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Hellas 24 Hours Rally: Maxi Schek reportedly second after rain, fog and lack of sleepEnduro rider with number 205 on an orange KTM on a gravel track above a bay

Hellas 24 Hours Rally: Maxi Schek reportedly second after rain, fog and lack of sleep

Published by Thomas Menzel on 4. November 2026

Entered at short notice, on a borrowed motorcycle and without his usual navigation device: Maxi Schek has finished second in the Roadbook Enduro class at the Hellas 24 Hours Rally in Greece. This is reported by the Greek portal Pliroforiodotis. According to the report, Giannis Trigkas won, 5 minutes and 44 seconds ahead of Schek. Schek is said to have won two of the four stages, the first and the third. There is no official results list from the organiser. The position and the gap are therefore unconfirmed.

From the Dakar bivouac to a spontaneous start in Greece

Schek is no newcomer to rally raid. According to an interview with the magazine Motorradreporter, cited by S-Timing, he competed in the Malle Moto class at the Dakar 2026. In this class, participants race without their own service crew.

According to the Pliroforiodotis report, he entered the Hellas 24 Hours Rally at short notice. The sources available do not say why he decided to take part.

Borrowed KTM and tablet instead of tripmaster

Schek did not bring a bike of his own. He rode a borrowed KTM EXC 450, an enduro competition motorcycle rather than a dedicated rally machine. His navigation also differed from the norm. He used a tablet and did without a tripmaster. Rally riders normally use this odometer on the handlebars to compare the distance covered with the distances given in the roadbook, the route book containing the navigation instructions. Without it, every junction becomes a sum to work out.

Enduro rider with number 205 on an orange KTM on a gravel track above a bay
A participant with number 205 on a KTM, with a bay in the background. The image carries the Hellas Rally Raid logo. Who is pictured and when the photo was taken is not documented. Image credit: from material MA-0011, photographer not named.

Four stages, 27-hour time limit

The schedule shows what the event involves. According to S-Timing, the official website lists four special stages of 150, 290, 250 and 130 kilometres. The time limits given are 4, 10, 8 and 5 hours, 27 hours in total. The second stage alone, at 290 kilometres, allows up to ten hours. According to these details, the first special stage began at 10:00 at the bivouac. According to S-Timing, the rally is organised by Hellas Rally.

Schek himself is said to have set off as the fourth rider at 10:33 on 30 October 2026, according to the S-Timing editorial team. This is based on a video clip that S-Timing says it was unable to verify. S-Timing did not find an official start list including Schek.

The sources differ on the basic facts: Pliroforiodotis gives Loutraki as the venue and around 878 kilometres across the four stages, whereas S-Timing gives Aidipsos and the stated 820 kilometres of special stage. Whether the higher figure includes the liaison sections is unclear.

Heavy rain, cold and a stoppage in the fog

According to Schek’s account, the weather made the rally harder still. He reports heavy rain, cold and dense fog. Stage 2, the longest stage according to the official plan, was stopped because of the fog. The sources available do not say how the stoppage affected the results.

Even so, things went well sportingly for Schek. With wins on Stage 1 and Stage 3, he stayed within reach of Trigkas until the end, according to Pliroforiodotis. Trigkas finished with a lead of just under six minutes.

Enduro rider with a headlamp on the helmet riding through a puddle at night
Night shot of a participant with number 205 and a headlamp on the helmet during a water crossing. Here too, the rider and the date of the photo are not documented. Image credit: from material MA-0011, photographer not named.

Microsleep on the liaison section

The hardest part for Schek was apparently not the special stage itself. By his own account, he struggled with microsleep, on the liaison sections. These are the sections between stages that are not timed. By his own account, he had been without sleep for around 29 hours when he reached the finish.

According to S-Timing, Schek’s participation has not yet been independently confirmed. An official result from the organiser is also still outstanding.

Sources and image credits

  • Pliroforiodotis: report on the Hellas 24-hour rally, pliroforiodotis.gr
  • S-Timing: Hellas 24Hours 2026, 30 October 2026, s-timing.com
  • Photo 1: Participant with number 205 on a gravel track above a bay. Image credit: from material MA-0011, photographer not named, date taken not documented. The image carries the Hellas Rally Raid logo. Image file: https://mediathek.invalid/662e40f4-3237-4ec3-99eb-e38f85a8c485/WhatsApp%20Image%202026-11-03%20at%2008.57.14.webp
  • Photo 2: Participant with number 205 at night in a water crossing. Image credit: from material MA-0011, photographer not named, date taken not documented. The image carries the Hellas Rally Raid logo. Image file: https://mediathek.invalid/5c87ff0b-c5b8-41a0-a3ee-bf70e7ffb2d5/WhatsApp%20Image2%202026-11-03%20at%2008.57.15.webp
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Sand World Championship in Loon-Plage: Ronde des Sables returns on 7 and 8 NovemberStarting field of motocross motorcycles on a sand track in front of spectators

Sand World Championship in Loon-Plage: Ronde des Sables returns on 7 and 8 November

Published by Thomas Menzel on 3. November 2026

Series: FIM

The FIM Sand Races World Championship is heading to northern France. On Saturday 7 and Sunday 8 November 2026, the Ronde des Sables in Loon-Plage near Dunkerque (Dunkirk) will host the third round of the 2026/2027 season. This is according to the calendar published by the sport’s world governing body, the FIM, on 5 March 2026. There are no results yet, as the event has not taken place.

Returning after two years

According to the FIM, Loon-Plage was last part of the series in 2024. At that time it was still called the FIM Sand Races World Cup; the world championship status has only existed since 2025. In the Wikipedia overview of the 2024 season, the Ronde des Sables is listed as the fourth round, on 26 and 27 October 2024. It replaced a race originally planned in Weston. According to that overview, the event was won by Belgium’s Cyril Genot, who was not registered for the World Cup at the time. Todd Kellett is listed as the best registered rider.

