“I hope to break the Chinese record”
En bref
- Sunier Sunier is gearing up for his fourth consecutive Dakar with the Kove team, having come 46th on his debut in 2023, 97th in 2024 (after a shoulder injury), and 37th in 2025.
- One of the most talented bikers in China, the 28-year-old was encouraged to take up motorsport by his father and went on to win a host of national events.
- That brought him to the attention of Kove, who selected him for their first Dakar entry in 2023. He rode alongside Deng Liansong and Fang Ming Ji and finished as the top-ranked Chinese biker, a feat he repeated in 2025.
- Sunier's objective is to break into the top 30 overall and set a new Chinese record for bikers at the Dakar. The current mark of 33rd was established by Zakeer Yakefu in 2021.
- Sunier has enjoy riding with and learning from Neels Theric, who will also be representing Kove Factory Racing at Dakar 2026. He finished third behind the Frenchman and Martin Michek - riding for sister team Hoto Factory Racing - at this year's DHD Rally in China.
Ambition
S.S.: “Dakar 2025 went smoothly, but getting lost several times during the rally prevented me from achieving the expected result. I'm very happy to be back. Last year I raced for the satellite team due to sponsorships, but returning to the factory team this year gives me a lot of confidence in racing. We've put a lot of effort into research and development, and the condition of our bike is gradually becoming as good as the top factory teams. For Dakar 2026, I hope to break the record for a Chinese rider, which means finishing in 32nd place overall or higher. Our machines have improved significantly, and my racing experience is gradually increasing. I hope to avoid getting lost and I'm striving for even better results."
