Published On: January 16, 2026
Share this article:

VWill HRC Honda beat the Red Bull KTM Rally Team again? We'll find out tomorrow, when the final stage of the 48th Dakar Rally takes place. Today, HRC Honda rider Ricky Brabec won the twelfth stage, giving him a serious shot at the overall victory. 

Ricky Brabec reclaimed the lead of the 2026 Dakar Rally overall on Thursday. The American drove a tactically strong twelfth stage between Al Henakiyah and Yanbu, putting his rivals under pressure with an impressive performance.

Smart tactics pay off for Brabec

Brabec deliberately lost the lead to Luciano Benavides on Wednesday by easing off slightly in the final stages of the eleventh stage. This gave him a favorable starting position for today's 311-kilometer special stage, the penultimate special stage of this Dakar Rally. With Saturday's final stage of only 105 kilometers ahead, Brabec knew this was his last chance to make a difference—and he did so with conviction.

Benavides started strongly, setting the fastest split after 45 kilometers, but Brabec took the lead at the second checkpoint. The Honda rider then maintained a strong pace and steadily extended his lead.
After 189 kilometers, the gap to Benavides was already over three minutes. The Argentinian KTM rider was at the front of the course and lost valuable time navigating, something Brabec took full advantage of.

Brabec on the hunt for third Dakar victory

After 3 hours and 19 minutes, Brabec crossed the finish line first in Yanbu. Even after factoring in the time bonus for Benavides, the American remained more than three minutes faster than his rival.
This puts Brabec back in the lead of the overall standings, starting the final stage with a lead of 3 minutes and 20 seconds. This paves the way for his third overall victory in the Dakar Rally.

Behind the leading duo, Tosha Schareina took third place of the day. The Honda rider narrowly edged out teammate Adrien van Beveren, despite the Frenchman receiving a time bonus. Both riders lost about thirteen minutes to Brabec.
The top ten was completed by Michael Docherty (Bas World KTM) as best Rally2 rider, followed by teammate Toni Mulec, Ross Branch (Hero), Preston Campbell, Mason Klein and Skyler Howes.

Our rock-solid compatriot Jérôme Martiny finished 27th today and is in P3 in the category without assistance.

One more stage to the finish in Yanbu

Saturday, only a short 105-kilometer loop around Yanbu remains. Brabec starts the final stage with a comfortable lead of over three minutes over Benavides.
The Argentinian thus seems certain of second place, while Schareina in third position already has to make up almost 28 minutes on the leader. The denouement of the Dakar rally 2026 nevertheless promises one last day full of excitement and strategy.

Stage 12

1
009 – R. BRABEC (USA)
HONDA | CRF 450
 3h19m01s + 00: 00: 00 –:–:–
2
077 – L. BENAVIDES (ARG)
KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY
 3h22m44s + 00: 03: 43 –:–:–
3
068 – T. SCHAREINA (ESP)
HONDA | CRF 450
 3h31m59s + 00: 12: 58 –:–:–
4
042 – A. VAN BEVEREN (FRA)
HONDA | CRF 450
 3h32m08s + 00: 13: 07 –:–:–
5
014 – M. DOCHERTY (RSA) ×
KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY REPLICA
 3h36m12s + 00: 17: 11 –:–:–
6
016 – T. MULEC (SLO)
KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY REPLICA
 3h38m02s + 00: 19: 01 –:–:–
7
046 – R. BRANCH (BOT)
HERO | 450 RALLY
 3h41m43s + 00: 22: 42 –:–:–
8
085 – P. CAMPBELL (USA)
HONDA | CRF 450
 3h41m47s + 00: 22: 46 –:–:–
9
098 – M. KLEIN (USA)
DONE | RALLY
 3h42m49s + 00: 23: 48 –:–:–
10
010 – S. HOWES (USA)
HONDA | CRF 450
 3h43m25s + 00: 24: 24 –:–:–
27
025 – J. MARTINY (BEL)
HONDA | CRF 450
 4h11m44s + 00: 52: 43 –:–:–

 

Interim score

1
009 – R. BRABEC (USA)
HONDA | CRF 450
 48h08m12s + 00: 00: 00 –:–:– -00:18:16 (1)
2
077 – L. BENAVIDES (ARG)
KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY
 48h11m32s + 00: 03: 20 –:–:– -00:12:09 (2)
3
068 – T. SCHAREINA (ESP)
HONDA | CRF 450
 48h36m03s + 00: 27: 51 + 00: 10: 00 -00:23:35 (3)
4
010 – S. HOWES (USA)
HONDA | CRF 450
 49h06m33s + 00: 58: 21 + 00: 02: 00 -00:02:58 (4)
5
001 – D. SANDERS (AUS)
KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY
 49h06m43s + 00: 58: 31 + 00: 06: 00 -00:21:39 (5)
6
042 – A. VAN BEVEREN (FRA)
HONDA | CRF 450
 49h15m09s + 01: 06: 57 –:–:– -00:10:08 (6)
7
011 – I. CORNEJO (CHI)
HERO | 450 RALLY
 49h48m17s + 01: 40: 05 –:–:– -00:03:59 (7)
8
046 – R. BRANCH (BOT)
HERO | 450 RALLY
 50h56m27s + 02: 48: 15 + 00: 06: 10 –:–:– (8)
9
016 – T. MULEC (SLO)
KTM | 450 RALLY FACTORY REPLICA
 51h03m28s + 02: 55: 16 + 00: 00: 10 –:–:– (9)
10
085 – P. CAMPBELL (USA)
HONDA | CRF 450
 51h09m40s + 03: 01: 28 –:–:– –:–:– (10)
22
025 – J. MARTINY (BEL)
HONDA | CRF 450
 56h15m55s + 08: 07: 43 + 00: 06: 00 –:–:– (22)

 

Tekst: Danny Hermans
Photos: ASO