The organiser is the Moto-club du Littoral. Racing takes place at the Circuit Bernard-Gouvart, which is operated by the French motorcycling federation FFM. This was reported by the FFM in its preview of the 2025 edition. At that time, the Ronde des Sables counted only towards the French sand championship. The FFM expected 1,150 riders for the weekend, which it described as a record entry. More than 320 starters were due to take part in the main race, the 28th edition. Whether the figures will be similar for 2026 is not known.

Starting field of motocross motorcycles on a sand track, with spectators and trees behind
Start of a sand race. The photo comes from the FFM preview of the 2025 Ronde des Sables; the location and date are not given there. Photo: photographer not named / Fédération Française de Motocyclisme

Five rounds, Africa for the first time

The FIM has cut the calendar from six rounds to five. According to the governing body, this is meant to reduce logistics costs and encourage more riders to take part. For the first time, the series travels to North Africa:

  • Round 1: Morocco Sand Race, Mazagan (El Jadida), Morocco, 26 and 27 September 2026
  • Round 2: Bibione Sand Storm, Italy, 23 to 25 October 2026
  • Round 3: Ronde des Sables, Loon-Plage, France, 7 and 8 November 2026
  • Round 4: Monte Gordo Sand Race, Algarve, Portugal, 27 to 29 November 2026
  • Round 5: Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais, France, 2027

For the final in Le Touquet, the FIM did not yet name a date in March. The Wikipedia page on the season now lists 30 and 31 January 2027. No confirmation of this from the FIM was consulted. According to the same page, this season features only endurance races, with one or two heats per event. The former sandcross format with shorter heats has been dropped. No verified information is available on the race duration in Loon-Plage.

Standings after two rounds

According to the Wikipedia season overview, Norway’s Håkon Fredriksen won the opener in Morocco, while Cyril Genot won in Bibione. The defending champion is Britain’s Todd Kellett, who rides for the Honda Motoblouz SR Motul team in 2026/2027. No official interim standings from the FIM were consulted.

Field of motocross motorcycles with a panning blur effect on a sandy beach, the sea in the background
Archive photo, not an image from Loon-Plage: Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais 2026, this season’s finale. Photo: © Frederik Herregods Photography / FIM

Daniel Wagenpfeil on the entry list

From Germany, Daniel Wagenpfeil of Kaeser Racing is on the entry list for the motorcycle class. He was entered for both rounds so far. In the world championship table on Wikipedia, he is in 13th place after Morocco and 16th after Bibione. These positions refer only to riders registered for the championship, and together they add up to 4 points. The organisers’ full results lists were not consulted. Wikipedia also lists him in the 2024 World Cup standings. The off-road magazine Baboons reported on the Enduropale du Touquet in February 2025: there he finished 214th overall and 22nd in the world championship classification. Whether other German riders are on the championship entry list has not been fully checked.

Sources and image credits

Text sources

Image credits

  • Starting field at a sand race: photographer not named, published by the Fédération Française de Motocyclisme in the preview of the 2025 Ronde des Sables. Location and date not given, archive photo.
  • Enduropale du Touquet Pas-de-Calais 2026: © Frederik Herregods Photography, published by the FIM on 5 March 2026. Archive photo.
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Fourth Qatar Win for Dąbrowski: McInnes Second, Dumontier ThirdRally motorcyclist crosses a sand crest in the Qatari desert, trailing a plume of dust

Fourth Qatar Win for Dąbrowski: McInnes Second, Dumontier Third

Published by Thomas Menzel on 3. November 2026

Konrad Dąbrowski has won the Qatar International Baja for the fourth time. The Pole from Duust Rally Team won the motorcycle category on Saturday, 31 October 2026, with a lead of 5 minutes and 12 seconds over Britain’s Alex McInnes. Third place went to France’s Romain Dumontier. This is reported by the Gulf Times. The event was the fifth round of the FIM Bajas World Cup.

According to the Gulf Times, Dąbrowski is now the first motorcyclist with four wins at this event, after 2022, 2023 and 2025. The newspaper thereby places him ahead of Spain’s Marc Coma, who won in Qatar in 2012, 2013 and 2015. All results in this article come from that report. An official results list from the organiser or the FIM was not available.

Rally motorcyclist crosses a sand crest in the Qatari desert, trailing a plume of dust
According to the Gulf Times, Konrad Dąbrowski at the 2026 Qatar International Baja. Photo: photographer not named / Gulf Times, published on 31 October 2026.

Decided on the second stage

According to the Gulf Times, Dąbrowski had led since the prologue. He went into the final day with a lead of 5 minutes and 18 seconds over McInnes. Early on the stage south-west of Doha, McInnes made a navigation error that cost him 4 minutes and 47 seconds to the leader. The Briton then rode together with Dumontier. Later the two caught Dąbrowski in the Sealine dunes.

Dumontier took the stage win, 1 minute and 58 seconds ahead of McInnes. The third-fastest time was enough for Dąbrowski to win overall. By his own account, Dumontier was riding in Qatar for the first time.

“The plan was simple: don’t get lost.”

Konrad Dąbrowski, according to the Gulf Times (translation)

The winner also spoke of “four in a row” and said he remained unbeaten in Qatar. However, 2024 is missing from his list of winning years. The reports reviewed do not say whether there was no edition of the Baja in 2024.

The other placings

Young Briton Ethan Lane finished fourth after getting the better of Slovenia’s Toni Mulec. According to the Gulf Times, Michael Anderson and Robert Wallace took 6th and 7th place. On the final day, Norway’s Hans Dovland (Gas Gas) overtook reigning FIM champion Mohammed al-Balooshi and finished eighth. Philip Horlemann moved up to 9th place because al-Balooshi received time penalties. KTM riders took the first seven places and nine of the top ten. Joanna Modrzewska, who competes in the FIM women’s category, finished 20th.

Before the restart on Saturday, several motorcyclists received time penalties. Jordan’s Abdullah Abu Aisheh was given 8 minutes for arriving late at time control TC1A. Marcin Talaga received 5 minutes for losing his time card. Talaga and Thomas Cross later retired. Rafic Eid withdrew after a crash with a hand injury.

