The departure of Kevin Benavides drew heartfelt comments from KTM’s top rally figures. Both Robert Jonas and Andreas Hölzl paid tribute to the Argentine, acknowledging his deep impact on the team.

Robert Jonas, Vice President of Offroad Racing, highlighted Kevin’s immediate influence: ‘It’s been a real privilege to have Kevin as part of our rally program. He came into the team as a Dakar winner and instantly added something special – not just in terms of results, but also with his attitude, his approach to racing, and the energy he brought to the group.’

Jonas emphasized the team’s peak moment with Benavides: ‘Winning Dakar again in 2023 with us was a standout moment, but beyond the trophies, Kevin has always represented what it means to be a top-level racer.’

Andreas Hölzl, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing Rally Team Manager, shared emotional words: ‘It’s not easy to see Kevin retire, especially after everything we’ve been through together over the past few years. From the moment he joined the team, Kevin brought so much passion, determination, and professionalism.’

He finished with heartfelt thanks: ‘We shared some incredible moments – none bigger than his Dakar win with us in 2023 – and he’s always been a rider who gave absolutely everything. His presence will be missed, but we’re proud to have been part of his journey and we wish him the very best for what comes next.’

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Kevin Benavides’ retirement from racing triggered a wave of tributes from within the KTM organisation. Among them were heartfelt words from KTM Motorsports Director, Pit Beirer, who underlined the Argentine’s lasting impact on the team.

‘A huge thank you to Kevin for everything he has contributed to Red Bull KTM Factory Racing over the past five years. From the moment he joined our team as a Dakar winner, he brought with him a wealth of experience, determination, and a true racer’s spirit.’

Beirer reminisced about their 2023 triumph as a defining moment: ‘His 2023 Dakar victory with KTM was a special moment for all of us, and his presence in the paddock and in the team will be missed.’

Beyond the accolades, Beirer stressed Kevin’s role in shaping the team’s rally programme: ‘Kevin has been a key part of our rally success and our wider racing family, and we fully support his decision to step away at this time.’

He concluded with a message of goodwill: ‘We wish him all the best in whatever comes next.’

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Argentinian rider Kevin Benavides has officially announced his retirement from professional motorcycle racing, closing a remarkable chapter in his life. A two-time Dakar Rally winner, Benavides bids farewell after five memorable years with Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, marked by hard-fought triumphs and unforgettable moments.

Kevin joined the KTM squad in 2021 fresh off his first Dakar victory, and quickly made history again by clinching a second win in 2023 aboard the KTM 450 RALLY. His final Dakar in 2025 held special meaning, as he competed alongside his brother Luciano – fulfilling a long-time dream.

Reflecting on the decision, Benavides shared the emotional weight of the moment: ‘Today is not an easy day, but it’s definitely a special one. After so many years of racing – riding motorcycles since I was three, crossing the toughest terrains on Earth, experiencing victories, crashes, and life-changing lessons – I’ve made one of the hardest decisions of my life: to bring my professional motorcycle racing career to an end. Saying goodbye to the bike feels like letting go of a part of myself, but I do so with pride.’

He also looked back at how far he had come: ‘From Salta, Argentina, to the world, becoming a factory rider, winning the Dakar twice, and making history in rally and Argentine sport – these were dreams that once seemed impossible. This isn’t how I imagined retiring, but my injury prevents me from competing at 100 percent, and I’ve always raced with everything I had.’

Kevin remains committed to supporting the sport: ‘I want to thank my family, my team, the fans, and especially KTM – for believing in me and standing by me through everything. I hope to stay close to the KTM family, support my brother Luciano, and keep contributing to the sport in new ways. Dakar taught me that there are no limits when you love what you do and stay humble. Thank you all for being part of this journey.’

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One of the most influential careers in rally raid history has come to an end. Chilean rider Pablo Quintanilla, a major figure in global off-road racing, has officially announced his retirement after 15 years at the top of the sport.

Born in Valparaíso, Quintanilla began riding motocross at just six years old. His natural talent and relentless work ethic saw him rise to international prominence. He won two Cross-Country Rallies World Championships (2016 and 2017) and reached the Dakar Rally podium three times, twice as runner-up (2020 and 2022) — the most successful Chilean in rally raid history.

Since 2021, he was part of the Monster Energy Honda HRC factory team, where he quickly became a key rider. His win at the Rallye du Maroc, his leadership qualities, and his relentless consistency made him a cornerstone of the Honda effort.

However, his journey was abruptly interrupted at the 2025 Dakar Rally, when a violent crash during Stage 8 left him unconscious and seriously bruised. Though he physically recovered, the incident led him to make the toughest decision of his sporting life: to retire from professional racing.

In his heartfelt farewell statement, Quintanilla said:

“Today was a very important day for me. I have announced my retirement from professional motorcycling after 15 years of giving it my all.
I had the opportunity to win two world championships and stand on the Dakar podium three times.
I was able to achieve several of my dreams, and that makes me proud.
The last few years of my career were a pleasure as part of the Monster Energy Honda HRC team.
I leave the motorcycle world with a smile. I lived what I had to live, made many friends along the way, and will carry those memories with me.”

The Honda team has since shared a tribute message, thanking him for every moment, every race, and every contribution. “This will always be your home,” they wrote.

With his retirement, Pablo Quintanilla closes a remarkable chapter in motorsport — one defined by perseverance, excellence, and an enduring passion for two wheels.

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In 2022, in a surprising and completely unexpected move, Danilo Petrucci embraced the challenge of competing in the Dakar – stepping away from asphalt racing with no prior preparation, joining a project with KTM Tech3.

