Edgar Canet Claims His First RallyGP Victory in Morocco

Nov 5, 2026 | 21 - BTA Magazine November/december 2026

The 27th Rallye du Maroc brought the world’s leading rally-raid riders to southern Morocco from September 28 to October 3, for the fourth round of the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship. Starting in Agadir and heading toward Zagora, the route took competitors through rocky desert tracks, sandy terrain, and demanding navigation across five stages.

The championship arrived in Morocco with little room for mistakes. Defending world champion Daniel Sanders held a narrow three-point lead over Honda’s Tosha Schareina, while Dakar winner Luciano Benavides remained firmly in contention, just six points behind. With Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, Monster Energy Honda HRC, and Hero MotoSports on the starting line, the stage was set for another closely fought rally.

But the final result brought a new name to the top of the podium. Edgar Canet, the young Spaniard who had won the Rally2 world title in Morocco just one year earlier, secured his first RallyGP victory after a battle that remained undecided until the final stage in Zagora.

Five Stages, One Final Showdown

Prologue and Early Honda Initiative

The competition began on September 28 with a 16.7-kilometer (10.4-mile) timed prologue, allowing the fastest riders to choose their starting positions for Stage 1. Daniel Sanders set the fastest time aboard his KTM, followed by teammate Edgar Canet, 12 seconds behind, and Honda’s Ricky Brabec, 13 seconds off the pace. In Rally2, Brazilian rider Bruno Crivilin posted the fastest time in his category aboard his Honda.

The following day, Ricky Brabec won Stage 1, giving Monster Energy Honda HRC the early overall lead. Daniel Sanders remained close behind, just 23 seconds off the American’s pace, while Edgar Canet and Luciano Benavides kept all three Red Bull KTM Factory Racing riders among the leading contenders.

KTM Resurgence and Mid-Rally Swings

Sanders responded on Stage 2, catching Brabec early in the special before the two riders continued navigating together. The Australian secured the stage win and reclaimed the overall lead, with Canet finishing third. Meanwhile, Martim Ventura continued mixing with the RallyGP riders aboard his Rally2 Honda.

Stage 3 brought another change in the standings. Sanders encountered navigation difficulties and lost valuable time, finishing eighth. Luciano Benavides took advantage of a favorable starting position to claim his 20th W2RC stage victory, ahead of Tosha Schareina and Ignacio Cornejo. Canet finished fourth, a consistent performance that moved him into the overall lead, followed by Benavides and Sanders. With two stages remaining, the KTM trio occupied the first three positions.

The following day, Sanders returned to the front, winning Stage 4 by nearly three minutes over Canet. The result restored his overall lead, leaving his young teammate 1 minute and 31 seconds behind heading into the final stage. Brabec remained third, while Benavides lost ground after finishing eighth.

The Zagora Finale and Canet’s Historic Victory

The final 259-kilometer special decided everything. Sanders opened the course, while Canet pushed hard enough to recover the deficit and take the overall victory by just 1 minute and 2 seconds. Brabec claimed his second stage victory of the week and finished third overall, 3 minutes and 32 seconds behind Canet.

Red Bull KTM Factory Racing completed a one-two finish, with Luciano Benavides fourth overall. At 21, Canet became the youngest winner in Rallye du Maroc history and the first former Rally2 champion to win in the premier class.

Martim Ventura Takes Control of Rally2

Martim Ventura delivered an impressive performance in Morocco, securing the Rally2 overall victory for Monster Energy Honda HRC. The Portuguese rider won the first three stages, maintained his advantage through the fourth, and closed the rally with another stage victory.

Michael Docherty emerged as his closest challenger aboard the Hero MotoSports machine. After finishing second in the opening three stages, the South African finally claimed his first stage win with Hero on Stage 4. He finished the rally second in Rally2, while Honda’s Preston Campbell completed the category podium.

Ventura’s performance also earned him fifth place in the combined motorcycle standings, ahead of several RallyGP riders. His victory strengthened his lead in the Rally2 World Cup heading into the championship finale.

Daniel Sanders Rules the 2026 Desafío Ruta 40 YPF

Triumph Makes Its Mark in Rally3

Triumph made a successful W2RC debut in Morocco, with Spanish rider Albert Martín taking the Rally3 overall victory aboard the TF 450-X. Martín won the prologue and the first three stages, establishing an early lead before a missed waypoint interrupted his winning streak on Stage 4.

The final day brought another milestone for the category. Murun Purevdorj, riding for Xraids Experience, secured the Rally3 world title, becoming the first Mongolian rider to win a championship in the W2RC.

For Triumph, the victory marked a successful introduction to world championship rally-raid competition, while Purevdorj left Zagora with a historic title for Mongolia.

ZXMOTO Begins Its Rally-Raid Journey

Chinese manufacturer ZXMOTO made its W2RC debut in Morocco through a partnership with Spain’s Joyride Race Service, forming the ZXMOTO Joyride Factory Rally Team. Founded in April 2024 by Zhang Xue, who previously co-founded Kove in 2017, the company entered rally-raid with ambitions of competing at the highest level.

The team brought American rider Skyler Howes into RallyGP and Austrian Tobias Ebster into Rally2, both aboard the new ZXMOTO 450 Rally. Joyride Race Service brings experience in international desert racing, with Sergi Duran Sanchez serving as team manager.

For Howes, winner of the 2022 Rallye du Maroc, the event marked his first race with the team following his departure from Honda. He finished 22nd in the combined motorcycle standings, recording a seventh-place finish on Stage 2.

The team approached Morocco as an opportunity to gather race data and develop the motorcycle ahead of the 2027 Dakar, with the long-term ambition of fighting for victories in international rally-raid competition.

The Championship Remains Open

Despite losing the victory in Morocco, Daniel Sanders retained the RallyGP championship lead, with Luciano Benavides and Tosha Schareina tied 13 points behind. Ricky Brabec remained mathematically in contention, 17 points off the lead.

KTM also strengthened its position in the manufacturers’ standings, having won all four rounds of the 2026 championship with three different riders: Benavides at the Dakar, Sanders in Portugal and Argentina, and Canet in Morocco.

In Rally2, Martim Ventura left Zagora leading the World Cup standings, with Toni Mulec his closest remaining challenger, 18 points behind.

Both championship battles now head to the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, scheduled for November 22–27, where the final titles of the 2026 season will be decided.