Route and championship

According to the FIM preview, the 2026 edition is 18.4 per cent longer. The preview does not say explicitly what it is being compared with. The plan was a prologue of 11.12 kilometres on Thursday, 29 October, a first special stage of 336.45 kilometres on Friday, 30 October, and a second of 204.79 kilometres on Saturday, 31 October. The FIM stated a total of 552.36 kilometres of special stage. Including the liaison sections, this gave a total distance of 860.05 kilometres.

Rally motorcyclist with number 2 on a stony desert track with a cloud of dust
Archive photo: Duust Rally Team rider with number 2 in Qatar. The FIM published the photo in its preview of 26 October 2026, that is, before the 2026 edition. Photo: © edophoto / FIM.

According to the FIM, McInnes led the FIM Bajas World Cup with 58 points before the Qatar round. Behind him were Abdulhalim Al Mogeera with 56, Mohammed Al Balooshi with 50 and Ethan Lane with 38 points. Like McInnes and Lane, Dąbrowski competed in the Junior category. According to the FIM, however, he had no chance of the overall title. The sources reviewed contain no current points standings after the fifth round. The Gulf Times writes that McInnes improved his title chances with second place. The Briton said he hoped to win the title in Dubai so that he would not have to travel on to Portugal. According to the report, all three FIA and FIM championships continue the weekend after the Qatar round with the Dubai International Baja in the United Arab Emirates.

Quads and cars

The quad category was won by Khalifa al-Bastaki of the United Arab Emirates on a Yamaha. According to the Gulf Times, he defended his lead from the previous day against his compatriot Abdulaziz Ahli. Hani al-Noumesi finished third. He had stopped to help an injured rider and was credited the lost time afterwards. Ahmed al-Jaber arrived as leader of the FIM quad standings but did not start the final stage.

In the cars, Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah and his French co-driver Max Delfino won in the Optimus MD Rallye. Their lead over Francisco Barreto and Paulo Fiuza (Toyota Hilux IMT Evo) was 29 minutes and 8.7 seconds. The win secured them the titles in the FIA Middle East Baja Cup. According to the Gulf Times, it was al-Attiyah’s 13th win at his home event since 2004. Barreto, in second, heads into the finale in the Emirates leading the FIA World Baja Cup.

Sources and image credits

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Addax Rally 2026: Kevin Gallas Defends Title, Yamaha One-Two Ahead of BotturiRally motorcycle on a dune crest in the Moroccan desert at the Addax Rally 2026

Addax Rally 2026: Kevin Gallas Defends Title, Yamaha One-Two Ahead of Botturi

Published by Thomas Menzel on 1. November 2026

Kevin Gallas has won the Addax Rally 2026 in Morocco, repeating his victory of the previous year. After five stages around Merzouga, the German finished 21 minutes and 45 seconds ahead of his team-mate Alessandro Botturi, according to Motopress. Both ride for the Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team on the Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally.

According to Motopress, Gallas recorded a total time of 24 hours, 21 minutes and 53 seconds, and Botturi 24 hours, 43 minutes and 38 seconds. The Italian was reportedly 19 minutes and 44 seconds ahead of the third-placed rider in the motorcycle classification, whose name is not given in the report. No official results list from the organiser was available for this article; the figures come from Motopress’s reporting.

Rally motorcycle on a dune crest in the Moroccan desert, with a spray of sand and blue sky behind
A Yamaha Ténéré 700 Rally in the dunes at the Addax Rally 2026. Photo: photographer not named, via Motopress

A tough final day

Gallas went into the fifth and final stage on Friday, 30 October 2026, with a lead of 20 minutes and 8 seconds. According to Motopress, a minor problem near the first fuel stop cost him time, and in trying to make it up he made navigation errors. Over the last 120 kilometres he found his rhythm again and won the motorcycle stage in 4 hours, 12 minutes and 59 seconds.

It was his third stage win, after victories on the first two stages. According to Motopress, Gallas had held the overall lead since the first competitive day. Botturi was second on the final stage, 1 minute and 37 seconds behind Gallas.

Paulin without an overall result

Gautier Paulin, the team’s third rider, does not appear in the overall classification. He had skipped the third stage to have a technical problem fixed that had arisen towards the end of the second day. The Frenchman rode again on the last two stages and finished the final stage ninth among the motorcycles in 4 hours, 51 minutes and 50 seconds. Over the course of the rally he took three second places on stages, according to Motopress.

The start had already been bumpy for Paulin: he was unable to finish the 25-kilometre prologue on Sunday, 25 October because of a technical failure. He still took second place on the first stage behind Gallas, with Botturi third to complete a Yamaha one-two-three on the day, as Motopress reported on the first stage.

Rally rider on a Yamaha with number 3 kicking up sand in the dunes
Ténéré Yamaha Rally Team at the Addax Rally 2026 in Morocco. Photo: photographer not named, via Motopress

Route around Merzouga

According to the team’s preview, published by Total Motorcycle, the rally, with a fixed bivouac in Merzouga, consisted of a prologue and scrutineering on 25 October and five stages from 26 to 30 October. Around 1,600 kilometres were scheduled in total, through the dunes of the Erg Chebbi, over sand tracks and rocky sections. The sources give no breakdown into special stages and liaison sections. The second stage was the longest at around 370 kilometres.

Dress rehearsal for the Africa Eco Race

For Yamaha, the Addax Rally served mainly as a test ahead of the Africa Eco Race 2027, which according to Motopress takes place in January. The team of Marc Bourgeois said it was working on the suspension, navigation and engine tuning of the Ténéré 700 Rally; before the start it had completed three test days in Erfoud. In the preview, the team stressed that collecting data and development work took priority over the result.

Gallas had already won the Addax Rally in 2025, after a duel with Botturi, who dropped out on the last stage with a technical problem. At the Africa Eco Race 2026, Gallas beat Paulin by 41 seconds after almost 6,000 kilometres. Botturi has won the Africa Eco Race twice.

