Dakar Rally 2025 Results: Privateer Docherty shakes-up stage 10

2025 Dakar Rally stage 10 results – short-sharp stage sets up sandy conclusion to race for Sanders and Co but sees weirdest top 10 for years as privateer BAS team mob the results and Michael Docherty wins.

2024 Dakar Rally Stage 10 in a nutshell – Haradh > Shubaytah Special: 115km Liaison: 520km deep into the Empty Quarter of Saudi Arabia.

• The part of Saudi Arabia we’re in now at the ’25 Dakar is called the Empty Quarter for a very good reason. There is nothing here except a few oil lines and a sand sea of mind-boggling size.
• Shubaytah is literally just an airport in the middle of nowhere and a destination for the organisers to say, ‘here you go boys and girls, go and play in the sand for a couple of days.’
• Stage 10 was an upside-down stage with a butt-numbing 520km of liaison on the cards to start followed by a hot and sandy 115km special which brought the oddest of results we can remember.
• The shortness of the stage helped, plus the need to keep it safe and get through it for the leading riders who were keen to set themselves up for a good day tomorrow (in terms of start position. But still, have you seen a top 10 so void of factory bikes lately?

1. Michael Docherty
2. Rui Goncalves
3. Tobias Ebster
4. Stefan Svitko
5. Edgar Canet
6. Skyler Howes
7. Arunas Gelazninkas
8. Benjamin Melot
9. Mathieu Doveze
10. Toni Mulec

*Full results below

• In that list are nine nationalities, only one former stage winner, four riders from one privateer team, a Chinese HOTO on its Dakar debut and seven Rally 2 class riders.
• Not for the first time Michael Docherty made a name for himself on familiar terrain from a rider used to training just across the border in Dubai. Docherty claims a well-deserved stage win, his first, the second South African since Alfie Cox and only the second time a Rally 2 competitor has done so.
• Most likely Rui Goncalves thought he had his first win for Sherco too but has to settle for second ahead of Tobias Ebster third – all three recording best-ever Dakar stage results. A good day for the privateer BAS KTM team then with two riders on the daily podium and four in total in the top 10.

Speaking of Sherco riders, if you ever doubt a rider’s commitment to finish a stage and keep going to see the final flag, check out Lorenzo Santolino...

• Docherty, who broke a bone in his shoulder at the start of the rally, says he was doing his best to, “at least try to get something good out of this Dakar…I’m happy to open up tomorrow. I enjoy doing navigation in the dunes. Looking forward to that experience and one more big day.”
• Red Bull KTM’s Daniel Sanders must be rubbing his hands together after today. It could have been a solid chance for the Honda boys Tosha Schareina, Adrien Van Beveren, Ricky Brabec to gain time and pile pressure on the race leader Sanders who now has a 16m:31s lead.
• The sandy stage saw some serious sandbagging however, accounting for some of the odd results. Many riders waited near the finish to be sure of starting further back tomorrow, Honda boys notably.
• From where we sit the tactic is unlikely to work. Sanders admits to being a little nervy with the Tuareg Trophy in site but starts in P11 tomorrow and though he has work to do in this super-soft sand, he is good in the soft stuff and can use those in front and his rivals as a measure. Plus his young teammate Edgar Canet is ahead off the start and can easily help. 
• The final flag is in sight. After 1000s of kilometres the riders are tired but these bikes are gasping for a break. Stage 10 was a “rehearsal” for tomorrow says race director David Castera, who promises the long final test in the dunes will not be easy. 308km of very sandy special will be long and hard work. Ahead of a final, token, 61km on the final day it will decide the overall results.

2025 Dakar Rally stage 10 results:

2025 Dakar Rally provisional classification after stage 10 (by class):

Photo Credit: BAS KTM + A.S.O. | J. Delfosse + Sherco + Marcelo Maragni | Red Bull