- Honda takes first to third place on stage 4
- Tosha Schareina and Ricky Brabec lead the overall standings with the same time
- First marathon stage causes tire worries and equipment problems
The fourth stage of the 2026 Dakar Rally marked the start of the marathon classification and presented drivers and equipment with extraordinary challenges. The special stage covered 417 kilometers through sandy gorges, rocky high plateaus, and difficult-to-navigate rocky sections. Mechanical assistance was not permitted at the finish line; repairs had to be carried out by the teams themselves in the spartan bivouac.
Honda makes a sporting statement
Honda rider Tosha Schareina opened the stage early in the morning and, as the leader, had to take on the challenging navigation. Despite this thankless starting position, the Spaniard maintained his lead. Ricky Brabec caught up after around 200 kilometers, and the two then completed the second part of the stage together, collecting time credits.
Schareina reached the finish line after 4:31:56 hours with the best time. Brabec followed just 6 seconds behind, with Skyler Howes completing the Honda triple victory a further 4 seconds behind. Ross Branch on Hero narrowly missed the podium by 16 seconds.
Tire damage overshadows stage success
As dominant as Honda’s performance was, there are just as many concerns about the next stage. The fourth stage took the riders over many sharp-edged stones and rock slabs. As the riders are not allowed to fit new tires at the marathon bivouac, they will have to contest stage 5 with the existing equipment.
Schareina was cautious in his comments, emphasizing that the actual condition of his motorcycle would only become apparent the next day. Brabec was more relaxed, explaining that his motorcycle had not made contact with the ground and that only a check of the tires was necessary.
The situation was different for Skyler Howes. The American was also struggling with health problems and made no secret of his tire concerns. He expects that the outcome of the marathon stage will largely depend on who can save their tires until the finish line.
Sanders loses lead after navigation errors
Daniel Sanders started the stage as the overall leader, but had to relinquish this position after finishing fifth. The KTM rider lost 2:37 minutes to Schareina and slipped to third place in the overall standings. Several navigation errors, which Sanders himself described as unnecessary, were decisive.
After the refueling stop, the Australian tried to increase his pace and make up time. His performance stabilized in the second half of the stage, with no major mistakes. However, given the small time reserves, this was not enough to defend the lead.
Sanders also pointed out the heavy wear on the tires across the entire field and expects further retirements and time losses in the second part of the marathon stage.
Rally2: Historic success for Kove
In the Rally2 class, Neels Theric provided a special moment. The Frenchman won the stage and gave Kove its first Dakar stage victory in the brand’s history. Toni Mulec and Preston Campbell took second and third place behind him.
Despite finishing third, Campbell took the lead in the Rally2 overall standings. The Dakar rookie has been driving consistently so far and leads by around 19 minutes. His teammate Martim Ventura, on the other hand, suffered a setback. After a defect, he lost over two hours and fell significantly behind in the overall standings.
Overall standings tightly packed after stage 4
After four stages, Schareina and Brabec lead the overall standings with the same time. Sanders follows 1:24 minutes behind. Behind them, there is already a significant gap, which further underlines the importance of the marathon stage. Taking care of equipment, tire management, and flawless navigation are likely to be more decisive on stage 5 than pure speed.
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