DANIEL SANDERS MAINTAINS DAKAR LEAD DESPITE TIME PENALTY

Chucky holds comfortable seven-minute lead despite stage 5 challenges, positioning himself strongly for week two of the rally

Following his thrilling fourth-stage victory, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Daniel Sanders faced the challenge of opening stage five. Known for its complex roadbook and hidden waypoints, the fifth stage of the 2025 Dakar Rally was a gruelling yet breathtaking journey through the varied terrains of Al’Ula and Ha’il, covering a demanding 428 kilometres. Featuring a diverse mix of high-speed sandy tracks interspersed with challenging rocky sections, competitors faced a landscape of rugged rocky formations that alternated between intimidating and inviting, depending on their navigational choices.

Sanders performed consistently, recording top-10 times at each checkpoint and earning nearly six minutes of bonus time for opening the route. However, a speeding penalty cost him eight crucial minutes, dropping him to 12th for the day. Despite the setback, Sanders retains the overall rally lead with a comfortable seven-minute advantage. With his penalty behind him and a mid-pack start for stage six, Sanders is in a favourable position to chase his rivals and rebuild his time cushion as the rally enters the second week.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing’s Luciano Benavides delivered a flawless performance to claim his first stage win of the rally. Starting as the 12th rider from the marathon bivouac in Al’Ula, Benavides capitalised on his favourable position, chasing down rivals with a determined focus. He posted the fastest time at the 87-kilometre mark and engaged in a close battle for the lead throughout the day. Initially crossing the line in Ha’il as the second-fastest rider, he was later elevated to first place after Adrien Van Beveren incurred a time penalty. This victory marked a significant milestone for Benavides, moving him up to seventh overall heading into the second week. With momentum now on his side, the KTM 450 RALLY racer will look to keep climbing the leaderboard as the rally progresses.

Monster Energy Honda HRC’s Adrien Van Beveren came agonisingly close to securing his first stage win of Dakar 2025. Adapting well to the stage’s shifting demands, Van Beveren initially led the charge with sharp navigation and strategic tyre management through the rocky final sections. Although he crossed the finish line with the fastest time, a late penalty dashed his hopes of victory, relegating him to second behind Luciano Benavides. Despite the disappointment, Van Beveren’s strong ride keeps him firmly in contention as the competition intensifies.

Hero MotoSports delivered another strong performance on stage five, with both riders finishing among the top contenders. Nacho Cornejo secured his second consecutive podium finish, taking third place with less than a two-minute gap to the stage leader. Ross Branch followed closely in fourth, rebounding strongly after navigating errors cost him time the previous day. Their combined effort resulted in two top-five finishes for the team, solidifying Hero MotoSports’ position as a key competitor in this year’s rally.

Monster Energy Honda HRC’s Ricky Brabec, a two-time Dakar champion, showcased his resilience with a superb fifth-place finish on stage five. Despite starting to feel the toll of the relentless rally, Brabec carved out a composed ride, crossing the finish line just three and a half minutes behind the stage winner. His performance was even more impressive considering he managed to recover nearly ten minutes in the overall standings. As the rally prepares for its final stages next week, Brabec promises to be a rider to watch as he looks to continue closing the time gaps and pushing toward the top.

Stage five highlighted the extreme contrasts characteristic of the Dakar Rally. Fast sandy tracks at the start transitioned into more technical sections, with the final 50 kilometres demanding careful navigation and tyre conservation through rocky terrain. Riders faced significant challenges as they sought the optimal balance between speed and caution to avoid navigation errors, tyre damage, or time penalties. With week one now complete, the competitors will relish their rest day, knowing that the rally’s most challenging stages still lie ahead.

With the first week of the Dakar Rally 2025 now in the books, the stage is set for an intense second phase. The fast pace and dramatic battles from week one are sure to continue as riders face even tougher terrain, increasingly complicated navigation, and the mental and physical demands that define this iconic event. Riders like Luciano Benavides, Daniel Sanders, and Ricky Brabec are poised to make significant moves in the coming stages, while Hero MotoSports and Monster Energy Honda HRC continue to mount strong collective efforts in the fight for Dakar glory.

Luciano Benavides – P1: “That was a really good day for me, starting from 14th helped as I was able to catch a lot of the riders in front of me but I could still see some tracks. I feel good on the bike and I’m happy with my riding, so we are at a good place before the rest day. Strategy will play a big part next week as you have to judge which stages will be the best to try and make up time on, and which ones to take it steady on. I feel like I am still in the fight, there’s a long way to go to the finish and I’m in a really good rhythm now so I can wait to see what the next week will bring.”

Adrien Van Beveren – P2: “I feel good, I’m really happy about what I’ve achieved yesterday and today. The beginning of the Dakar has been really tough. I tried my best every time to accept the situations and I really like to give my best, so I think the level I could give on the track was good. I hope this will pay off at the end.”

Jose Ignacio Cornejo – P3: “We’ve made it to the rest day, we had some really good stages in the marathon and I’m thrilled to have finished third in today’s stage. We arrived with a lot of confidence on the bike, although ninth place isn’t where I want like to be in the overall standings in the end, I’m motivated to make up ground in the second week. We’ll take it one day at a time, giving it our all until the very last kilometre. I want to thank everyone for their incredible support, and to my team for their tireless efforts.”

Ross Branch – P4: “We’ve arrived at the Ha’il Bivouac, marking the end of the marathon stage. Today was good, unlike yesterday where I made a navigation mistake at the end of the stage which costed us a lot of time and got a speeding penalty halfway through the stage. We are here in one piece, the bike is in good condition, and the team is happy and in high spirits. With a mammoth second week ahead, we’re more determined than ever to make our mark. We’re still very much in the race, and our motivation is stronger than ever. Bring on week number two!”

Ricky Brabec – P5: “It’s the way the rally is going for us, but all is good. I’m here, I’m healthy, I’m happy with my navigating and riding but I know the results probably don’t show how I feel. Things aren’t working out in my favour so it’s been tough and mentally exhausting. Now we’re at rest day in Ha’il, we’ll push on for the best result we can get at next week’s finish.”

Daniel Sanders – P12: “I had a lot of fun today, the stage was great and I really focused on my riding while I was opening. I had another issue with my roadbook tablet unfortunately at around the 400-kilometre mark, so I had to stay behind the guys leading so I didn’t get lost. I’m feeling really good after this first week, my experience has really helped me this year and it’s all coming a lot easier to me now. I can’t wait for the rest of the rally!”

2025 Dakar Rally Stage Five Results

2025 Dakar Rally Standings after Stage Five