom are under the age of 36 years. The rejuvenation of the discipline is underlined by the records for youthful promise beaten by Seth Quintero and then Saood Variawa, respectively aged 22 and 19 years and both stage winners, as well as the early departures from the rally by Carlos Sainz and Sébastien Loeb.

Daniel Sanders put himself in a favourable situation from the outset. Thanks to victory on the prologue, the Australian started behind his rivals for stage 1, which he won, enabling him to achieve the same feat the next day, taking advantage of the reverse order start for the 48 HR Chrono stage. ‘Chucky’ also limited the damage when opening the way, on stages 3 and 5. This strategic approach put him in the lead in the general rankings from the very first day of the rally.

Honda is leading the resistance with 4 riders in the top 6, including Tosha Schareina (in 2nd place, 15’02’’ behind), Adrien Van Beveren (3rd, 24’31’’ back), Skyler Howes (5th, 27’59’’ down) and Ricky Brabec (6th, 29’01’’ behind). Hero rider Ross Branch (4th, 25’48’’ behind) is also keeping the pace. Luciano Benavides on his KTM completes a top 7 all within a 32’15’’ time bracket.

Edgar Canet could hardly have dreamed of a better debut. The youngest official rider in history (at the age of 19 years) won half of the Rally 2 specials on offer and leads the rankings in addition to occupying 10th place in the overall bike category. The Spaniard boasts a lead of 16’39’’ over his Austrian rival, Tobias Ebster. Michael Docherty (31’07’’ behind) completes a 100% KTM provisional podium ahead of the Hondas ridden by Romain Dumontier (49’47’’ back) and Jacob Arbugright (51’34’’ down).

KTM has left its mark on the first half of the competition, winning 5 specials out of 6 in the Rally GP class (4 for Sanders and one for L. Benavides) and 6 out of 6 in the Rally 2 class (3 for Canet, 2 for Ebster and one for Docherty). Sherco (avec Lorenzo Santolino) and Honda (with AVB) have taken the other two victories. After being dethroned in both classes last year, the Austrian firm is in the process of setting the record straight.

Emanuel Gyenes and Benjamin Melot, both specialists in the unassisted bikers’ race, finished first and second in 2020. Five years later, the duel has recommenced. Both men have dominated the Original by Motul class, with the advantage for the Romanian by 13’16’’ ahead of the Frenchman. The last step on the provisional podium is also hotly contested, between Jérôme Martiny (58’03’’ behind the current leader), Jaromir Romancik (1:03’29’’ back) and Mike Wiedemann (1:04’28’’ down), who are all within a 6-minute bracket.

The young brands that have recently arrived on the Dakar are performing well while obtaining experience. Chinese manufacturer Kove is in the Top 20 for the first time in its history with Neels Theric, who is 18th overall and 6th in the Rally 2 class. Italian brand Fantic is battling to achieve its first top 30 finish with Jeremy Miroir (in 28th place), while the three Hoto bikes, also from China, which are making their debut this year, are all still in the race, in the top 50.

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