Sources and photo credits

Published inGeneral

Fenix Rally, Leg 7: Knuiman Leads Motorcycle Standings, Gerlach Wins Final Stage

Published by Thomas Menzel on 1. November 2026

Last updated on 31. October 2026

Series: Fenix Rally – The doorway to Sahara

Jeremy Knuiman provisionally leads the motorcycle classification of the Fenix Rally after the seventh and final stage. On Saturday, 31 October 2026, the Dutchman lost 2 minutes and 50 seconds to Justin Gerlach, who won the final stage near Monastir. In the overall standings, Knuiman is 3 minutes and 15 seconds ahead of Gerlach according to the provisional classification.

Final stage: Gerlach faster, Knuiman defends his lead

The special stage was 82.84 kilometres long and ran over tracks, camel grass, fields and villages with oncoming traffic. The roadbook called for several speed zones of 30 and 50 km/h as well as compulsory two-second stops. The finish was a flying finish at kilometre 82.84. According to the competition documents, the total length of the stage was 202 kilometres; the RallyTracks report, by contrast, mentions a 228-kilometre loop from an earlier provisional schedule.

Gerlach completed the special stage in 1 hour, 14 minutes and 9.56 seconds. Daan Veenendaal was 1 minute and 50 seconds behind, Knuiman 2 minutes and 50 seconds. Richard Wijntjes finished fourth on the stage, Florian Willer fifth. Gaspard Delsart took seventh place, Georg Reinprecht eleventh. Pascal De Baar received a 15-minute time penalty on the stage for speeding and came 13th.

According to a media report, race management added a further neutralisation in the morning between kilometre 30.32 and 32.44, because children were present in that section. The roadbook provided for a 20-minute neutralisation from kilometre 18.59. Both statements are given here side by side; the organiser has not confirmed the additional neutralisation.

Overall standings after stage 7

The provisional overall classification after stage 7 (as of 31 October 2026, 18:13) looks like this for the motorcycles:

  • 1st: Jeremy Knuiman, total time 28 hours, 2 minutes and 24.31 seconds
  • 2nd: Justin Gerlach, 3 minutes and 15 seconds behind
  • 3rd: Daan Veenendaal, 1 hour, 7 minutes and 46 seconds behind
  • 4th: Gaspard Delsart, 3 hours, 51 minutes and 11 seconds behind
  • 5th: Richard Wijntjes, 6 hours, 17 minutes and 1 second behind

Pascal De Baar is in 9th place after the final stage. Sara Jugla lost her position in the overall standings after receiving a time penalty of 1 hour, 22 minutes and 40 seconds on the final stage for speeding offences. The provisional classification lists her in 8th place.

The figures for Knuiman’s time penalty differ. The provisional classification shows a total of 15 minutes and 30 seconds of penalty time for him, while the media report says a penalty of 13 minutes and 30 seconds was imposed for stage 3. The difference has not been clarified.

Looking back: the sixth stage is halted

The sixth stage from Douz to Monastir was halted after around 108 kilometres. Heavy rain had made the chott impassable, and the alternative route could not be used either. The result was compiled at kilometre 108. According to race director Alexander Kovatchev, continuing was barely feasible because of the large number of participants and the lack of fuel stations on a possible detour. The participants then rode to Monastir on the tarmac road. After that stage, Knuiman was 6 minutes and 5 seconds ahead of Gerlach.

German-speaking starters

Justin Gerlach (Germany, number 11) is in 2nd place overall and won the final stage. Florian Willer (Germany, number 9) finished fifth on the final stage and is 7th overall. Georg Reinprecht (Austria, number 24) came 11th on the stage and is 16th overall.

In an audio recording, Gerlach said (translated from German): “In the end it wasn’t enough for the overall win.” He said that made him second overall. He also said: “So, a very, very successful rally.” Of the motorcycle, he said: “I’ve really warmed to the motorcycle.” In his words, he remained uninjured: “All intact, nothing hurt.”

Knuiman, 23, was contesting his first desert rally, according to RallyTracks. According to his team, the start was mainly meant to gather experience in navigating and riding in unfamiliar terrain. After the finish, Kovatchev said in English, in essence, that everyone had thought the final stage would be a lap of honour, but then all sorts of things happened (translated from English).

The prize-giving was planned for the evening at the Hotel Rosa Beach in Monastir, at about 20:30 to 21:00 according to the competition documents. Until the official announcement of results, the placings remain provisional.

Motorcycle rider with number 21 in front of the blue archway of the Fenix Rally in Tunisia
Rider with number 21 in front of the Fenix Rally archway. According to the entry list, number 21 is carried by Jeremy Knuiman. Photographer not named, source: RallyTracks.nl.
Sound bite: Justin Gerlach

Sources and image credits

Text sources: RallyTracks.nl, “Knuiman wins Fenix Rally on debut, Thijs and Van Tiel dominate in the cars”, 31.10.2026, original article. RallyTracks.nl, “Rain halts sixth Fenix Rally stage, Knuiman retakes the lead”, 31.10.2026, original article. Also used: competition documents for Leg 7 (Common Competitor Briefing), provisional classification after stage 7 (as of 31.10.2026, 18:13) and the stage 7 results list (as of 17:00), each an organiser document of the Fenix Rally without an online link, as well as audio recordings of Justin Gerlach, used with consent.

Photo: subject rider with number 21 in front of the Fenix Rally archway. Photographer not named. Original source: RallyTracks.nl, published 31.10.2026. Date of photograph not documented. Used with reference to the original source.

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Rally 1000 Dunas: Gerard Farrés wins with MACBOR ahead of his Dakar comebackGerard Farrés with number 52 on a MACBOR rally motorcycle on a desert track in Morocco

Rally 1000 Dunas: Gerard Farrés wins with MACBOR ahead of his Dakar comeback

Published by Thomas Menzel on 31. October 2026

Gerard Farrés has won the Rally 1000 Dunas in Morocco. The Spaniard, who plans to return to the motorcycle class at the Dakar 2027 for the first time since 2018, came out on top in the overall standings, according to reports by Motosan (26 October 2026) and El Confidencial Digital (27 October 2026). The rally ran from 18 to 23 October 2026. It was the first of two preparation events planned by the Spanish manufacturer MACBOR before its Dakar debut as a team in its own right.

