Watch daily extended highlights from the 2025 edition of the Dakar Rally each morning via our - plus a daily 15-minute mini recap and more from January 4 to January 18 (AEDT).
Sanders looked on course to add to his four stage victories with another on the trek to Ha’il, before losing half of his 15-minute advantage for speeding infractions on three occasions.
Bike riders are not permitted to exceed 160km/h when racing through the dunes, with Sanders’ eight-minute loss allowing Red Bull KTM teammate Luciano Benavides to take the stage win.
The Australian will now enter the rest day with a 7’02” advantage in the overall standings and remains confident of his chances as the second half of the rally awaits.
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Dakar Rally 2025
series • motorsport
series • motorsport
“I felt good all day. There were a couple of little mistakes in some fast areas, staying too far to one side and missing the main way,” Sanders explained.
“Other than that, the body and bike are good and we’re happy to make it to the rest day.
“I have a lot of experience and many years here now, I just know what to do and how to control it.”
Compatriot Toby Price had a better day alongside British navigator Sam Sunderland, with the pair finishing 11th on the stage won by Seth Quintero and Dennis Zenz of Toyota Gazoo Racing.
Price and Sunderland lost five hours on Stage 4 courtesy of an axle failure, but bounced back on the 492-kilometre route, where they now sit 40th overall in the cars classification.
Toby Hederics, meanwhile, managed another top 10 finish in the Rally 2, continuing what has been an impressive first week for the Bas World KTM Racing rider.
Hederics finished the day in ninth position and currently sits 10th overall in the Rally 2 standings and 23rd in the bikes classification.
Fellow Australian Andrew Houlihan was relieved to get through a rather challenging first week in Saudi Arabia, having finished 12th in the Malle Moto, where he currently sits 17th overall.
And, lastly, brothers Peter and Christopher Schey had their highest finish yet in the Classic, crossing the line in 12th – a position that propels them into the top 20 of the overall Classic standings.
