- First stage victory for Honda at the 2026 Dakar Rally
- Tosha Schareina now third overall, just 1:13 minutes behind the leader
- Tobias Ebster retired after an early crash on stage 3
After two rather uneventful days, Tosha Schareina made an impressive comeback on stage 3 of the 2026 Dakar Rally. The Spanish Honda factory rider consistently implemented his plan and secured the stage victory with a clear lead. At the same time, he moved up to third place in the overall standings.
Stage 3: Longest day of the rally so far
The third stage, covering a total of 736 kilometers, was the biggest challenge of this year’s Dakar so far. From the bivouac in Al-ʿUla, a 64-kilometer asphalt section led to the start of the 421-kilometer special stage. After the finish, another 251 kilometers of liaison stage awaited the competitors on their way back to camp.
The timed section itself consisted mainly of stony gravel roads, supplemented by sandy sections. Navigation was considered challenging, and there were numerous rocks and loose stones that put a lot of strain on the equipment.
As the previous day’s winner, Daniel Sanders opened the route. He was followed by Edgar Canet and several Honda riders, including Ricky Brabec, Skyler Howes, and Tosha Schareina. This starting position proved to be an advantage for Schareina, as he had less navigation work to do.
Schareina focuses on attack and control
Schareina showed a marked improvement in the first part of the special stage. Despite a crash, the 31-year-old remained calm and reached the refueling stop after 219 kilometers with the fastest time. Meanwhile, several competitors lost time, including Nacho Cornejo after an incident of his own.
In the second section, Schareina continued to increase his pace and steadily extended his lead. Daniel Sanders was more than six minutes behind at one point, but benefited from the time bonus for opening the track. In the end, however, Schareina clearly prevailed and was the fastest to reach the finish line after 4:26:39 hours.
“It was a good day, but not an easy one. There were so many stones and rocks, and the navigation was also incredibly difficult,” Schareina explained at the finish. “I just tried to push hard because our goal was to win the stage. We achieved that. Nevertheless, we are still at the beginning of the Dakar.”
Honda strong, KTM remains ahead
Behind Schareina, Ricky Brabec took second place, securing a strong team result for Honda. Daniel Sanders was classified third but defended his overall lead. Edgar Canet and Luciano Benavides completed the top five, while Ross Branch suffered a setback, finishing well behind.
Sanders continues to lead the overall standings, but Brabec and Schareina, both Honda riders, are now just over a minute behind him. The top three have already pulled away noticeably from the rest of the field.
Early exit for Tobias Ebster
For Tobias Ebster, on the other hand, the stage was dramatic. The Austrian crashed after just 14 kilometers and had to end the rally prematurely with pain in his left hand. A helicopter brought the Hero rider back to the bivouac.
What made it particularly bitter was that Ebster still had a realistic chance of victory in the Rally2 classification after stage 2. The regulations would allow him to resume the Dakar, provided his health permits.
A look at stage 4 and the marathon days
As stage winner, Schareina now faces a new challenge. He will open the route on stage 4, and the next two days are marathon stages. The 451-kilometer special stage requires special attention to equipment and tires.
“On Wednesday, I will have to open the route, so anything is possible,” said Schareina. “Over the next two days, we will have to be careful with the motorcycle, the tires, and ourselves. I think I’m ready for it.”
