The two-wheeled category is usually the most equal and close to the Dakar and in 2025 it is on track to repeat history. On paper, the race starts at 10 favorites in search of the long awaited ‘Touareg’. Among them, a Spaniard: the Valencian Tosha Schareinaofficial pilot of sling bag Last year he made his debut with the golden wing, winning the prologue stage and making it clear that he was going for the win, but a fall in the first stage, when he was the leader, left him. Now he has arrived at the Dakar in top shape. He bounced back from his injury with victory in the World Cup in Portugal and added two second places in the Desafío Ruta 40 and the Morocco Rally. He did not drop to second place. Tosha is no longer a revelation. This is a fact.
The Hero brand definitely added to the historic battle between KTM and Honda. The Indian motorcycle is already at the level of the best. with him, Ross branch He was proclaimed champion of the 2024 FIM W2RC Raid Rally World Championship after stunning the world at the last Dakar with a superb second place. So, one of the Botswana starts as one of the favorites and will do so with the Chilean Nacho Cornejo as a teammate, as an applicant after leaving Honda.
KTMa great dominator for two decades (from 2001 to 2019), saw his streak interrupted by sling bag in 2020 and 2021 (Brabec and Kevin Benavides), to eventually regain the throne in 2022 with Sunderland (in GasGas colors) and Kevin Benavides who won in orange in 2023 after leaving Honda. Brabec regained the scepter for the Japanese in 2024 and in front of 2025, it is impossible to make pools in a race of pure endurance to the gas limit.
KTM, two less troops: 3 candidates
The Austrians changed their strategy amid the brand crisis. In previous years, they defended three colors (KTM, GasGas and Husqvarna) with 5 drivers, but now they are losing strength and have shown themselves to 3 riders under the KTM brand: two-time champion Kevin Benavides, his brother Luciano2023 world champion, and Daniel Sanderswinner of the Morocco Rally. They lose Toby Price, champion in 2016 and 2019 and 2nd in 2023, and Sam Sunderland, champion in 2017 and 2022, as they will be a pair in the car.
Honda wants to repeat the title
Honda wants to retain the title with current champion Ricky Brabec, Van Beveren, 3rd in 2024, Pablo Quintanilla, Skyler Howes and the Valencian Tosha Schareina. The man from Salamanca will try to get into that match Lorenzo Santolino. He wants the Top-5 behind his Sherco
The Dakar 2025 motorcycle favourites:
1
Ricky Brabec
Current champion. Pilot born and forged in the deserts of California. Sponsored from a young age by the legendary Johnny Campbell. He broke KTM’s historic winning streak in 2020 to give Honda the win.
Nationality: United States
Age: 33 years (04/21/1991)
Team: Monster Energy Honda HRC
Participations: 10th participation
Best position: 2 wins (2020, 2024)
Stage wins: 10
2
Ross Branch
Leader of the hero. Last year he was runner-up in the Dakar and this year he arrives as the current W2RC Rally-Raid world champion. A pioneer in Africa.
Nationality: Bosnian
Age: 38 years (05/06/1986)
Team: Hero Motorsports Team Rally
Participations: 7th participation
Best position: 2nd (2024)
Stage wins: 6
3
Kevin Benavides
Full heart, fight, work, passion and speed. Kevin Benavides is a two-time champion. He achieved this with Honda in 2021 and went to KTM to repeat, something he achieved in 2023. Idol in Argentina.
Nationality: Argentina
Age: 35 years (01/09/1989)
Team: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Participations: 9th participation
Best position: 2 wins (2021 and 2023)
Stage wins: 11
4
Pablo Quintanilla
In 2022 he is three minutes away from glory. He was always among the best. Very fast driver who went to Honda in 2022 Dakar to win. Add six Top-4s and three Top-3s.
Nationality: Chile
Age: 37 years (10/12/1986)
Team: Monster Energy Honda HRC
Participations: 13th participation
Best position: 2nd (2020 and 2022)
Stage wins: 7
5
Tosha Schareina
The Spaniard has high hopes in the fight for overall victory in motorcycles. The Valencian arrived in good condition and wanted to win.
Nationality: Spain
Age: 29 years (06/03/1995)
Team: Monster Energy Honda HRC
Participations: 4th participation
Best position: 13th (2021 and 2023)
Stage wins: 1
6
Luciano Benavides
The youngest of the Benavides siblings. He exploded definitively in 2023, when he was proclaimed the Rally Raid world champion. He added 3 Dakar stage wins and 6th that year.
Nationality: Argentina
Age: 29 years (06/15/1995)
Team: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Participations: 8th participation
Best position: 6th (2020 and 2023)
Stage wins: 3
7
Daniel Sanders
His debut was stellar as he placed 4th in 2022. Another talent from the Australian school, very fast but luck was not on his side. ‘Chucky’ wins the Morocco Rally.
Nationality: Australian
Age: 30 years (08/30/1994)
Team: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
The
Participations: 5th participation
Best position: 4th (2021)
Stage wins: 3
8
Skyler Howes
He signed last year for Honda after his third place in 2023 but had to withdraw due to a mechanical problem in stage 6 of the Dakar 2024.
Nationality: United States
Age: 32 years (04/14/1994)
Team: Monster Energy Honda HRC
Participations: 7th participation
Best position: 3rd (2023)
Stage win:-
Source: La Verdad
I’m Rose Herman and I work as an author for Today Times Live. My expertise lies in writing about sports, a passion of mine that has been with me since childhood. As part of my job, I provide comprehensive coverage on everything from football to tennis to golf.