Both reports are worded almost identically. They give no times, no gaps and no names for the riders who finished behind him. No official results list from the organiser was available at the time of going to press. It therefore also remains unclear which classification the term “overall standings” refers to.

Gerard Farrés with number 52 on a MACBOR rally motorcycle on a desert track in Morocco
Gerard Farrés (number 52) at the Rally 1000 Dunas in Morocco. Photo: photographer not named, published by El Confidencial Digital, 27 October 2026

Six stages between Fez and Erg Chebbi

According to Motosan, the route led over six stages from Fez to the Erg Chebbi dune area near Merzouga in south-eastern Morocco. The programme also included marathon stages, in which riders receive no help from their service crew overnight. Heavy rain and flooded rivers forced the organisers to change parts of the planned route and shorten some stages. The reports do not say how long the special stages ultimately were.

Addax Rally already under way

The second preparation rally has already started. The Addax Rally runs from 25 to 30 October 2026 around Merzouga and, according to BikeIt, comprises a prologue and five competition days covering around 1,600 kilometres in total. Farrés finished the 25-kilometre prologue on Sunday, 25 October, in fourth place. Javi Vega was fastest on a Kove 450 Rally in 18 minutes and 48 seconds, ahead of the Aprilia riders Marco Menichini and Thomas Marini.

The first long stage on Monday, 26 October, with around 307 kilometres of special stage, was won by Kevin Gallas ahead of Gautier Paulin and Alessandro Botturi. All three ride Yamaha Ténéré machines. Farrés does not appear in the top five for that day published by BikeIt. The report does not give his exact position. Several stages remain before the finish on 30 October.

Rally rider in MACBOR kit on the rear wheel over a sand dune in Morocco
Farrés in the dunes of Morocco, from the photo series on the Rally 1000 Dunas. Photo: photographer not named, published by El Confidencial Digital, 27 October 2026

Back on a motorcycle after nine years

MACBOR announced its Dakar entry on 22 October 2026, as Motociclismo reported. The brand belongs to Grupo Motos Bordoy and had previously supported Farrés as a sponsor. At the Dakar 2027, which is due to take place from 1 to 15 January 2027, MACBOR intends to compete in the motorcycle category with its own team for the first time.

According to Motociclismo, it would be Farrés’s 20th participation in the Dakar Rally. On a motorcycle he reached the podium in 2017 as third. His last Dakar start on two wheels came in 2018. He then switched to the side-by-side (SSV) class, meaning light off-road vehicles with seats arranged next to each other. There he finished second in 2022. Which motorcycle Farrés will ride at the Dakar is not stated in the available reports.

Sources and image credits

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Maxi Schek to start the Hellas 24Hours in GreeceRally motorcyclist with headlight at night on a muddy gravel track in Greece

Maxi Schek to start the Hellas 24Hours in Greece

Published by Thomas Menzel on 31. October 2026

Maxi Schek is riding the Hellas 24Hours 2026 in Greece. By his own account, the German rally rider entered at short notice. In a video sent via WhatsApp on Friday, 30 October 2026, he says the start is “tomorrow morning”, meaning Saturday, 31 October. A friend invited him and is providing the motorcycle.

He had actually expected a “fun little enduro event”, Schek says in the video. He now expects a considerably tougher test. At the pace on site, he thinks finishing the rally within 24 hours is impossible. His goal: to stay under 30 hours.

Four special stages, start and finish at the bivouac

The organiser is Hellas Rally. According to the organiser’s website, the central bivouac, the riders’ base with service, is in Aidipsos. The schedule published there provides for four special stages, the timed sections of a rally:

  • SS1: 150 kilometres, maximum time 4 hours, start at 10:00 at the bivouac, finish at 14:00
  • SS2: 290 kilometres, maximum time 10 hours, start at 14:30, finish at 00:30
  • SS3: 250 kilometres, maximum time 8 hours, start at 02:30, finish at 10:30
  • SS4: 130 kilometres, maximum time 5 hours, start at 12:30, finish at 17:30

That adds up to 820 kilometres of special stages. In the video, Schek speaks of “over 900 km”. Neither source explains where the difference comes from. The schedule itself does support his assessment, though: according to the plan, 31.5 hours pass from the start of the first stage to the finish of the last, while the maximum times of the four stages add up to 27 hours. According to the organiser, service is always at the bivouac; the refuelling points were still to be announced.

The schedule on the organiser’s website gives 26 October at 18:00 for the final results. That does not fit the start date of 31 October given by Schek. No clarification was available at first.

Rally motorcycle rider with headlight on at night on a muddy gravel track, a second rider behind
Night riding at an earlier Hellas Rally event (archive photo, not Maxi Schek). Photo: Hellas Rally, photographer not named. Source: hellasrally.org

New for Schek: riding at night

By his own account, Schek has never ridden at night in a rally. He has sought advice but did not want to spend much money. He wears lighting on his helmet, with the battery in his jacket. Schek himself suspects the battery will “not last nearly long enough”.

He also sees weak points on the motorcycle. He rides a current 450 EXC, KTM’s enduro model, with almost standard suspension that he finds “far too soft”. With 12 litres of fuel, he has to manage 180 kilometres. He also considers that practically impossible.

Enduro rider in a yellow helmet on a gravel track in the Greek mountains
Enduro on a mountain track at an earlier Hellas Rally event (archive photo, not Maxi Schek). Photo: Hellas Rally, photographer not named. Source: hellasrally.org

Roadbook on a tablet, no tripmaster

For the first time, Schek is navigating with only a tablet. He does not have a tripmaster, the distance counter rally riders use to check the roadbook’s distance information. The display will be small, he says. But he expects more trouble making out the route at night than reading the roadbook.

