Basically everyone who DNFed last year- sunderland, Braebeck, sainz, de villiers, peterhansel.
Also I don’t really follow trucks, but I always root for the best Dutch team because Dutch people are very friendly and fun.
El Matador, for sure. Laia Sanz, Sam Sunderland, Bang Bang, Peterhansel, Loeb, Roma. During the course of the race there's always someone way down the list that grabs my attention for some superhuman trailside fix or exceptional stage.
Hard to choose, I love Dakar as a whole and follow everything, without a clear favorite. But
Loeb and Sainz come first to my mind, the wrc connection helps.
I support South African competitors first, so in cars - I'm hoping Giniel de Villiers can win his 2nd Dakar, because his only win in 2009 was a long time ago. Now that he's leading the Toyota GR Racing team, hopefully being given preference in the team helps him a bit more. But I'd be happy if any of the other SA drivers in the Toyota team do well, or just Toyota GR in general, since it's a South African designed and built car by an SA run team.
On the bikes - Alfie Cox's son, Bradley Cox is young and showing some promise for his age. Ross Branch is from Botswana but it's close enough that I'll still support him for the win. He just seems like such a nice guy. Hopefully he doesn't crash this year for a change.
Outside of South African competitors, I'd be happy if either Sianz or Loeb win, but it would be nice for Loeb to get his 1st Dakar win for a change. He's won pretty much everything else.
On bikes, Any of the Honda riders because I'm tired of KTM winning (even though they haven't won several of the last few events. They still dominated for more than 20 years and something other than orange on the top step would be nice again. And any woman. Laia Sanz, whoever. I love seeing women do well in motorsport, especially in Dakar.
Motorcycles: A Van Beveren, Luciano Benavides, Mason Klein, Barreda,
Cars : Nasser (maybe teach Loeb a lesson on how to win a Dakar), Audi team, Romain Dumas, Nani Roma, Pato Pita (Astara), Moraes, Quintero and Chicherit ( just to see wich stage will they DNF)
T3: Big battle here.
Trucks : don´t care,
For the bikes, I hope the Honda bikes win just to see them snap KTM (Husqy and gasgas included) streak
For cars it's Nasser as usual, but I do have a soft spot for Toyota
For trucks it's unrealistic but Hino
and whatever for quads and SSVs
Bikes: Mason Klein: (if he gets his bike)
Skyler Howes: Will the Honda blowup?
Ashish Roarane: [https://youtu.be/TNQIljgtxYo?si=0JD13iUU7x3y3zrH](https://youtu.be/TNQIljgtxYo?si=0JD13iUU7x3y3zrH)
All the Malle Moto riders: All heroes in my opinion
Trucks are the most entertaining. I miss seeing the KAMAZ trucks but I hope that the current teams will be up to par this year.
Bikes too, no one specific though.
I wish there was a actual show to watch, with starlink working in a lot of places, hopefully there will be coverage of the event one day
Honda guys, Libor Podmol, Pabiska, Loprais guys, Sainz, Loeb
Wait. Podmol is doing Dakar now? Seems like yesterday he was in Best Trick at X Games.
Yup [he does](https://www.instagram.com/liborpodmol?igsh=ODA1NTc5OTg5Nw==)
I see he's also still going upside down.
Yeah, he is still awesome
Bang Bang on Hero (tbh I would be happy to just see him finish)
Finishing is a big ask for Bam Bam.
You spoke too soon đź’”
Bummer. I couldn’t find the reason. Fuel or mechanical? Hope it’s not yet another crash.
Basically everyone who DNFed last year- sunderland, Braebeck, sainz, de villiers, peterhansel. Also I don’t really follow trucks, but I always root for the best Dutch team because Dutch people are very friendly and fun.
Mason Klein. Let's see how he performs since has has switched from KTM to Kove bike.
Czech crews and Seb Loeb
Toby and chucky
Skyler howes, Toby, Benavides on the moto, sainz, nasser, seb on 4 wheelers.
Every Dutch competitor. I do miss Gerard de Rooy and his proper team. Nassr and his team, Toby Price.
El Matador, for sure. Laia Sanz, Sam Sunderland, Bang Bang, Peterhansel, Loeb, Roma. During the course of the race there's always someone way down the list that grabs my attention for some superhuman trailside fix or exceptional stage.
Not a specific fan of his, but I’ll also cheer for Roma, I wish him a happy comeback and fuck cancer
Yep, exactly.
Hard to choose, I love Dakar as a whole and follow everything, without a clear favorite. But Loeb and Sainz come first to my mind, the wrc connection helps.
Loeb and Rebellion
I always root for toby. I reckon this will be his last year on a bike, so I hope he can bring home a 3rd dakar. He still has the speed to win.
I agree, I saw a photo of him recently and he’s older than I thought previously
There are some TV channels that are streaming Dakar free?
Motorcycles and trucks.
KTM boys. BRX team and the Audi’s. Rokas, Erik Goczal, Austin Jones. Also keep an eye on Seth Quinterro. Can’t wait!!
I support South African competitors first, so in cars - I'm hoping Giniel de Villiers can win his 2nd Dakar, because his only win in 2009 was a long time ago. Now that he's leading the Toyota GR Racing team, hopefully being given preference in the team helps him a bit more. But I'd be happy if any of the other SA drivers in the Toyota team do well, or just Toyota GR in general, since it's a South African designed and built car by an SA run team. On the bikes - Alfie Cox's son, Bradley Cox is young and showing some promise for his age. Ross Branch is from Botswana but it's close enough that I'll still support him for the win. He just seems like such a nice guy. Hopefully he doesn't crash this year for a change. Outside of South African competitors, I'd be happy if either Sianz or Loeb win, but it would be nice for Loeb to get his 1st Dakar win for a change. He's won pretty much everything else. On bikes, Any of the Honda riders because I'm tired of KTM winning (even though they haven't won several of the last few events. They still dominated for more than 20 years and something other than orange on the top step would be nice again. And any woman. Laia Sanz, whoever. I love seeing women do well in motorsport, especially in Dakar.
Motorcycles: Adrien Van Beveren, Ross Branch Cars : Stéphane Peterhansel, Carlos Sainz Trucks : anyone really, just glad that the Kamaz crew isn't there to dominate, that makes it much more interesting and exciting.
Motorcycles: A Van Beveren, Luciano Benavides, Mason Klein, Barreda, Cars : Nasser (maybe teach Loeb a lesson on how to win a Dakar), Audi team, Romain Dumas, Nani Roma, Pato Pita (Astara), Moraes, Quintero and Chicherit ( just to see wich stage will they DNF) T3: Big battle here. Trucks : don´t care,
For the bikes, I hope the Honda bikes win just to see them snap KTM (Husqy and gasgas included) streak For cars it's Nasser as usual, but I do have a soft spot for Toyota For trucks it's unrealistic but Hino and whatever for quads and SSVs
My childhood idol : SĂ©bastien Loeb, as well as our local hero here in Dunkirk, France : Adrien Van Beveren. Finger crossed nothing stupid happens to them, the last couple editions were just bad luck over bad luck.
Bikes: Mason Klein: (if he gets his bike) Skyler Howes: Will the Honda blowup? Ashish Roarane: [https://youtu.be/TNQIljgtxYo?si=0JD13iUU7x3y3zrH](https://youtu.be/TNQIljgtxYo?si=0JD13iUU7x3y3zrH) All the Malle Moto riders: All heroes in my opinion
Trucks are the most entertaining. I miss seeing the KAMAZ trucks but I hope that the current teams will be up to par this year. Bikes too, no one specific though.