Daniel Sanders slips to third overall after navigation errors, while Schareina and Brabec share the lead heading into Ha’il
Tosha Schareina continued his Dakar Rally momentum with a second straight stage win, edging teammate Ricky Brabec on stage four and taking control of the overall standings by virtue of his growing win tally.
Although Schareina and Brabec recorded identical times through the punishing 417km marathon stage, it was the Spaniard who emerged on top of the leaderboard, his consistency and stage-winning form proving decisive as the rally entered one of its most unforgiving phases.
“It was not easy,” Schareina admitted. “The mission was open from the beginning to the end.”
Behind the Honda one-two, Daniel ‘Chucky’ Sanders endured a far more complicated day. Fifth fastest on the stage, the Australian slipped to third overall, now 1min24sec off the lead after an error-strewn opening half.
Starting third on the road, Sanders was quickly caught out by tricky navigation in the rocky early kilometres.
“It was a really demanding stage,” Sanders said. “I made some silly mistakes in the navigation.
“After the refuel, I tried to push and make up time. I felt better in the last half.
“There was a lot of rocks. I tried to protect my tyres. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.”
Despite the setbacks, Sanders still led his KTM Factory Racing teammates home, with Luciano Benavides seventh and Edgar Canet eighth on the stage. The result keeps Canet fourth overall and Benavides fifth as the Austrian marque remains firmly in the hunt.
KTM team manager Andreas Hölzl was upbeat after the opening leg of the marathon bivouac, where riders must survive two days without outside assistance.
“Daniel once again did a very strong job, especially managing the tyres on what was a very rocky stage,” Hölzl said.
“Looking after the bike is crucial over two days without the team or service crew, and he remains in a good position overall.
“Luciano delivered a great ride today and is well placed for tomorrow, and Edgar is making steady progress – in his first season in RallyGP he is doing a really impressive job.”
Up front, Schareina and Brabec rode much of the stage together after the American caught his teammate around the halfway mark.
“At kilometre 200, Ricky caught me and we were riding together until the last 200 kilometres,” Schareina explained.
“I expected more easy navigation, but finally we are here now. Marathon stage – we will try to rest and sleep well.”
The rally now heads toward Ha’il, with the next leg featuring a 414km liaison and a brutal 356km timed special – a true test of rider endurance, navigation and mechanical sympathy as Dakar begins to bare its teeth.
2026 DAKAR RANKINGS AFTER STAGE 4
| POS | RIDER | BIKE | TIME/GAP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tosha Schareina | Monster Energy Honda HRC | 16:45:40 |
| 2 | Ricky Brabec | Monster Energy Honda HRC | 16:45:40 |
| 3 | Daniel Sanders | KTM Factory Racing Team | +01:24 |
| 4 | Edgar Canet | KTM Factory Racing Team | +11:22 |
| 5 | Luciano Benavides | KTM Factory Racing Team | +13:09 |
| 6 | Ross Branch | Hero Motorsports Team Rally | +13:59 |
| 7 | Skyler Howes | Monster Energy Honda HRC | +14:38 |
| 8 | José Ignacio Cornejo | Hero Motorsports Team Rally | +22:01 |
| 9 | Adrien Van Beveren | Monster Energy Honda HRC | +27:24 |
| 10 | Bradley Cox | BAS Dakar KTM Racing Team | +01:01:23 |
