THE CHRONICLE
Al-Rajhi, champion of Dakar 2025 by car, is the first Saudi to achieve this, by Fabio Marchi, motoring editor and MD’s special envoy to the Dakar Rally
AL-RAJHI, A MD: “What has changed? The experience!”
“What has changed? The experience! Now we have experience. Before he always attacked. Now we think what day to attack, what day not to attack… Strategy,” he explained to MD a day before his coronation.
“I think you can’t win without a strategy. When we need speed, we push. Until day 9 or 10 I was almost at 90%, without pushing at 100%, and all. And on stage 11, sometimes I was pushed to 95 %, but not 100%, because I didn’t want to risk it, And I know I can do it in the sand, I don’t need 100%, because maybe you have an advantage you break the suspension or break something. You have to be smart,” he said.
AL-RAJHI, DAKAR CHAMPION IN CARS
Yazeed al-Rajhi (Riyadh, 43 years old) achieved his dream of winning the Dakar by car by winning the 47th edition of the toughest race in the world. Thus the billionaire became the first Saudi winner of the Dakar and the first to achieve victory at home in the entire history of the event.
THE STAGE IS IN AL ATTIYAH’S POCKET
The Qatari pilot reached the second checkpoint and almost secured the lead of the stage. Mattias Ekström switched at +0:38 so everything indicates that, for the first time in his career (except when he has to leave), Al Attiyah will not finish on the final podium of the Dakar Rally.
FIRST CAR LAST
Seth Quintero, Mathieu Serradori, Rokas Baciuska and Brian Baragwanath have completed the Dakar 2025.
QUINTERO, THE FASTEST
The four pilots who came out on the stage earlier had already arrived at second checkpoint at kilometer 42 and they are facing the last stretch of this Dakar 2025
THE CHRONICLE
Sanders, champion of the Dakar 2025 on a motorcycle against the Spanish Tosha, 2nd, by Fabio Marchi, motoring editor and MD’s special envoy to the Dakar Rally
CANET WINS RALLY 2
Edgar Canet won the Dakar Rally 2 in his first participation. The Spaniard added his name to the list of winners in the category launched in 2022 and follows in the footsteps of Mason Klein (2022), Romain Dumontier (2023) and Harith Noah (2024). Austrian Tobias Ebster and Frenchman Romain Dumontier completed the podium
PODIUM FOR TOSHA SCAREINA
Since January 17, 2015 and under the guidance of Marc Coma, no Spanish rider has been on the Dakar motorcycle podium. Ten years later, Tosha Schareina put Spain back on top. It was his first podium in his fourth participation
SANDERS, MOTORCYCLE CHAMPION
Daniel Sanders was proclaimed champion of Dakar 2025 on a motorcycle after amazingly dominating the race from the start. The Australian has been the leader of the race from day one, by winning the prologue stage and staying at the top throughout the race, something that has not happened since the legendary victory. Marc Coma in 2009.
Michael Docherty set the best time in the final special in this 47th edition of the Dakar, with three seconds ahead of Adrien Van Beveren. The South African thus achieved his second victory in the motorcycle scratch test (with stage 10) and his fourth in Rally 2 of this 2025 edition.
FIGHT FOR THE PODIUM
The battle for victory between Yazeed Al Rajhi and Henk Lategan is not over yetbut the battle for third place is still not settled. Mattias Ekström took third place on the provisional podium in the afternoon of the third stage and did not relinquish it
Cars are RUNNING
The 61-kilometre final special uses a different format for FIA cars (Ultimate, Stock, Challenger and SSV). The 12 best drivers in the Ultimate classification will start in groups of four in the reverse order of the general classification
DOHERTY takes the lead
At kilometer 42, Michael Docherty set the best time and was two seconds ahead of Adrien Van Beveren and 22 seconds ahead of Tobias Ebster. Daniel Sanders was fourth in 24 seconds
RUNNING TEST
Several motorcyclists have reached the finish line of the last special. We have to wait for the last pilots to arrive at ASS to know the outcome of the stage
GROUPS OF 15
Drivers will start in groups of 15 in reverse order of the general classification in the last 62 kilometers of this special. The 15 drivers with the best overall classification will start together in last place. The end of the race will be done at the Shubaytah bivouac
END OF THE PARTY
The Dakar will end this Fridays with a stage featuring a start line where pilots and co-pilots will make their final efforts. This is a short but intense special that leads directly to the final bivouac
LiveBlog: 3308
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.
