Profile of DANIEL SANDERS - RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING - Dakar

N°4 Bike RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING

ROSS BRANCH

PABLO QUINTANILLA

DANIEL SANDERS

(aus) Born on 30/08/1994 1.8m / 85kg

Hobbies

farming, bee keeping, building motocross tracks

“Exciting to be back with KTM”

RIDER FACTS…

A pure product of the Australian off-road motorbike scene, Daniel Sanders made a sensational debut on the Dakar in 2022, finishing fourth and the title of best rookie, just as his compatriot and mentor Toby Price did in 2015 (3rd).
What followed was more painful: despite two stage wins and finishing third overall, he fractured his elbow and wrist in an accident during a liaison. A year later, he finished 7^th after a nasty bout of food poisoning and a thorn stuck in a muscle in his arm... the last straw for a beekeeper broadly used to bee stings.
The jinx still hasn't left him. On the approach to his fourth Dakar, he broke his femur during training in the Australian outback. It was a truncated preparation that didn't prevent him from reaching the finish in eighth place. Finally spared from health problems, the 30-year-old joins the official KTM team for his fifth appearance. ‘Chucky’, as he is known, is a serious contender for victory, particularly after his brilliant victory on the Rallye du Maroc in October.

AMBITION 2025

“The 2024 Dakar was a considerable effort; we went there with two weeks of preparation and new updates to the bike after seven months off since my femur fracture and the complications of healing. I wasn't even sure I could participate in the 2024 Dakar. It was a massive risk to race, but I always give my best when I'm on the bike.

Returning with KTM is exciting, and I want to do justice to their hard work. It's terrific to be working with the Benavides brothers, and I'm sure we'll make a great team.

I'm pretty happy with how the Rallye du Maroc went, especially the victory. But it's genuinely a massive achievement for me and the entire team since the Dakar and the last race in Argentina - it genuinely shows the hard work that everyone has put in over the previous few months. I'm thrilled to be back on form and showing good speed ahead of the Dakar.”

Vehicle

RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING

KTM 450 RALLY FACTORY
RED BULL KTM FACTORY RACING

Mark KTM
Model 450 RALLY FACTORY
Engine 449 cm³ monocylindre 4 temps
Frame double berceau en acier
Power environ 70 ch.
Weight 139 kg
Tank capacity 34,5 litres
Performance tuner Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Assistance Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
Class Rally GP

Ranking 2025

All news of D. Sanders

DAKAR 2025: CONSECRATION FOR SANDERS AND AL RAJHI

Ultimate: Patience proves the wiser for Al Rajhi

• With a solid return to the Dakar following his absence in 2024, Henk Lategan moved into the lead at the halfway point, added a stage success to his roll of honour and held steady until the ninth special when he suffered from having to open the way. Yazeed Al Rahji, who was trailing in the South African’s wake until...

Number 20 for KTM

KTM has won the bike category for the 20th time, reinforcing its position of constructor with the most Dakar titles. The Austrian firm won 9 of the thirteen specials on this edition of the rally (5 for Daniel Sanders, 2 for Luciano Benavides and 2 for Michael Docherty). Honda completed the rally with 3 stage successes (won by Adrien Van Beveren, Ricky Brabec and Tosha Schareina),...

Daniel Sanders: “It’s a massive accomplishment”

Daniel Sanders has won his first Dakar on his 5th attempt. ‘Chucky’ has become the 2nd Australian to write his name on the Dakar roll of honour after Toby Prices two triumphs in 2016 and 2019.

“When I came out of the dunes… I could see the bivouac and I just got instant chills through my whole body, I was super nervous. I...

Daniel Sanders wins the Dakar

Daniel Sanders has become the second Australian biker to win the Dakar after Toby Price (in 2016 and 2019). ‘Chucky’ has also given KTM its 20th triumph on the race. The Austrian firm was unbeaten between 2001 and 2019 and also achieved first place in 2023.

Sanders takes the lead

General rankings leader Daniel Sanders has produced the best time after 19 km with a lead of just two seconds over Adrien Van Beveren, 6 over Luciano Benavides and 9 over Tosha Schareina.

Sanders closes in on glory

The riders on the provisional podium of the Dakar will be among the last 15 competitors to start the special at 8.50. Leader Daniel Sanders boasts a lead of 9 minutes over Tosha Schareina and 15’50’’ over Adrien Van Beveren. The fourth placed biker, Luciano Benavides, trails the Australian by 22’16’’. The top 5 is completed by title holder...

Honey to the bee for Sanders, all smiles for Al Rajhi

FOCUS
Dunes and fog are not a good mix when the riders, drivers and crews have to start a special on the Dakar. This morning, the Empty Quarter was full of dense mist, preventing the helicopters from taking off and ensuring the race’s safety. The delay of the start to the special while waiting for the skies to clear also incited the bikers to request that the stage...

Honey to the bee for Sanders

Tosha Schareina regained 7’31’’ on Daniel Sanders but the Australian still boasts a lead of 9’00’’ over his closest pursuer in the general rankings. The KTM rider is only 131 kilometres (including 61 km against the clock) from a first triumph on the Dakar. Schareina in turn has a lead of 6’50’’ over third-placed Adrien Van...