Schek says he will provide updates during or after the race. He sums up his mood before the start like this: “I’m fired up, I’m up for it.” (translated from German)

Sources and image credits

  • Maxi Schek: video of 30 October 2026, sent via WhatsApp, not publicly available. Quotes taken from a transcript.
  • Hellas Rally: “Hellas 24H Race”, organiser’s page with schedule, distances and categories of the Hellas 24Hours 2026: https://hellasrally.org/hellas24h
  • Photo 1: Motorcycle rider at night on a gravel track, archive photo from an earlier Hellas Rally event. Rights holder: Hellas Rally, photographer not named. Original source: hellasrally.org/hellas24h, uploaded in August 2025.
  • Photo 2: Enduro rider on a mountain track, archive photo from an earlier Hellas Rally event. Rights holder: Hellas Rally, photographer not named. Original source: hellasrally.org/hellas24h, uploaded in August 2025.
Published inNewsRally

Leg 6 Douz–Monastir: Knuiman Retakes the Lead, Gerlach Loses Time with Roadbook Failure

Published by Thomas Menzel on 31. October 2026

Series: Fenix Rally – The doorway to Sahara

Jeremy Knuiman clearly won the sixth stage of the Fenix Rally 2026 from Douz to Monastir in the Enduro class and took the overall lead back from Justin Gerlach. According to the organiser’s provisional, unofficial daily classification, the Dutchman on a KTM was 8 minutes and 34 seconds faster than every other motorcyclist. By his own account, Gerlach struggled with a failed roadbook controller, a minor fall and a navigational error. Ahead of the final stage he is now 6 minutes and 5 seconds behind Knuiman.

Motorcyclist with number 21 on a KTM in a stony desert landscape at the Fenix Rally 2026
Jeremy Knuiman (number 21) at the Fenix Rally 2026. The photo is not verifiably from Leg 6. Photo: photographer not named, via RallyTracks.nl

A stage to Monastir with a shortened timed section

With Leg 6, the rally left the Sahara region after four days around Douz and headed for the Mediterranean coast. RallyandRaces.com had announced the penultimate stage as a run to Monastir of around 450 kilometres, roughly half of it against the clock. According to the same outlet, the Fenix Rally ends on the afternoon of Saturday 31 October 2026.

The day apparently did not go quite to plan. Gerlach reports that the stage was cancelled because an area on the route was flooded; some cars had got stuck there earlier. The field then drove 300 kilometres on the road to Monastir. There is no statement from the organiser, RBI Sport, on the cancellation or the distance that counted for the results. The winning time of 1 hour, 8 minutes and 36 seconds points to a considerably shortened special stage.

Enduro daily classification: Knuiman well clear

Three riders finished within 27 seconds behind Knuiman. Richard Wijntjes (Husqvarna, De Baar Rally Team) was second, Gerlach finished just 2 seconds behind in third, and Daan Veenendaal (GasGas, De Baar Rally Team) followed in fourth. The classification is expressly marked as provisional and unofficial.

  • 1st: Jeremy Knuiman (NLD, KTM), 1:08:36 h
  • 2nd: Richard Wijntjes (NLD, Husqvarna), gap (min:sec): +8:34
  • 3rd: Justin Gerlach (DEU, KTM), +8:36
  • 4th: Daan Veenendaal (NLD, GasGas), +9:01
  • 5th: Pascal de Baar (NLD, KTM), +11:38

Overall standings: Knuiman leads by six minutes

Before the day, Gerlach had taken the lead after his stage win on Leg 5. The times in the provisional overall classification imply that before Leg 6 he was around 2 minutes and 31 seconds ahead of Knuiman. By gaining 8 minutes and 36 seconds on Gerlach, Knuiman turned the duel around again.

  • 1st: Jeremy Knuiman (NLD, KTM), 26:45:25 h
  • 2nd: Justin Gerlach (DEU, KTM), gap (h:min:sec): +0:06:05
  • 3rd: Daan Veenendaal (NLD, GasGas), +1:08:45
  • 4th: Gaspard Delsart (FRA, KTM), +5:16:41
  • 5th: Richard Wijntjes (NLD, Husqvarna), +6:15:54

This standing is also a provisional overall classification after Leg 6. Penalty times are already included in the total time: Knuiman has 15 minutes and 30 seconds so far, Gerlach 2 minutes.

Motorcyclist with number 21 on a dusty sand track, with water and a coastline in the background
Knuiman on a sand track with a view of the water. Which stage of the Fenix Rally 2026 the photo was taken on is not documented. Photo: photographer not named, via RallyTracks.nl

Gerlach: controller failure, fall, wrong turn

According to Gerlach, his problems began at kilometre 30, when the roadbook controller failed. This is the handlebar control riders use to advance the digital roadbook. “I had to scroll the roadbook by hand,” the German said. It did not work at all with the touchscreen. Knuiman still did not catch him until kilometre 60. He then rode in the Dutchman’s dust for about 10 kilometres before leaving the track and falling lightly. He said he was not injured and the motorcycle was fine.

Gerlach then tried to follow Knuiman’s tracks, because navigating by roadbook no longer worked. “In doing so I lost the track and got lost, so I lost a lot of time, very annoying.” His assessment was sober: “So the overall classification is probably, how shall I put it, gone.” (Translation of the German-language original.)

By his own assessment he regards second place as safe, provided he finishes the rally. According to the provisional classification, his lead over Veenendaal is 1 hour, 2 minutes and 40 seconds. In the evening in Monastir, Gerlach says he wired up a completely new roadbook system, soldered connectors and checked the cables. For the final stage he expects just 60 to 70 kilometres. “I’ll give everything until the finish line,” he announced. (Translation of the German-language original.) There was also a private surprise: his parents were waiting for him in the camp, although by his own account he had assumed they were on holiday in Egypt.

Willer and Reinprecht

Florian Willer (DEU, KTM) finished Leg 6 in tenth place, 14 minutes and 52 seconds behind Knuiman. He is eighth in the provisional overall classification. Austrian Georg Reinprecht (Beta) finished 16th, 28 minutes and 53 seconds behind the fastest rider of the day, and is also 16th overall.

