Michael Docherty second rally driver 2 to win on motorcycle, Nani Roma returns to victory in car in the Empty Quarter

In one of the largest deserts in the world, the Spaniard, winner of the motorcycle rally in 2004 and in the car in 2014, won the 10th stage of the Dakar on Wednesday, ending a drought which began in 2016.

It’s the feeling of the day. At 30 years old, Michael Docherty (KTM) won his first victory on the Dakar, during the 10th special, between Haradh and Shubaytah, Wednesday January 15. This is only the second time in the history of rallying that a Rally 2 driver has won in the scratch, after Danilo Petrucci in 2022. In the car, Nani Roma, who is part of the very closed circle of double winners of the rally-raid in motorcycles and cars, was the fastest. It had been 10 years since he last won a single stage.

Exiled in the United Arab Emirates for eight years, Michael Docherty (30) finished 16th in 2023, during his first participation, and abandoned on the second day in 2024. This time, he seems set to reach the finish. A dune specialist, he was able to make the difference over his opponents in the sandy desert of the Empty Quarter, the main difficulty of the day. At the finish, the South African was ahead of Rui Gonçalves (+1’20”) and Tobias Ebster (2’21”). 10th overall and fourth GP rally driver to cross the finish line, Daniel Sanders further extends his lead overall. Two days from the finish, the Australian is now 16’31” ahead of Spaniard Toscha Schareina and 22’24” over Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren, 19th of the day.

In the car, the winner of the 2014 edition, Nani Roma returned to victory after years of diet (9th stage in 2015). A success which also becomes the first for Ford, an orphan since the abandonment of its leader and title holder Carlos Sainz, in the history of the Dakar. The Spaniard, crowned in motorcycle racing in 2004 and in car racing in 2014, was just 18 seconds ahead of Brazilian Lucas Moraes (Toyota). In the general classification, the day after having given up his leadership seat for the first time since the 2nd stage, the South African Henk Lategan (Toyota) regained possession, eating away almost nine minutes on the Saudi Yazeed al Rajhi ( Toyota). In the general classification, the two men are separated by 2’27.

Due toa navigation error at the start of the special, Nasser al Attiyah (Dacia), five-time winner, missed an opportunity to get back into the match for victory. He lost more than 21 minutes on the winner of the day.