The 2025 Dakar Rally is set to begin shortly, and KTM has announced its three-man team for the rally. It will consist of brothers Kevin Benavides and Luciano Benavides, along with Australian Daniel Sanders, who will be on his first outing on a KTM rally bike this year. Sadly, KTM will not compete with the Gas Gas and Husqvarna makes this year at the Dakar Rally, a big reason being its financial situation.
KTM Dakar Rally lineup
Kevin Benavides was the fastest KTM rider last year, finishing in fourth overall, ahead of last year’s teammate Toby Price. The Argentinean rider has two Dakar victories under his belt — 2023 with KTM and 2021 with Honda. He was plagued with injuries this year, raising concerns about his race pace.
Having tasted victory at the Rally du Maroc, Sanders is looking forward to giving it his best. Having won previous Dakar Rally stages and having made a big impression on his first Dakar outing in 2021, Sanders was also slowed by injuries earlier this year at Dakar but managed to get the time needed on the motorcycle. Sanders is looking for the podium finish, hopefully earning KTM a much-needed victory this year.
Kevin’s brother Luciano Benavides will do his first Dakar on a KTM, having moved from the Husqvarna team. He finished seventh overall in the 2024 Dakar Rally, and has his eyes set on winning the rally raid this year astride a KTM. So could the three-man team for KTM prove successful in reclaiming the throne? Stay tuned as we bring you all the action from the 2025 Dakar Rally.