Loasis motorcycles

The historic rally Loasis L’Original is running in parallel; according to the organiser, the Fenix Rally 2026 has entered into a partnership with it. In its M2005 motorcycle class, Gaspard Albanel (FRA, KTM) won the daily classification and leads the class by 2 minutes and 32 seconds over Ludovic Gager. In the M85 class, Pieter Boudrez (BEL, Yamaha) is the only classified rider.

Sources and photo credits

  • Fenix Rally 2026, Partial Unofficial Classification for L6 and Rally Provisional Classification after Leg 6 (timing rc.geotraq.de, as of 30 October 2026), results documents held by the editorial team; Entry List Fenix Rally 2026
  • Justin Gerlach, voice message to the editorial team on Leg 6 (quotes verbatim, in places shortened while preserving the meaning)
  • RallyandRaces.com: Koen Wauters: de navigatie was meer dan pittig (30 October 2026)
  • Fenix Rally / RBI Sport: Official website
  • Road2Rally: Fenix Rally event page
  • Photo 1: Jeremy Knuiman (no. 21) in stony desert, Fenix Rally 2026, stage not documented; photographer not named; original source: RallyTracks.nl, published in October 2026
  • Photo 2: Jeremy Knuiman (no. 21) on sand track by the water, Fenix Rally 2026, stage not documented; photographer not named; original source: RallyTracks.nl, published in October 2026
Published inGeneral
Dakar 2027 moves to Portugal and Morocco: the route at a glanceGraphic showing the Dakar 2027 stage plan from Loulé/Faro to Marrakech

Dakar 2027 moves to Portugal and Morocco: the route at a glance

Published by Thomas Menzel on 31. October 2026

Series: Dakar 2027

The 2027 Dakar Rally starts on Saturday 9 January 2027 in Loulé, Portugal, and finishes on Saturday 23 January 2027 in Marrakech. A prologue is followed by twelve stages covering a total of 7,824 kilometres, of which 4,341 kilometres are special stages. This was announced by the FIA on 30 October 2026. One caveat remains: the dates still have to be approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council.

The 49th edition is thus being moved out of Saudi Arabia as an exception. It was originally planned to take place there from 1 to 15 January 2027. According to the FIA, the Dakar is returning to Africa for the first time since 2007. A return to Saudi Arabia has been announced for the 50th edition in 2028.

Why the Dakar is moving

The organiser A.S.O. and the FIA give “recent developments in the region” as the reason for the move (translated from English). Franceinfo, citing the news agency AFP, names the increasing attacks on Riyadh by the Iran-backed Houthi militias from Yemen as the background. According to Rallye Infos, Dakar Classic, Dakar Future Mission 1000 and the Dakar Saudi Next Gen programme are moving too.

The 2027 Dakar opens the season of the FIA and FIM World Rally-Raid Championships (W2RC). For the motorcycle classes, it is therefore the first world championship round of the year. Dakar director David Castera said, according to Cycle News, that 350 participants have entered so far. He did not give a breakdown by class. Despite the short preparation time, they have designed “a real Dakar” (translated).

Start at the Algarve Stadium

The starting point is the Algarve Stadium in Loulé/Faro. According to the FIA, the service park opens on 5 January, and administrative and technical scrutineering runs from 6 to 8 January. The prologue and the first stage are held in Portugal. The participants then cross the Mediterranean overnight to the Moroccan port of Nador. On 11 January, the liaison stage to the first Moroccan bivouac in Bouarfa follows.

Graphic showing the stage plan of the Dakar 2027 from 9 to 23 January 2027 in Portugal and Morocco
Stage plan of the Dakar 2027 as a graphic. The distances of the special stages and daily stages match the list published by Rallye Infos. The 590 kilometres of the liaison stage on 11 January are not shown there. Graphic: Cross Country Rally News, Facebook

Eleven stages in Morocco

From Bouarfa, the route leads south via Zagora to Agadir. The rest day is there on 17 January. In the second week, according to the FIA, it continues via Smara towards Dakhla, before the route turns north along the Atlantic coast and passes through Smara once more. The finish is in Marrakech. Six bivouacs are planned in total. According to the FIA, most special stages are between 350 and 500 kilometres long.

The stage list from Rallye Infos gives only the name “Refuge” for the bivouac in the south. Where exactly it is located is not clear from the sources consulted. The longest daily stage is, according to that list, the eleventh from Smara to Marrakech at 1,035 kilometres, and the longest special stage is the seventh at 500 kilometres. The finale in Marrakech features just one special stage of 22 kilometres.

The stages according to Rallye Infos

Each entry gives the length of the special stage (SS) and the total distance for the day, including liaison stages.

  • Prologue, Saturday 9 January: Loulé – Loulé, SS 29 km, total 129 km
  • Stage 1, Sunday 10 January: Loulé – Loulé, SS 100 km, total 300 km
  • Monday 11 January: liaison stage Loulé – Bouarfa, no special stage
  • Stage 2, Tuesday 12 January: Bouarfa – Bouarfa, SS 390 km, total 490 km
  • Stage 3, Wednesday 13 January: Bouarfa – Bouarfa, SS 410 km, total 490 km
  • Stage 4, Thursday 14 January: Bouarfa – Zagora, SS 490 km, total 750 km
  • Stage 5, Friday 15 January: Zagora – Zagora, SS 365 km, total 540 km
  • Stage 6, Saturday 16 January: Zagora – Agadir, SS 365 km, total 760 km
  • Sunday 17 January: rest day in Agadir
  • Stage 7, Monday 18 January: Agadir – Smara, SS 500 km, total 790 km
  • Stage 8, Tuesday 19 January: Smara – Refuge, SS 355 km, total 525 km
  • Stage 9, Wednesday 20 January: Refuge – Smara, SS 390 km, total 625 km
  • Stage 10, Thursday 21 January: Smara – Smara, SS 470 km, total 560 km
  • Stage 11, Friday 22 January: Smara – Marrakech, SS 455 km, total 1,035 km
  • Stage 12, Saturday 23 January: Marrakech – Marrakech, SS 22 km, total 240 km
Motorcyclist kicks up a plume of sand over a desert dune with the sun low in the sky
Archive photo: Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy Honda HRC) on stage eight of the 2026 Dakar near Wadi Ad-Dawasir in Saudi Arabia, 12 January 2026. Photo: © A.S.O./F. Gooden/DPPI, dakar.com

Familiar hosts

Neither country is new to rally raid. According to the FIA, Portugal has hosted a W2RC round, the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, for three seasons, supported by the national federations FPAK and ACP. Morocco is also represented on the world championship calendar with the Rallye du Maroc and has already been part of earlier Dakar editions. The Dakar left Africa after the 2008 cancellation, ran in South America from 2009 to 2019 and then for seven editions in Saudi Arabia, as franceinfo summarises.

