The countdown has begun for the “toughest motorcycle race in the world”, and last year’s Dakar Rally champion, Australian Daniel Sanders, returns to defend his title on the motorcycle.
“We’re going to try to go back-to-back,” the 31-year-old motorcyclist told SBS French.
“We had a great year in ’25… winning four out of five races, winning the Dakar and then the world championships. So pretty proud and, you know, almost a perfect season.”
The Red Bull KTM Racing Factory rider’s record year earned him the World Rally-Raid Championship title in September after a winning streak on the international circuit.
Now he hopes to continue his dominance as he returns to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Dakkar Rally.
The Dakar Rally, an annual rally ride, is known for its rugged terrain and off-road endurance, with competitors in various categories, including cars, bikes, trucks and quads, racing over sand, rocks, gravel and asphalt.
Drivers must overcome unpredictable obstacles at high speed during a grueling, days-long journey of almost 8,000 km, split into 13 stages and one rest day.
For a year, the brutal desert competition saw Sanders as a cop four stitches to his lip from a crash while driving over a dune. On another occasion, a bee slithered under his helmet and stung him in the lip.
More than 600 drivers and teams will participate in the 2026 race, including Australians Toby Price and David Brock.
SBS on request will previously have an hour’s worth of highlights from each stage available every morning during the Dakar Rally, before that SBS repeat program at 5pm (AEDT).
On Demand will also house a special Dakar Rally Hub for the 2026 edition, complete with extended highlights, must-see moments, interviews and more.
The competition starts with a prologue on Sunday, after which phase 1 starts on Monday.
Watch extensive highlights of the 2026 edition of the Dakar Rally every morning via our hub in SBS On Demand – plus a daily mini-summary of 15 minutes and more from January 4-18 (AEDT).
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