Summarize

Australian overnight leader Daniel Sanders continued to make Dakar’s 2025 race his own, with a third straight day win on the first day of the 48H Chrono stage. Botswana hero Ross Branch is sitting pretty in third however, while South African Rally 2 rider Michael Docherty thrashed his class favourite rivals.

The two-day 1000 km 48H Dakar Chrono stage is run without any outside assistance, once riders reported to the closest of seven overnight rest areas to them after 5 pm. Riders can only help each other out on any repairs, while the Chrono stage also sees the bikes racing a different route to the cars.

2024 World Rally Raid bike champion Ross Branch was quick out of the blocks to lead the early running on his Hero Moto, ahead of Australian overnight leader Daniel Sanders’ Red Bull KTM, American Honda riders, 2024 winner Ricky Brabec and Skyler Howes, Luci-ano Benavides’ KTM and rookie Rally 2 leader Edgar Canet. Sanders led Howes, Brabec and Branch at mid distance. 

The top positions ebbed and flowed as the day progressed, while Spaniard Tosha Schareina’s Honda joined the posse up front.

South African Michael Docherty’s KTM had Canet’s similar machine under pressure for the Rally 2 lead. Docherty, who dusted himself off after a heavy Saturday fall soon took the class lead as the riders approached the first of their 48H Chrono overnight accommodation options. Sanders led Brabec, Branch, Howes and Schareina at the close of play, with Luciano Benavides’ KTM sixth, ahead of Docherty. 

South Africans, top privateer Bradley Cox sat 14th on his KTM, Aaron Mare was provision-ally 37th on his Husqvarna 25th, and rookies Dwain Barnard’s KTM 73rd and Willem Avenant 116th on his Husqvarna. Overall Sanders leads Brabec by five and a half minutes with Branch just four seconds off. Cox is tenth, and Docherty 15th, third in class and closing down on Rally 2 leader Canet.

Monday’s race distance depends on which of the seven bivouacs the riders reached on Sunday. For the leaders, it’s about a 300 km jaunt back to Bisha, and a hint of civilization.