Sanders strikes first
Australia’s Daniel Sanders has got the 2025 Dakar Rally off to a flying start, topping the opening Prologue on the bikes.
The KTM rider was the only bike competitor to complete the 79km Prologue inside 17 minutes.
Sanders’ 16m51s time was 12s clear of both Ross Branch and Edgar Canet.
Fellow KTM Aussie Toby Hederics started solidly, placing 33rd after negotiating his first taste of Dakar in 19m21s.
Andrew Houlihan was only a further three minutes back with a 23m97s, but was 88th.
It is a strong start for Sanders, who shapes as Australia’s biggest hope this year.
“Chucky” is as tough as they come and finished eighth last year still recovering from a broken femur sustained when training, but is in strong form having won the Rallye du Maroc.
At his best he has the pace to beat the best and proved that at the first time of asking.
“It was good to get the nerves out system here on the prologue,” Sanders said.
“It was pretty clean, with a few mistakes, but that’s what happens when you push a lot and miss some corners.
“The dangers sneak up on you because you’re pushing the pace a little too much.
“Hopefully it’s good enough to be up the front of the group for the Rally GP.”
Critically, Prologue times do count to the overall fight for victory in bikes, unlike cars.
Toby Price begins his four-wheel Dakar journey. Image: Kin Marcin / Red Bull Content Pool
Australia’s Dakar Rally winner, Toby Price, is on four wheels for the first time and he also showed some promise.
Price and navigator Sam Sunderland emerged from the Prologue a respectable 12th.
The former riders posted a 16m12s time in their Overdrive Racing Toyota, just 44s away from the top.
It was tight in the battle for first with Toyota just edging out Ford.
Factory Toyota pairing Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings just squeezed past M-Sport duo Mattias Ekstrom and Emil Bergkvist.
Only 1s separated the leading entries with the Toyota sneaking after 15m28s behind the wheel.
Qatar contender Nasser Al-Attiyah was third, a further 20s back, while Sebastien Loeb was seventh.
Defending Dakar Rally winner Carlos Sainz made an under the radar debut with Ford, being 24th.
The 2025 Dakar Rally gets serious today with the first special stage, a 412km journey through Bisha.
READ THE LATEST ISSUE OF AUTO ACTION HERE
Don’t forget the print edition of Auto Action available via subscription here. For more of the latest motorsport news, subscribe to AUTO ACTION magazine.
