Daniel Sanders has won the prestigious Dakar Rally; second Aussie to win classic

Victorian motorbike racer Daniel Sanders has won the prestigious Dakar Rally, becoming only the second Australian to achieve the feat in 47 years.

Victorian motorbike racer Daniel Sanders has won the prestigious Dakar Rally, becoming only the second Australian to achieve the feat in 47 years.

Sanders, from the Yarra Valley, crossed the finish line on Friday to win the race by nearly 9 minutes and secure a historic victory.

He was the overall leader at every point of the two-week race – the first competitor to lead from start to finish at Dakar in 16 years - and joins Toby Price as the only Australians to win a Dakar Rally.

Five outright stage wins across the race made his run among the most dominant ever.

More than 22 years after getting his first motorbike at age eight, Sanders - known as Chucky - proved his skill in challenging conditions across the vast deserts of Saudi Arabia.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Australian pilot Daniel Sanders celebrates with supporters after winning the Dakar Rally 2025. Picture: AFP

Sanders’ victory was the reward for a near-flawless run through difficult conditions that caught out some of the world’s most respected off-road racers.

“When I came out of the dunes… I could see the bivouac and I just got instant chills through my whole body, I was super nervous,” Sanders said.

“I couldn’t believe it. All the emotions started coming through and I could see the finishing line.

“It’s the biggest race in the world motorbikes and off-roading. To win the six-day international enduro and now the Dakar, it’s just ticked off all the goals for my career and everything I’ve wanted to achieve.”

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Australian pilot Daniel Sanders. Picture: AFP

Save some navigation issues which are common at Dakar, Chucky made few mistakes as he cut through thick desert dunes and over volcanic ridges - mastering the punishing conditions.

The Dakar Rally is widely considered the ultimate test of a rider and their machine.

In sunshine and darkness, competitors covered more than 7500km over thick sand and through canyons, mastering rocky hills and speeding across vast plateaus.

They spent nights in basic desert camps, with bodies often aching from the relentless physical demands of untamed desert tracks.

The Australian earnt respect by exhibiting calmness and confidence in all conditions, frustrating opponents who never managed to mount a serious challenge for the lead.

Heading into Friday’s 61km final stage – the event’s shortest – Sanders’ win was all but assured.

Daniel 'Chucky' Sanders has won the 2025 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia. Picture: Instagram.

With a nine-minute lead, only mechanical issues posed a threat to his victory.

But none arose.

Sanders, riding for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, launched off the start line for the final time just before 9am local time.

He was last out of the blocks due to a reverse-order start, allowing him to follow the tracks of those before him.

Daniel Sanders rides for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing .Picture: KTM

While other riders in his position may have focused on preserving their lead, Sanders continued to push through the final leg – setting the quickest time at one checkpoint.

He crossed the finish line less than an hour after starting.

With an Australian flag in his hand and an apple in his mouth, he took to the podium shortly after.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing's Australian pilot Daniel Sanders. Picture: AFP

The Victorian, who called Dakar the ultimate challenge before he left Melbourne two weeks ago, celebrated his title of Dakar Rally champion with team members and supporters atop the winner’s podium.

“It’s a massive accomplishment. For the team, my family, friends, my girlfriend and everyone who’s seen me undergo all the lows and highs along the way, it’s finally all paid off,” he said.

“They knew I could do it, everyone who’s backed me along the way, even after the last three years of a lot of lows, really, now we’ve got the up, so all the hard work has paid off.”

Originally published as Daniel Sanders has won the prestigious Dakar Rally; second Aussie to win classic