Sanders seals Rally-Raid Portugal win after week-long duel with Schareina

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Sanders goes back-to-back in Portugal

The third edition of Rally-Raid Portugal again lived up to its reputation for variety, serving up 2201 kilometres in total, including 1269 raced against the clock, but this year, torrential rain added a fresh layer of difficulty to the mix.

Daniel Sanders - 2026 Rally-Raid Portugal - Image by Edo Bauer

Traditionally known for combining fast forest tracks in Portugal with sandy open sections once the route crossed into Spain, the six-day event became an even bigger test as deep water, mud and treacherous surfaces punished mistakes and made navigation even more demanding.

Despite those conditions, Sanders and Monster Energy Honda HRC rival Tosha Schareina quickly established themselves as the class of the RallyGP field, sharing the six stages between them and turning the event into a two-rider fight for top honours.

Sanders arrived in Portugal still rebuilding after this year’s Dakar, where he completed the event carrying a shoulder injury, but the Australian wasted no time stamping his authority on round two. He edged the three-kilometre prologue by a single second, then laid down a decisive marker on stage one by winning by 2m10s over 180 kilometres of timed riding.

That early advantage proved critical as Schareina settled into the rally and began to apply pressure. The Spaniard struck back on stage two, but Sanders retained control of the overall lead and continued to answer every challenge that came his way.

Tosha Schareina - 2026 Rally-Raid Portugal

Friday’s stage three around Badajoz in Spain was one of the key days of the rally. The 501-kilometre loop, raced in soaking conditions and with complex navigation demands, allowed Sanders to further strengthen his grip on the event. Although Schareina clawed back just over a minute on stage four as the rally returned to Portugal, Sanders still took a 1m46s overall advantage into the final day.

The deciding stage again underlined Sanders’ form. Schareina, opening the road, was quickest early on, but Sanders remained within striking distance before turning the screw through the second half of the stage. Once in front, the KTM rider controlled the run to the line and then safely completed the closing spectator section to secure not only the overall victory, but also his 29th W2RC stage win.

The result gives Sanders consecutive wins in Portugal after also taking the event in 2025, and confirms that the reigning world champion is again building momentum despite the interrupted preparation he endured after Dakar.

Daniel Sanders – Winner

“I’m super happy to get the win here in Portugal. Tosha was pushing me the whole way in what was a really tough race with slippery, demanding conditions. It feels great to return to winning form after the injury at Dakar. Delivering this result here at Rally-Raid Portugal was important, not just for my confidence, but for the whole team. Although I was able to complete the Dakar, we lost a fair few points, so to get things back on track here, gives us a big boost as we fight for back-to-back championships, which is the ultimate goal this season.”

Schareina had to settle for second overall, but his pace throughout the week ensured Honda remained in the hunt until the final day. The Spaniard’s consistency also paid dividends in the championship chase, moving him to second in the standings and keeping the title battle finely poised.

Tosha Schareina – P2

“I’m really happy with my riding, it was a really good battle with Daniel to the end. We did everything we could on this last stage and I’m happy for second, happy for the team, we did a really good job. Now we will focus on Argentina.”

Adrien Van Beveren was another rider to leave Portugal with reason for optimism. The Frenchman pieced together a consistent rally to claim his first podium finish of 2026, ending the event 8m25s behind Sanders and re-establishing himself as a factor heading into the faster desert rounds to come.

Adrien Van Beveren - 2026 Rally-Raid Portugal

Adrien Van Beveren – P3

“I’m really happy to finish on the podium in Portugal. Six months ago I finished this race over a cliff and in the hospital, so I’m really happy to be back on the podium. I’ve enjoyed my riding here a lot, it’s always a special race because it’s really technical. Today was good, again in third. Daniel and Tosha were fast but we were in the fight. I can’t wait for Argentina now.”

There was also a strong showing from Edgar Canet, who continued to impress with a series of solid rides and two top-five stage finishes on his way to fourth overall. Ross Branch completed the top five.

Edgar Canet – P4

“It’s been a good week for me overall. I had a good balance with my speed and I’m still learning a lot in every race we take part in. A lot of things have been happening here in Portugal, and we were able to overcome all the challenges to finish top-four. We didn’t make the perfect tire selection, but despite that, with the help of the team, we kept focused and pushed all the way to the end. Now, I need to take the confidence I’ve earned here and combine that with training ahead of the next round in Argentina. The Desafio Ruta 40 is a very different race, but I’m already excited to take it on and hopefully secure another strong result.”

Luciano Benavides rode a smart and measured rally to climb from 15th in the prologue to finish sixth overall. That was still enough to keep Benavides at the top of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship standings ahead of his home round, the Desafío Ruta 40 in Argentina. The Argentinian’s ability to bank points in difficult conditions could yet prove crucial as the season develops.

