Tosha Schareina Reshapes Dakar 2026 Title Fight

Moto Rally, Sportrik Media - Tosha Schareina and Monster Energy Honda HRC dramatically altered the competitive landscape of the Dakar Rally 2026 on Stage 9 between Wadi Ad Dawasir and Bivouac Refuge, following a decisive navigational call that disrupted the RallyGP hierarchy.

The marathon-refuge stage was designed to reward precision over outright speed, and Schareina capitalised when several key rivals misread a critical canyon choice early in the special. That advantage translated into the fastest time at the finish, 6 minutes 24 seconds ahead of Daniel Sanders from Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, and 6 minutes 22 seconds clear of Honda team-mate Ricky Brabec. The margins underlined how navigation accuracy and tyre management outweighed pure pace on this demanding route.

Strategically, the result carries significant championship implications. A ten-minute penalty incurred by Schareina on the opening marathon stage continues to frame his title prospects, preventing a direct head-to-head battle at the top. Nevertheless, he remains firmly in contention, fourth overall with the deficit reduced to approximately 15 minutes as the rally enters a phase where small errors can carry disproportionate consequences.

For KTM, Stage 9 represented controlled damage rather than domination. Sanders returned to the overall lead despite shared navigational confusion with Luciano Benavides. His 6 minutes 24 seconds advantage over Brabec remains fragile, however, with the second leg of the marathon stage featuring a three-minute start interval and extensive dune sections that traditionally compress time gaps and amplify strategic pressure.

In the Ultimate category, the spotlight fell on the Goczal family. Eryk Goczal secured his first Dakar stage victory in the top class, while his uncle Michal Goczal posted the second-fastest time. The result highlighted Eryk’s successful transition from SSV dominance to Ultimate competitiveness, built on disciplined navigation and controlled race management rather than risk-heavy aggression.

The overall car standings were reshuffled once again. Nani Roma returned to the top of the leaderboard for the first time since 2014, holding a slender 57-second advantage over Carlos Sainz, while Nasser Al Attiyah remains within 1 minute 10 seconds of the lead. With four stages remaining, Dakar 2026 is entering a decisive psychological and technical phase, where reliability, navigational discipline, and risk control will shape the outcome. Full coverage continues at https://sportrik.com/en.