Sanders enters history books as just second Aussie rider to win Dakar Rally
Daniel Sanders has raced into the history books, becoming only the second Australian to triumph at the Dakar Rally and the first motorcyclist in 16 years to lead from start to finish in the great two-week race.
The man known throughout the demanding endurance sport as “Chucky” flew home across the desert dunes to Shubaytah on his Red Bull KTM on Friday to seal a magnificent wire-to-wire triumph in Saudi Arabia.
Yarra Valley racer Daniel Sanders has become just the second Australian to win the Dakar Rally.Credit: Kin Marcin, Red Bull Content Pool
The 30-year-old from the Yarra Valley finished sixth over the final mass-start 61-kilometre sprint, having decided to “play it safe” as he protected his nine-minute lead over his nearest rival, Spain’s Monster Energy Honda rider, Tosha Schareina.
Sanders ended up losing only 10 seconds to Schareina as he triumphed in the provisional final standings by eight minutes and 50 seconds to become the first Aussie for six years – since his friend, two-time motorcycle winner Toby Price – and second ever to prevail in 47 editions of the world’s most challenging rally.
“It’s massive. When I came over the last dune, I could see the bivouac, and then I just got instant chills through the whole body,” said the emotional Sanders afterwards.
“I was super, super nervous [and] yeah, couldn’t believe it. All the emotions started coming through as you could see the finish line.
“It’s the biggest race in the world for motorbikes and off-road, so to win the Six-Day International Enduro and then now the Dakar, it’s just ticked off all the goals for my career and everything I’ve wanted to achieve. So it’s a massive accomplishment.”
Sanders – who hails from Three Bridges in Victoria’s Yarra Valley, where he grew up on the family’s apple farm – is a keen beekeeper, as well as being something of a cult figure among petrolheads as he’s become one of the best riders in the world.
