06/01/2025
Thanks to the Team at TRAVERSE for the daily updates.
DAKAR 2025 - Prologue
Bisha to Bisha, in the Saudi Arabian desert, a 29-kilometre prologue that saw competitors challenged with terrain that varied from wide dirt and gravel to more technical sections where those that were patient would be rewarded.
Although short, the prologue is important in that it allows the top ten finishers to choose their starting positions for the following day and the start proper to Dakar 2025.
Australia’s Daniel Sanders, stepping into a factory Red Bull KTM ride vacated by countryman, Toby Price, set the scene early with a blistering pace of 16 minutes 51 seconds across the special, or competitive section, the time cementing Sanders in the top position. Price is still taking part in Dakar albeit in the four-wheeled category now.
“It was good to get the nerves out of the system,” laughed Sanders. “It was pretty clean, with a few mistakes, but that’s what happens when you push a lot and miss some corners.”
Ross Branch, buoyed by his pace during last year’s Dakar where he finished second, was hot on the heels of the Australian finishing just 12 seconds behind. The Botswana based rider believes his Hero is a good chance of overall victory in 2025.
“There was not much navigation,” Branch laughed admitting that 130 riders ahead of him helped considerably. “I’m excited for the race and we’ve got a good starting position tomorrow.”
Finishing with a similar time to Branch was the motorcycle categories youngest competitor, Spaniard Edgar Canet. The 19-year-old had a time the same as Branch and believes his could be a good showing early in the event.
“I’m super happy to finish my first prologue on the Dakar,” grinned the youngster. “It was a really good one and super-fast.
“I think I’ve done a good job,” continued Canet, who suggested that he’ll use his time to adjust, follow, and learn as much as he can about the Dakar.
Another rider in his first Dakar is 29-year-old Toby Hederics. The Australian rider hailing from the state of Victoria, is aboard a similar KTM to Sanders prepared by the BAS World KTM Racing Team. A great start to the Dakar 2025 has seen Hederics finish just 2 minutes and 30 seconds by his compatriot to be classified 33rd.
Taking part in his third Dakar is 55-year-old Andrew Houlihan. The rider from Albury has finished the world’s toughest motorcycle race, and possibly the toughest sporting event, before and knows what it takes as well as what the physical costs can be. For Dakar 2025 Houlihan has decided that he wants it to be in the hardest form of the event, the Original By Motul, or Malle Moto, class. It’s a division that requires competitors to take on the two-week event solo, no back up crew, no mechanics, and no help. It’s a challenge Houlihan is up for.
“It’s a massive challenge organising everything,” explained Houlihan. “It’s been a logistical nightmare … being so far from Australia.”
Houlihan played the long game during the prologue setting a time that was over 6 minutes slower than the pace setters, yet he knows his challenge is to make it to the finish, something that most in the Originals By Motul often fail to do.
Tomorrows stage one will see competitors again ride Bisha to Bisha this time with a competitive 413 kilometres … the true challenge begins in earnest.
Dakar 2025 - prologue results
1. Daniel Sanders (AUS) KTM 00:16:51
2. Ross Branch (BWA) Hero +00:00:12
3. Edgar Canet (ESP) KTM +00:00:12
4. Ricky Brabec (USA) Honda +00:00:18
5. Tosha Schareina (ESP) Honda +00:00:25
6. Pablo Quintanilla (CHL) Honda +00:00:27
33. Toby Hederics (AUS) KTM +00:02:30
88. Andrew Houlihan (AUS) KTM +00:06:16
Pic. Marcelo Maragni / Red Bull
