Luciano Benavides started the stage with a disadvantage of over three minutes to the leader, American Ricky Brabec. However, the Argentine's composure allowed him to maintain a solid pace that brought him to the finish in second place for the stage, which ultimately proved sufficient to overturn the overall standings.
The narrative of this race changed dramatically at the 98-kilometer mark. Ricky Brabec (Honda Monster Energy rider), seeking his third title, made a fatal navigation error just 7 kilometers from the finish.
Buenos Aires, January 17 (NA) — In a finale that defies all sporting logic, Argentine rider Luciano Benavides, a member of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team, claimed the title of the 2026 Dakar Rally in the motorcycle category.
This achievement represents not only his first title in the world's most demanding competition but also a victory with the narrowest margin ever recorded in the category's history: a mere two-second difference in the general classification.
The final stage, a 105-kilometer timed special in the city of Yanbu, Saudi Arabia, began with an extremely complex scenario for the Salta native.
By taking a wrong turn, the American ceded enough time for the advantage he had built over weeks to vanish in seconds.
Benavides's victory once again underscores that in high-level competition, the race isn't over until the last checkpoint is crossed.
The combination of technical talent, physical preparation, and the ability to capitalize on others' errors turned an 'impossible' gap into a legendary victory.
