Red Bull KTM Factory Racing made the perfect start to the 2025 Rallye du Maroc as Daniel Sanders and Edgar Canet topped stage one of the World Rally-Raid Championship finale, while teammate Luciano Benavides crashed out and Honda’s Ricky Brabec struggled to follow up his prologue win.

Stage one ran between Fez and Erfoud, Morocco’s date capital, covering a punishing 779 kilometres, including a 298 km special across the Rekkam plateau. It was a long, Dakar-style opener that began in the early hours and tested endurance as much as navigation.

Ricky Brabec’s relaxed start cost him dearly as he slipped down the order, while Sanders set the pace from the outset. His teammate Canet impressed in Rally2, finishing just 1’24” back to give KTM a one-two. A full “orange” sweep looked likely until Benavides crashed around kilometre 219, suffering shoulder and knee injuries that ruled him out of the rally.

At the finish, Sanders bagged his fourth stage win at the Rallye du Maroc (after victories in 2021 and 2024), his 16th of the season and 24th career world championship stage win – all current records.

“Waking up at 3am isn’t great and the road section was really long,” said Sanders. “The start of the special was technical and high altitude made the engine bog a bit, but it got better in the open desert. I passed Luciano early on and set the pace. He was there for most of it, but then just before refuel, he was gone. Tosha arrived and we knew it wasn’t good. Best wishes to him.”

Honda boys fighting for W2RC P2 and manufacturer’s crown

Hero’s Ross Branch completed the top three, four minutes back, with the Honda factory riders arriving in a group behind. In the overall standings, Sanders leads by 1’35” from Canet and 4’38” from Branch. Benavides’ exit means the fight for the W2RC runner-up spot is now between Brabec and Tosha Schareina, as Honda chase a late comeback in the manufacturers’ standings.

In Rally2, Edgar Canet dominated ahead of Michael Docherty (BAS World KTM, +8’25”) and Martim Ventura (Honda HRC, +12’34”). The Rally3 win went to Noa Sainct (Nomade Racing), son of legend Richard, who beat Thomas Zoldos (Aub’Moto) by 12’31” to complete an all-KTM top three.

Stage 1 highlights:

Stage two, the first of four loops around Erfoud, will cover 394 km, including 307 km against the clock with the first dunes of the race.

2025 Rallye du Maroc Stage 1 results:

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2025 Rallye du Maroc RallyGP classification after stage 1:

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Photo Credit: A.S.O. | DPPI | Julien Delfosse | Fred le Floc'h