Red Bull KTM Factory rider Daniel Sanders sidesteps the question of whether he could become the second man from Oz to win the Dakar. "This will be my fifth start, and I've never even finished on the podium. We'll see… It's going to be a tough race with a gruelling first week. You've got to start strong and avoid mistakes."

Of course, "Chucky" dreams of following in the footsteps of fellow Australian Toby Price, who won in 2016 and 2018 —and it is not a pipe dream. He is now racing for KTM, the same team that catapulted Price to his triumphs before he moved on to four wheels. Moreover, Sanders is firing on all cylinders after claiming the Rallye du Maroc last October.

"Last year, I went into the Dakar still dealing with the sequelae of a broken leg and didn't really get my hopes up", he points out. "It's all water under the bridge now. I'm physically ready and I love our new bike. It performs better both in the sand and on rocky terrain."

Now as a KTM factory rider, "Chucky" has stepped into the role once held by Toby Price and is embracing the weight of expectation. "Riding in orange means representing the mothership", says the rider who competed last year under the GasGas banner, another brand within the Pierer Mobility group.

"I'm here to shine and help KTM retake the trophy." KTM’s bid for a twentieth Dakar victory is guided by the team manager, Jordi Viladoms, who has assembled a strong line-up. Alongside Sanders are the two Benavides Bros., although a shadow of doubt lingers over Kevin following a nasty mid-season injury. Looking to the future, he has also introduced the rising star Edgar Canet. The 19-year-old Catalan, who finished seventh at the Rallye du Maroc, is the baby of the field.

The golden boys

A dynamic duo, thriving in their retirement. Toby Price and Sam Sunderland called time on their illustrious biking careers after each secured two Dakar titles. While they may be sorely missed in the motorbike category, they have made their return to the bivouac, this time as partners in a Toyota Hilux that has already sparked the curiosity of fans. The Australian, who has been focused on his transition to four wheels for several years, was the one to set this partnership in motion with his former KTM teammate.

"After a hard day on the bikes, it was cold and there were lots of stones, it was tricky on the bike", recalls Sunderland. "We'd be like, 'Wow, imagine how cool it would be in a car, with four wheels, just blow through the rocks.' I obviously retired. Toby had retired from the bike side too, and one day he sent me a message saying, 'What do you reckon, should we go in a car together', and here we are."

Plenty of former motorbike riders have left their mark on the Dakar in cars, including Hubert Auriol, Nani Roma, Stéphane Peterhansel, Cyril Despres and now Laia Sanz, who finished twenty-third in her car debut in 2022. Toby Price is fully embracing the challenge ahead: "We're going to give it everything we've got and aim high. We want to enjoy it, but there's also a lot to learn. A top 10 finish would be a great target to shoot for". Sunderland echoes his driver's ambitions, adding confidence in their compatibility as a crew: "We've spent a huge amount of time together over the last ten years. And we know what Dakar's about —we've both won it twice. I don't think there's ever been a duo like this in a car before. Toby's already got driving experience and I'm solid on the navigation. I think it's a great mix of skills. If we can make it to the finish without too much drama, we'll be in a great position."

KTM images