KTM announces 3-man Dakar Rally team
KTM may be in dire straits as it announced the company’s strategic restructuring plan that involves doing a “pit stop” and initiating a legal restructuring proceeding with self-administration.
However, shortly after that announcement, the grandson of one of the founders of KTM and current Deputy Chairman of Pierer Group, Hubert Trunkenpolz, assured that the company’s racing activities, particularly in MotoGP, will continue despite its financial troubles.
Now, it seems that not only the racing activities in MotoGP will continue, but also KTM’s Dakar Rally program. KTM currently holds 19 Dakar Rally titles, with the last one in 2023.
3-man team for 2025
As KTM continues its pursuit of Dakar greatness, the company announces its 3-man team for the 2025 Dakar Rally: Kevin Benavides, Luciano Benavides, and Daniel Sanders.
Starting January 3, the event will commence with a short prologue, after which competitors will tackle 12 stages spanning nearly 8,000 kilometers of sand, rocks, and more sand from Saudi Arabia’s harshest locations.
“My preparation and training has been really positive, as I’ve spent a lot of time in the gym and cycling and I have prioritized recovery too. Combining that with time on my bike has worked well, and I’m feeling ready to go!” says 2-time Dakar Rally champion Kevin Benavides.
Fresh off a solid third-place result at the Rallye du Maroc, his first outing back riding the KTM 450 RALLY, Luciano Benavides is fired up and ready to tackle the 2025 Dakar Rally. Despite suffering a leg injury in June, Luciano has worked hard to bounce back and prepare for Dakar as best as possible. As the 2023 FIM Rally-Raid World Champion and a multiple Dakar stage winner, the Argentinian has a wealth of experience to draw on to achieve his goal of finishing on the top step of the podium.
Fired-up from his recent victory at the Rally du Maroc, Daniel Sanders is keen to carry his momentum into the 2025 Dakar Rally. As a stage winner at previous Dakars, the Australian is determined to push hard from the start. Having finished eighth in the last edition, Daniel is focused on building on his strong form and achieving a top result in Saudi Arabia in January.
For its 47th edition, the 2025 Dakar Rally will be hosted in the Middle East for the sixth consecutive year. Setting off on January 3 from Bisha, riders will face a short, timed prologue, which will set the tone for the following 12 stages in the Saudi Arabian desert. Competitors will cover nearly 8,000 km, with 5,000 km racing against the clock in timed special stages.
In an exciting twist for 2025, the race will feature the grueling 48-hour chrono stage on days two and three, followed almost instantly by the marathon stage, leaving competitors little time to catch their breath. A rest day in Ha’il on January 10 will be welcomed by all, with seven stages through the Empty Quarter then standing between the riders and the finish in Shubaytah on January 17.
