Rally Raid line-up 2025
With the Dakar Rally due to start in January, 3 entries have closed for the 2025 World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC)! w
With 12 Rally GP motorcycle racers signed for the full series of five rallies.
However, from now on, Rally 2, Rally 3 and quad riders who register for any round on the calendar will automatically be entered into the championship… swinging the doors of the series wide open!
The KTM Group is consolidating its forces under a single banner. In a bid to reclaim the throne in the motorbike competition.
Monster Energy Honda HRC almost got their hands on the individual title again in 2024, only to be denied by Hero MotoSports.
The red and orange squadrons are up for a rematch in 2025.
Innovative new rules will inject an extra dose of suspense into the championship, which is set to begin a fortnight from now with the 47th edition of the Dakar.
The KTM Group, which claimed the first two W2RC titles with Sam Sunderland (2022 — GasGas) and Luciano Benavides (2023 — Husqvarna), is consolidating its forces under one banner for 2025, fielding a three-rider squad.
The Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team is doubling down on Kevin Benavides, a two-time Dakar winner (2021 and 2023), his brother Luciano and Daniel Sanders.
In 2024, Monster Energy Honda HRC pulled off an impressive team effort for the third year running, clinching four out of five rounds.
Ricky Brabec took victories at the Dakar and the Desafío Ruta 40 YPF Infinia.
While Tosha Schareina topped the BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal and the Rallye du Maroc.
In the final standings, Adrien Van Beveren, Schareina and Brabec lined up one after the other behind the champion.
Securing yet another manufacturers’ title for the reds… but coming up short in the fight for the individual crown.
Pablo Quintanilla and Skyler Howes remain key players in the squad run by Ruben Faria.
Hero MotoSports and their superhero rider Ross Branch know the score.
Season 4.
Season 4 is likely to be KTM’s shot at reclaiming past glory! Honda’s relentless push for the elusive riders’ world championship!
Nacho Cornejo and Sebastian Bühler will again support the Botswanan in his title defence campaign.
Twelve riders are lined up in Rally GP this season —eleven factory riders and a rookie.
Bradley Cox(BAS World KTM Racing), fresh off his Rally 2 World Cup triumph. Is stepping up to play with the big boys!
The South African leaves his title up for grabs.
Romain Dumontier, backed by Honda since the 4th round of the 2024 season.
To help develop the brand’s customer-targeted machine, is determined to reclaim his 2023 crown aboard the 450 CRF.
However, the Frenchman will face tougher competition due to the new FIM rules (see FIM Updates).
Rising stars such as Konrad Dobrowski (Duust Rally), who made the 2024 podium.
Seasoned contenders such as Michael Docherty (BAS World KTM Racing) are certain to be in the mix.
Threats now lurk behind every corner, including the factory rider Harith Noah (Sherco Rally Factory), the 2024 Dakar champion in the class.
As well as the BAS World KTM Racing camp, with budding talents such as Edgar Canet and Tobias Ebster.
As it is, this privateer outfit has what it takes to contend for the new team prize introduced in 2025.
The quads will step into the fray from the second round, while the Rally 3 class will make its debut at the third event on the calendar.
Two key updates to the FIM 2025 regulations aim to shine a spotlight on amateur motorbikes, quads and their teams.
Automatic registration for the Rally 2, Rally 3 and quad classes. Any rider entering a round on the 2025 calendar in a class other than Rally GP will automatically be registered for the championship.
At any point in the season, local riders can score points and potentially shake up the provisional standings.
This approach is expected to uncover new talent and encourage rookies to commit to the discipline.
Then there is the new Team title: inspired by the professional manufacturers’ title, a new team classification will now recognise the efforts of Rally 2 motorbike support teams.
The two best riders from each team in this category will score points at every round, determining the best privateer outfit of the year.
2025 W2RC Calendar
- Jan 3-17 Dakar, Saudi Arabia
- Feb 22-27 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, United Arab Emirates
- May 18-24 South African Safari Rally, Republic of South Africa
- Sep 22-28 BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal, Portugal
- Oct 10-17 Rallye du Maroc, Morocco
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