Benavides wins Dakar Rally by two seconds in closest finish ever

Luciano Benavides Wins 2026 Dakar Rally by Two Seconds in Closest Finish Ever

Luciano Benavides of Argentina claimed his maiden Dakar Rally bike title on Saturday in Saudi Arabia after American rival Ricky Brabec made a devastating navigation error just seven kilometers from the finish line. The two-second margin of victory represents the closest finish in the event’s 48-year history.abcnews

The 30-year-old KTM rider capitalized on Brabec’s wrong turn during the 13th and final 105-kilometer stage around the Red Sea port city of Yanbu to complete an improbable comeback after trailing by more than three minutes heading into the day.enduro21

A Dramatic Final Stage

Brabec, a two-time Dakar champion seeking his third title, had appeared to be in control after executing a bold tactical gamble on Stage 11, deliberately slowing to secure a later start position that allowed him to build a 3:20 lead heading into the finale.roadracingworld

But the Honda rider’s title hopes evaporated in the closing kilometers when he took a wrong track, forcing a U-turn that handed Benavides the opportunity he needed.enduro21

“In the final three kilometres, Ricky took the wrong track and I took the right one,” Benavides said on the official Dakar website. “I saw it was him and that he had to pull a U-turn to get back on the right line because crossing between the two was impossible. I saw the opening and I went for it.”

Spaniard Edgar Canet won the stage for KTM, with Benavides finishing second, six seconds behind his teammate. Brabec crossed the line in tenth place on the stage, 3:28 adrift.enduro21

Making History with His Brother

The victory makes the Benavides brothers the first siblings to both win the Dakar Rally. Kevin Benavides won the event in 2021 and 2023, the latter by 43 seconds, which had been the previous closest margin in Dakar history.espn

“Nine years in the Dakar and my first win. My brother and I are making history,” Benavides said. “He won by forty-three seconds and I’ve won by two. I think I have him beaten on that front!”

The result marked KTM’s 21st victory at the Dakar Rally and comes after Australian Daniel Sanders claimed the manufacturer’s 20th win at last year’s event. Sanders had been leading the 2026 edition before a crash on Stage 10 ended his title challenge.racerxonline

Spain’s Tosha Schareina finished third overall for Honda, 25 minutes and 12 seconds behind Benavides.enduro21

“It’s unreal,” Benavides said. “Two seconds after two weeks and almost 8,000 kilometers is something that is hard to understand”.abcnews