The challenge was considerable for the Italian, especially as he got injured just weeks before and knew little to nothing about rally raids. But he didn’t shy away from trying and even won a stage before crashing and retiring. Petrucci recalled that adventure in an interview with the podcast La Merenda:

– Doing the Dakar was like when elephants leave the herd, or like those who face the Camino de Santiago. I didn’t know anything about the race and didn’t know anyone. A month earlier I had broken my ankle and everyone was worried about me. They were advising me to take it easy to avoid falling, which later happened. However, before retiring, I won a stage.

Petrucci also shared how he experienced that victory in the fifth stage of the 2022 Dakar: ‘I found out I had come in first on the route that took me to the bivouac, which was 160km of highway. I was completely alone and, at that moment, I realized I had done something historic. That moment reminded me of when, as a child on the way to school, I used to force my mother to buy me all the motorcycle VHS tapes at the newsstand. I would go home and watch them, dreaming of winning, and that day had finally arrived. I celebrated alone and it was like someone reaching the top of Mount Everest with no one around to take their picture’.

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Daniel Sanders was the strongest in the fourth and penultimate stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. He is, thus, very close to the final victory, which would be his second in the season of the Rally-Raid World Championship (W2RC) after Dakar.

This Wednesday, the Red Bull KTM rider needed 2h51m14s to complete 300km timed in the fourth stage. He beat Adrien van Beveren (Monster Energy Honda) by 3m23s, followed by José Ignacio Cornejo (Hero) by 4m52s.

Michael Docherty (SRG Motorsports/Husqvarna) surprised with the fourth time, being the best in Rally2, with Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda) finishing fifth.

With one stage remaining, Sanders leads with a 7m23s advantage over Brabec, while Luciano Benavides (Red Bull KTM) is third at 8m46s. Van Beveren and Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy Honda) complete the top five. Docherty leads in Rally2 in eighth place.

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Daniel Sanders is the new leader of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, the second round of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). To achieve this, he won the first stage.

After Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy Honda) was the fastest on the first two days, the Dakar winner showed no mercy in the second stage. The Red Bull KTM rider completed the 228km timed section, starting and finishing in Mezzer’ah, in 3h01m35s.

José Ignacio Cornejo (Hero) finished second, 3m59s behind, followed by Adrien van Beveren (Monster Energy Honda). Luciano Benavides (Red Bull KTM) and Skyler Howes (Monster Energy Honda) rounded out the top five, while Schareina was only seventh, over nine minutes behind the winner.

With three stages remaining, Sanders is the new leader of the overall standings, with a 2m25s lead over Benavides. Schareina dropped to third, 2m43s off the top. Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda) and Cornejo complete the top five.

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Spanish rider Tosha Schareina is standing out in his debut at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, securing his second consecutive stage victory and consolidating his position at the top of the general classification.

In this first stage, competitors faced the vast Arabian dunes for the first time, in a challenging 243-kilometer test of navigation and endurance. From the Al Ain camp, riders followed a demanding route to the stunning Liwa region, finishing in Mezaira’a.

Prologue winner Schareina took advantage of his privileged starting position, setting off in tenth place. With temperatures rising throughout the day, the Spaniard masterfully dominated the sandy terrain and dunes, crossing the finish line with an advantage of nearly two minutes over Ricky Brabec, his teammate at Monster Energy Honda HRC. This result allowed him to consolidate his lead in the general classification, where he now holds a 2-minute and 7-second advantage over Brabec.

Schareina’s performance at the start of this competition leaves no doubt about his potential. The Spaniard shows growing confidence and a high technical level in navigating the demanding desert landscapes, establishing himself as a strong contender for the final victory.

With more stages ahead, the competition promises to remain tight, but for now, Schareina has already made his mark in this edition of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge.

Top five of the first stage:

Top five of the first stage:

Top five overall:

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The Dakar Rally is more than just a competition. It’s an epic battle against nature, human limits, and despair itself. When Monster Energy Honda HRC decided to reveal the backstage of this brutal challenge, few could imagine the work and intensity required to ensure riders have all the conditions to perform at their best.

Imagine a challenge where each kilometer is a fight against the improbable. Where riders like Ricky Brabec and Skyler Howes transform the desert into a personal battlefield. Motorcycles cut through unforgiving landscapes, facing suffocating sandstorms and terrains that challenge mechanical engineering itself.

The team dismantles the romantic myth of the solitary hero. Behind the scenes, Dakar is a complex dance of strategy, resilience, and solidarity. Mechanics work tirelessly, riders share moments of vulnerability, and every second counts in a journey where success depends on millimeters and hundredths of a second.

This new perspective promises to unveil the DNA of one of the world’s most demanding competitions, which is not about arriving first, but simply about arriving. Surviving. Overcoming.

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Just over a week ago, KTM celebrated its 2025 Dakar Rally victory with Daniel Sanders, as well as a Rally2 win with Edgar Canet.

At present, the future remains uncertain, depending on the approval of the restructuring plan at a creditors’ meeting scheduled for February 25. However, the manufacturer’s intentions are clear: to remain in motorsports.

Gottfried Neumeister, the new CEO of the Mattighofen-based manufacturer, emphasized quoted on GPOne.com that this is an essential part of KTM’s identity, showcasing its capabilities:

– Winning the most important motorcycle categories in the Dakar is not just a sign of life but also clear proof that KTM is capable of building the best bikes in the world. And if the banks allow us to move into the third phase, we can continue to do so in the future.

In addition to the Dakar and the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), KTM is actively involved in other motorcycle racing disciplines, with a natural focus on MotoGP and its feeder categories (Moto2, Moto3, and the Red Bull MotoGP Rookies Cup).

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