Sources and image credits

Published inFIM enabledNews
KOVE wins the first two stages of the 2026 DHD Rally in XinjiangRider with number 66 jumps a red KOVE rally bike over a sandy track, archive photo from the 2026 Dakar Rally

KOVE wins the first two stages of the 2026 DHD Rally in Xinjiang

Published by Thomas Menzel on 30. October 2026

Series: Manufacturers

KOVE has won both opening stages of the 2026 China Dahaidao International Motorcycle Rally (DHD Rally) in China’s Xinjiang region. The manufacturer reports this in a press release dated 7 September 2026. Martin Michek won the first special stage (SS1) and Neels Theric the second (SS2). Both rode the KOVE 450 RALLY EX. Official results lists from the organiser were not available at the time of going to press; the times and positions are based on information from KOVE.

SS1: KOVE riders take the first three places

According to KOVE, the first stage was 405.20 kilometres long, of which 253.63 kilometres was timed special stage. Around 152 kilometres were liaison sections on which no time is taken. The manufacturer describes a mix of fast tracks, sharp-edged rock, soft sand, riverbeds and demanding navigation in the Gobi.

The SS1 results according to KOVE:

  1. Martin Michek, 3:22:57 hours
  2. Milan Engel, 3:24:51 hours (Gap (Min:Sec): +1:54)
  3. Neels Theric, 3:25:55 hours (Gap (Min:Sec): +2:58)

KOVE speaks of an all-KOVE podium in the motorcycle classification. The release does not make clear whether this refers to the overall classification of all motorcycles or to a single class.

According to the manufacturer, Theric had to stop about 15 kilometres before the finish because of a technical problem. KOVE does not say what the defect was. Team-mate Sunier turned back and helped him, so Theric reached the finish and kept third place. The release does not say how much time Sunier lost as a result or where he finished himself.

Rider with number 45 on a red KOVE rally bike in mid-air in front of a rock face, with a cloud of dust behind
Archive photo from the 2026 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, not from the DHD Rally: KOVE factory rider Sunier (#45). Photo: KOVE Moto, photographer not named. Source: KOVE Moto Ireland

SS2: Theric wins the day after the breakdown

Theric won the second stage the following day. According to KOVE, its special stage was 296.34 kilometres long and led through yardang terrain, meaning wind-sculpted rock ridges, as well as over open Gobi tracks and through riverbeds. Michek finished second. The manufacturer gives no times and no total length for SS2. In all, KOVE counts five podium finishes for its riders in the first two stages.

The race as a testing ground

Together, the two special stages add up to just under 550 timed kilometres. KOVE explicitly presents the entries as part of its development work: the data gathered in the desert is meant to feed into the further development of the 450 RALLY EX and future rally models. That is the manufacturer’s intention. KOVE does not disclose which data this is or what changes will result.

Rider with number 66 jumps a red KOVE rally bike over a sandy track in front of rocky slopes
Archive photo from the 2026 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, not from the DHD Rally: Neels Theric (#66) on the KOVE 450 Rally EX. Photo: KOVE Moto, photographer not named. Source: KOVE Moto Ireland

Outcome of the rally according to a media report

The KOVE release covers only the first two stages. On the outcome, the Spanish portal Motosan reported on 15 September 2026. According to it, the DHD Rally ran from 4 to 11 September 2026. Theric is said to have won it after taking three of the six special stages. Only the last special stage decided the victory, it says. According to Motosan, Milan Engel finished third overall. The report does not name the runner-up.

According to Motosan, the rally covered just under 2,500 kilometres, of which about 1,300 were timed. Nineteen participants reportedly rode bikes from the KOVE 450 Rally series. Motosan evidently draws on information from KOVE’s circle and on a social media post by Theric. No overall classification from the organiser was available at the time of going to press, so the final result is not independently confirmed.

Motosan named the Rallye du Maroc as the next stop. There, according to KOVE information dated 4 October 2026, Theric finished 11th overall and 4th in the Rally2 class. The manufacturer names Dakar 2027 in Saudi Arabia as its next major goal.

Sources and photo credits

  • KOVE Moto: “KOVE Claims Two Stage Wins at the 2026 DHD Rally”, 7 September 2026, kovemoto.com
  • Motosan: “La KOVE 450 Rally demuestra su rendimiento y fiabilidad en 2.500 kilómetros por el desierto”, 15 September 2026, motosan.es
  • KOVE Moto: “KOVE Completes Rallye du Maroc 2026 with Two Victories”, 4 October 2026, kovemoto.com
  • KOVE Moto: “KOVE At Dakar 2026: A Historic Milestone”, 18 January 2026, kovemoto.com
  • Photo 1: Sunier (#45) on the KOVE 450 Rally EX, Dakar Rally 2026 (archive photo). Rights holder: KOVE Moto, photographer not named. Original source: KOVE Moto Ireland, “DAKAR 2026 | SS1”, published on 7 January 2026. Manufacturer press photo, no licence information published.
  • Photo 2: Neels Theric (#66) on the KOVE 450 Rally EX, Dakar Rally 2026 (archive photo). Rights holder: KOVE Moto, photographer not named. Original source: KOVE Moto Ireland, “DAKAR 2026 | SS1”, published on 7 January 2026. Manufacturer press photo, no licence information published.
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