Final Stage Highlights and Overall Standings
The fifth and final stage of the Rallye du Maroc 2026 concluded with Honda ace Ricky Brabec securing a stage win, while Red Bull KTM pilot Edgar Canet managed to clinch the overall victory with a fourth-place finish. Unfortunately, it was a disappointing outing for Tobias Ebster of ZX Moto, who faced technical issues during the race. The final stage spanned a total of 355 kilometers, including a challenging 234 kilometers of timed special through the Chegaga Dunes region, culminating in a 23-kilometer segment leading to the bivouac in Zagora.
Entering the last race day, Daniel Sanders, the winner of Stage 4, opened the proceedings. Following him was his Red Bull KTM teammate Edgar Canet, who was 1 minute and 34 seconds behind Sanders in the overall standings. This meant that in order for Canet to overcome Sanders in the overall ranking, he needed to finish at least at par with him. However, by the waypoint after 91 kilometers, it became evident that the bonus system designed for the early starters was insufficient to offset the advantages held by later starters. While Brabec posted the fastest time, only a minute slower than him was Canet, whereas Sanders lagged over four minutes behind.
Key Performances and Future Outlook
Brabec, who started the day with an 8-minute deficit from Stage 4, delivered a spectacular performance, completing the stage in 1 hour, 52 minutes, and 15 seconds, thus earning the final stage victory. Although he secured third place on the podium, he could not alter the overall standings that saw Canet emerge victorious ahead of Sanders. Notably, the fifth stage showcased a strong showing from Honda and KTM, with four Honda and three KTM riders finishing in the top seven positions. Martim Ventura, competing in the Rally2 category, also excelled, winning his class ahead of Michael Docherty from Hero.
In the RallyGP standings, Nacho Cornejo was the top Hero rider, finishing eighth overall. Rally2 participant Neels Theric, riding a Chinese Kove, secured eleventh place, outpacing Sherco’s Lorenzo Santolino. ZX Moto, the newcomer to the rally scene, performed commendably. However, Skyler Howes faced a setback on the first day due to fuel shortages, which affected his overall ranking, ending up at 22nd. His teammate Tobias Ebster had to retire after 149 kilometers due to mechanical issues.
As the World Rally-Raid Championship 2026 heads into its final stages, Daniel Sanders currently leads the rider standings, closely followed by Tosha Schareina from Honda and Luciano Benavides from KTM, who are tied on points. Given the current geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, the outlook for the ongoing and upcoming seasons remains uncertain.
As reported by speedweek.com.
