Chucky continues his stellar form, becoming the first rider to win five stages in the same Dakar since Toby Price in 2016
Daniel Sanders of Red Bull KTM Factory Racing claimed his fifth stage win of the 2025 Dakar Rally on stage seven, extending his overall lead to over 15 minutes – the largest margin so far in this year’s event. His dominant ride on the 411-kilometre timed special was further bolstered by having time reinstated after an earlier stage 5 penalty, after race officials decided the speeding penalty penalty was unwarranted due to malfunctioning navigation instrumentation.
Stage seven featured a gruelling 708-kilometre loop starting and finishing at the Al Duwadimi bivouac. Riders faced rocky expanses mixed with short dune sections, where precise navigation was crucial. Heavy rain at the start delayed the proceedings until safety helicopters could be deployed. The navigation challenge was further intensified by the terrain, forcing riders to carefully manage their roadbook notes.
Sanders, starting from ninth, displayed flawless navigation skills, engaging in a close battle with Tosha Schareina for much of the route. He ultimately crossed the finish line nearly four minutes ahead, extending his lead to its largest margin of the rally.
Rally2 star Edgar Canet also delivered a remarkable performance despite an early setback when his roadbook tablet failed, managing to replace it and bounce back with an inspired ride. Time lost during the delay was later adjusted, allowing the young Spaniard to claim a remarkable second-place stage finish – the best result for a Rally2 rider this year. Canet now leads the Rally2 category by a commanding 21 minutes and has moved up to 10th overall. Meanwhile, Luciano Benavides delivered another strong performance, finishing sixth on the stage and climbing to fifth in the general standings.
Tosha Schareina, starting further back, capitalised on not having to navigate the opening track. He tackled the first dune section with ease, progressively closing in on the lead riders, Ricky Brabec and Adrien Van Beveren. Schareina’s consistent speed paid off, securing him second place overall in the standings after finishing 3 minutes 47 seconds behind Sanders on the stage.
Pablo Quintanilla enjoyed one of his stronger performances of the rally. The 2022 runner-up finished third, 5 minutes 27 seconds behind Sanders, despite struggling to find rhythm on earlier stages. With less dust due to the rain, Quintanilla built momentum and secured a stage podium.
Adrien Van Beveren, who started second, quickly caught Brabec just 34 kilometres into the stage. The pair worked together to navigate efficiently, with Van Beveren demonstrating his expertise on the sand to finish fourth, seven minutes back. Currently third in the overall standings, Van Beveren remains a consistent contender as the rally progresses.
Sanders’ sensational performance makes him the first rider to claim five stage wins in a single Dakar since Toby Price who won the Dakar back in 2016 also riding for KTM. So far, “Chucky” has triumphed in every stage where he has not been tasked with opening the road. Sanders has his sights set on becoming only the second Australian to win the prestigious rally, but a daunting 2,627 kilometres (1,323 of which are timed) still lie ahead for the motorbike competitors before they reach the finish line.
Daniel Sanders – P1: “That was a pretty fast stage, and technical at the start while it was raining. I stayed fully focused all day as the navigation was tricky, so it was a much better day for me. We adjusted the bike to suit the sand more as well, which really helped in the dunes. I’m feeling confident, and as a team we’re doing everything we can to put ourselves in the best position possible to retain the lead for the remaining stages.”
Edgar Canet – P2: “I had a problem with my roadbook tablet from the start, but I managed to get to the first refueling stop at kilometre 89 by following the lines of the riders ahead. I had to wait for well over an hour for my tablet to be changed, but after that I felt really good on the bike and enjoyed the rest of the special. I’m happy with my riding and loving every part of the Dakar experience!”
Tosha Schareina – P3: “Today we had rain on the liaison and it was so cold too. The first part of the stage was so nice after the rain had fallen, the sandy section was really good to ride on. After the first refuelling I saw the dust of Nacho Cornejo so I tried to push to catch him which I did. After that we tried to push and catch the guys in front and in the last 200 kilometres we were riding together. With the rain and no dust it was easier for us to ride together and so I’m happy with my second place finish.”
Pablo Quintanilla – P4: “It was a good day, I can’t complain. I had fun on the bike, I felt good and I was able to push, so I’m super happy. The stage was not easy, there were some tricky navigation points, there were also a lot of dunes with many off piste sections. But I felt really good, I enjoyed the riding today and I finally had a good result. I’m happy with my riding, my navigation and I really enjoyed the day.”
Adrien Van Beveren – P5: “There are still a lot of kilometres to do but today we did a really good stage again. It was a good day to start a little further back, yesterday I didn’t expect to be so far in front, but that’s part of rally-raid. I’m giving my best everyday, so it’s good and I’m happy about how my stage went today.”
Provisional Results – 2025 Dakar Rally, Stage 7
Provisional Standings – 2025 Dakar Rally (after 7 of 12 stages)
