Summarize

Argentine Luciano Benavides has sensationally stolen a two-second overall 2026 Dakar Bike victory for KTM off the leader at the final checkpoint, Ricky Brabec and his Honda at literally the final turn of the final stage of the race. It was also a very good day for South African Rally 2 privateer Michael Docherty, who scored his ninth of fourteen Dakar 2026 stage wins on Saturday.

Overnight leader, Californian Ricky Brabec appeared to have his hat trick of wins sewn up for Honda as he shadowed main rival Benavides into the final 21 km sector of Saturday’s short 107 km loop around Yanbu, Saudi Arabia in a 3 minute 42 second overall lead. It was not to be. 

Opening the road on Saturday, Brabec got lost in that final sector, losing 3 minutes 44 seconds to allow the 30 year old KTM rider Benavides to steal an incredible 2 second victory after two weeks and 5000 kilometres of racing! It is Benavides’ first Dakar Bike win as he uniquely joins former two time winner, brother Kevin in a Dakar family double. 34-year old Brabec missed adding to his 2020 and 2024 wins by just a couple of seconds. 2026 is also KTM’s 21st Dakar victory.

KTM lad Edgar Canet ultimately took the day from Benavides and Spanish Honda rider Tosha Schiarena, who secured third overall. Rally 2 winner Docherty was fourth as he scored his ninth Rally 2 day win of the race aboard his BAS KTM. A tyre trouble earlier in the race cost Docherty any chance of a definite class victory. Behind him, French Honda rider Adrien van Beveren ended fourth on Saturday to secure fourth overall ahead of teammates Skyler Howes, Rally 2 man Martim Ventura as Brabec came in a provisional eighth on the day.

Overall, Skyler Howes ended fourth from 2025 winner and injured early leader Aussie Daniel Sanders’ KTM, Adrien van Beveren and Hero Moto duo Chilean Ignacio Cornejo and Motswana Ross Branch. South African Bradly Cox was the only Sherco rider to make the distance ninth in Rally GP, behind Rally 2 top three Slovenian Toni Mulec’s KTM and Honda Juniors Preston Campbell and Martim Ventura. Benjamin Melot’s KTM won no-service Original from Josep Pedro’s Husqvarna.

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