YANBU (Saudi Arabia) — Argentina’s Luciano Benavides claimed the Dakar Rally bike title in Saudi Arabia by a razor-thin margin of just two seconds.
The 30-year-old rider’s second-place finish in the 13th and final stage was enough to deny two-time American champion Ricky Brabec of Honda and secure his maiden Dakar crown. “I’ve dreamed of this moment my whole life,” said the winner.
Brabec, winner in 2020 and 2024, was on target for a third title but lost time when going the wrong way close to the finish of the 105km ride around Yanbu.
“It seemed impossible, but I still felt it could happen, and Ricky took the wrong line and I took the right one,” Benavides said according to AFP.
“It was a glimmer of hope. I saw it was him and that he had to pull a U-turn to get back on the right line because crossing between the two was impossible. I saw the opening and I went for it.”
Edgar Canet won the stage, with Spain’s Tosha Schareina (Honda) finishing third and also taking the number-three spot in the overall standings.
Benavides’s older brother Kevin won the marathon race in 2021 and 2023.
The 2026 champion said he had given his all “from start to finish “. “I’d told everyone before the start that this Dakar was mine,” he added.
“Nine years in the Dakar and my first win. My brother and I are making history.
“He won by 43 seconds and I’ve won by two. I think I have him beaten on that front! It’s a dream come true.”
In a testament to sheer determination and skill, Benavides secured second place in the final stage, which was more than enough to clinch the overall title. After days of relentless competition and intense pressure, the thrill of the chase culminated in an astonishing upset, showcasing the unpredictable nature of the Dakar Rally.
Tosha Schareina of Honda rounded out the podium, finishing third overall, but the day undoubtedly belonged to Benavides. The tension, the stakes, and the thrill of the race all came down to an electrifying final showdown that will be etched in the annals of motorsport history.
The final spot on the podium went to Schareina, who began the 2026 Dakar as Honda’s leading hope but dropped down the order following a series of setbacks.
The Spaniard had emerged as a serious contender for outright victory after he dominated Stage 4 despite opening the road. But just the following day, he was hit with a 10-minute penalty for “not making the mandatory passage between the two flags that marked the start”.
Unforced errors on Stage 7 further ended his victory hopes, but third place marked his second consecutive podium in Dakar.
