Dakar Stage 2: Al Rajhi wins 48-Hour test in cars, Sanders on Bikes

After leading at halfway, Yazeed Al-Rajhi has won the 48-hour 2nd stage at the Dakar Rally, but Henk Lategan took over the overall lead.

After the finish, Yazeed Al Rajhi received a 2-minute penalty while Nasser Al Attiyah was handed a 4-minute penalty, both for exceeding speed limits.

Although the penalties have not deprived Al Rajhi of stage victory, it does mean Al Attiyah drops down onto the third step of the podium on the 48 HR Stage 2, with Henk Lategan moving into second place, 4m16s behind Al Rajhi.

Hopes of back-to-back Dakar Rally wins have been hampered early for Carlos Sainz Sr. after he rolled on Stage 2A.

“Today has been quite a complicated stage,” said Sainz, who had been eighth at the end of Stage 1.

“After rolling over on a cut dune, we were able to continue thanks to the help of our team-mate Mitchell, but then we had more problems.

“The car was overheating, we couldn’t see well because of the broken glass and we punctured. The day went from bad to worse.”

Despite the crash, M-Sport Ford team principal Malcolm Wilson offered some optimism.

“Carlos, unfortunately, had a problem at around kilometer 327,” Wilson explained.

“At that point, he was in first or second place, we’re not sure, so he was opening up the track.

‘He was on a dune and they landed upside down, with the roof of the car on the ground.

“Mitch managed to help him, and then he stopped for a while to obviously move some damaged parts and that sort of thing.

“It looks like, from what we’ve seen, there’s no structural damage. It’s been running at a reasonable pace, flat out after the accident.

“[All the Fords] will be together and hopefully we’ll have a chance to implement repairs.

“Then, the most important thing is to bring him back tomorrow, and from what seems to have been lost, it’s maybe around an hour, which on the second stage of the Dakar is a lot.

“There’s a long way to go.”

Bikes

After the 48 HR 2nd stage, in the general rankings Daniel Sanders has opened up a gap and now lead Skyler Howes by 12m36s. Ross Branch is third, 4s behind Howes and 8s ahead of the American’s teammate Tosha Schareina. Titleholder Ricky Brabec completes the top 5, 15m09s behind Sanders.

2025 Dakar Stage 2 Results – Cars (Top-10)

2025 Dakar Overall Results – Cars (Top-10)

2025 Dakar Bikes Stage 2 Result (Top-10)

2025 Dakar Bikes Overall (Top-10)