Luciano Benavides - 2026 Rally-Raid Portugal

Luciano Benavides – P6

“For sure, it was not the race I was hoping for here in Portugal, but to be honest, I didn’t expect to come here and win. Dakar was such an incredible moment, and I went through so many emotions and a lot of physical strain too. I struggled to find a good feeling in the wet conditions here and that knocked my confidence a little, but I knew if I kept pushing and finished in one piece, I would be able to keep the lead of the championship, which is super important for me. The season is very long, and you have to perform in all sorts of different terrain to succeed. Now, I have time to recover and then start to prepare for the next race, which is my home race in Argentina and probably my favorite after the Dakar. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Skyler Howes and Ricky Brabec endured more mixed fortunes. Howes finished just ahead of Brabec in the overall standings.

Skyler Howes – P7

“We finished the Portugal rally and I couldn’t be happier to be here at the finish line because, man, this has been a tough race for me, specifically the mud, the slippery tracks, the mountain roads with cliffs on the side, I just got my butt kicked, I didn’t feel comfortable out there, I was riding really cautiously and that’s how it goes. I had a couple of good rides out there but I’m happy to be at the finish of this one and look forward to getting in the desert in Argentina in a couple of months. The team works really hard for us and it’s cool to see Tosha and Adrien land on the podium and battle it out for the win, so that’s important for the team. It’s a huge effort, they all work so hard for us and I’m very thankful to be on this team and be surrounded by such good, passionate people. My mechanic Mario and everyone they do such an incredible job. I’m really happy to be here, happy to be healthy and looking forward to the next one.”

Brabec recovered on the final day with sixth on stage five to salvage eighth overall after a difficult event on terrain that did not particularly suit him.

Ricky Brabec – P8

“The rally was cool. It was a wet rally so something I’m not really used to. Overall, it was a good experience and I’m just happy the whole team made it back in one piece. There was a lot of carnage out there, mostly for myself. The last day was definitely the best, it was drier, so just the way I like it coming from the West coast. Overall, it was a good learning experience I’d say. I think I’m ready to go back to the desert, get my feet out of wet boots and put them in dry boots, that would be a nice change for us. Most of all, just get home and enjoy some drier temperatures.”

After two rounds, the championship remains tightly packed. Benavides leads on 48 points, Schareina is second on 44, Sanders is third, and Brabec fourth, with just 10 points covering the top four riders. Van Beveren’s podium lifts him to fifth on 31 points, with Howes sixth on 29, Canet seventh on 24 and Branch eighth on 23.

With Portugal now complete, the series heads next to the Desafío Ruta 40 from May 24-29, where Sanders will look to convert his Portugal momentum into another major result, while Benavides gets the chance to defend his championship lead on home ground.

2026 Rally-Raid Portugal Final Results

Pos	Rider	Bike	Time
1	Sanders D.	KTM	11h03:53
2	Schareina T.	Honda	+ 01:56
3	Van Beveren A.	Honda	+ 08:25
4	Canet E.	KTM	+ 20:44
5	Branch R.	Hero	+ 25:38
6	Benavides L.	KTM	+ 27:47
7	Howes S.	Honda	+ 34:18
8	Brabec R.	Honda	+ 41:28

2026 FIM Rally-Raid Championship Standings

FIM Rally-Raid Championship Standings after Portugal
Pos	Rider	Bike	Points
1	L. BENAVIDES (ARG)	KTM	48
2	T. SCHAREINA (ESP)	Honda	44
3	D. SANDERS (AUS)	KTM	42
4	R. BRABEC (USA)	HONDA	38
5	A. VAN BEVEREN (FRA)	HONDA	31
6	S. HOWES (USA)	HONDA	29
7	E. CANET (ESP)	KTM	24
8	R. BRANCH (BOT)	HERO	23
9	I. CORNEJO (CHI)	HERO	14

Rally2 & Rally3

Bruno Santos delivered one of the standout performances of the event in Rally2, the Portuguese rider winning three of the six specials on his way to a home victory. Riding for Frutas Patrícia Pilar, Santos also impressed in the outright classification, finishing fifth overall against the premier RallyGP machinery. Honda factory rider Martim Ventura took second in class, while Neels Theric secured third for Kove, giving the Chinese manufacturer its first W2RC podium finish.

In the Rally2 championship fight, BAS World KTM rider Toni Mulec retained the series lead with fifth place, although Ventura has cut the deficit to just five points. Ventura’s result also helped lift Monster Energy Honda HRC to the top of the team standings.

Rally3 honours went to Gonçalo Amaral, the Wingmotor rider becoming only the second double winner of the event after backing up his 2024 class success with another victory in 2026. Amaral now opens the season at the top of the Rally3 standings.

There was also success for Antanas Kanopkinas in the quad category, the CFMoto Thunder Racing rider finally taking victory in Portugal after finishing runner-up in both 2024 and 2025.

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