Aussie ace leads a three pronged squad for KTM’s factory assault on revamped Saudi route
Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will roll into the 2026 Dakar Rally on a high after dominating the 2025 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, with Australia’s Daniel “Chucky” Sanders leading a three-rider assault alongside Luciano Benavides and rising Spaniard Edgar Canet, who steps up to RallyGP for the first time.
Sanders enters January as the reigning World Rally-Raid Champion and 2025 Dakar winner, fresh off a four-wins-from-five W2RC campaign and a history-making Dakar where he led from start to finish. The Victorian is keeping his setup stable, sharpening fitness in Morocco, and embracing the pressure of defending motorsport’s toughest crown.
Daniel Sanders: “Everything’s going to plan, I’m keeping the same set up so I’m really comfortable with where we are at with the bike. I’m confident in my fitness, everything is feeling great after Morocco and we’re back in fighting shape. We’re in the middle of a training block with the team in Morocco over the next few weeks, but I’m really excited to go into Dakar. Obviously there is some pressure after the win this year, but we’re training hard for this and I know I can perform. The team is in a really good place, I feel ready, so we are all committed to getting out there and getting the job done again. It’s a long race for sure. Every Dakar is different so we always take it day by day and do the best we can. Motivation is at an all-time high after our success this year, so I can’t wait for January!”
Benavides brings momentum of his own after a podium-stacked 2025 and a career-best fourth at Dakar. A late-season injury ended his Rallye du Maroc, but the Argentine is back to speed and eyeing the overall rostrum in Saudi Arabia.
Luciano Benavides: “Preparations for Dakar have been pretty tough after my crash in Morocco. My main goal has been to get fitter every day and get back on the bike as soon as possible to be ready to race Dakar. There are so many positives to take from this year, even from my injury as it has forced me to take a step back and focus on myself 100%. It’s awesome to be back on the bike now for our training and testing in Morocco, and I’m confident that I’ll be in even better condition in time for Dakar because of it. I think it will be tough mentally, because it is the first time I’ll be racing the Dakar Rally after a recent injury, but as always my goal is to do my best every single day. I’ve gained a lot of experience and perspective over the years, so I know it works for me to focus on myself and not compare results and times to other riders. I’ll be giving it my all on every kilometer of every stage! If I can do that, I believe I can end up on the podium. I’m looking forward to getting out there!”
The third KTM bullet is Canet, the 2025 Rally2 World Cup Champion, who impressed with dominant class wins and consistent top-10s overall in his debut season. Dakar 2026 will mark his first outing in the premier RallyGP category.
Edgar Canet: “We’re ready to take on Dakar 2026! I’ve put a lot of hours in on the bike, so I’m feeling really confident ahead of January. Moving up into the top category with the big dogs in RallyGP after just one year is super exciting. I have a great feeling on the bike and I’m happy with my fitness as I have worked hard to get to a good level. I know how unpredictable Dakar can be day to day, but I believe I have the speed and the navigation skills needed to run up front the entire time. I learned a lot from the 2025 Dakar from my teammates, so I’m feeling a lot more prepared heading into my second attempt. We have to manage the race and take it as it comes every day, but we have a great team behind us and I’m really excited to get things underway in Saudi Arabia.”
Under Team Manager Andreas Hölzl, the squad is deep into training and testing in Morocco, fine-tuning settings and strategy for the season opener. The 48th Dakar runs January 3–17, 2026, starting and finishing in Yanbu on Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast. Expect roughly 8,000 km with a record distance of timed specials, fresh terrain in the west and center of the country, two marathon stages without assistance, and a single rest day in Riyadh on January 10.
Andreas Hölzl – Rally Team Manager: “We are ready for Dakar! Chucky is really well prepared after his incredible season and he has proven that he is the best in the world. Heading into Dakar 2026 as reigning champion, he will of course be looking to defend his title so most of his setup will remain the same. Edgar is really excited to be racing in the RallyGP class! He did an amazing job this year in Rally2, winning the World Cup and putting the fight to the top guys all season. Luciano is fully recovered from his injury at the last round of the championship in Morocco, and he is enjoying training here again with the boys ahead of January. The team is doing an amazing job from the technical side in preparing the bikes perfectly for the guys, and they work so hard every day behind the scenes to get everything ready. We’re excited to get out to Saudi Arabia and defend our titles!”
Following Dakar, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing will tackle the full five-round W2RC once again.
