When Frenchman Cyril Neveu crossed the finish line to win the first ever Dakar rally, back in 1979, nobody could have expected this amazing event to become the greatest off-road motorcycle adventure in the World. Neveu would win the Dakar five times and it wouldn’t be until the 1991 when another Frenchman, Stephane Peterhansel would start his own domination of the event, winning six times to become the greatest Dakar winner in the motorcycle class.

Cyril Despres and Marc Coma would both win the event on five occasions, dominating from 2005 until 2015, when the new breed arrived in Toby Price, Sam Sunderland, Matthias Walkner, Ricky Brabec and Kevin Benavides. Price would win it twice and the others once each.Edi Orioli would win it four times and to make those victories even more impressive was the fact he won his right in the middle of that amazing run by Peterhansel. Those two being big rivals and like Despres and Coma, dominated a decade of the event, winning 10 of the 11 years from 1988 until 1998.

Richard Sainct another French rider won three times in 1999, 2000 and 2003, while former World motocross champion Gaston Rahier won two in 1984 and 1985. Event organizer Hubert Auriol, who passed away last year won the event twice on the motorcycle in 1981 and 1983. Fabrizio Meoni also won twice in 2001 and 2002. Like Sunderland, Walkner, Brabec and Benavides, Nani Roma also won once in 2004.

Can one of the current list of riders join this list, or even become a two time winner, or maybe Price a three time winner?

Dakar Rally – Motorcycle Winners

2022 Saudi Arabia - Sam Sunderland (UK) GasGas 450 Rally

2021 Saudi Arabia - Kevin Benavides (Argentina) Honda CRF 450 Rally

2020 Saudi Arabia - Ricky Brabec (USA) Honda CRF 450 Rally

2019 Peru - Toby Price (Australia) KTM 450 Rally

2018 Peru – Argentina – Bolivia – Argentina Matthias Walkner (Austria) KTM 450 Rally

2017 Paraguay – Argentina – Bolivia – Argentina - Sam Sunderland (UK) KTM 450 Rally

2016 Argentina – Bolivia – Argentina - Toby Price (Australia) KTM 450 Rally

2015 Argentina – Chile – Argentina - Marc Coma (SPA) KTM 450 Rally

2014 KTM 450 Rally Argentina – Bolivia – Chile - Marc Coma (SPA)

2013 KTM 450 Rally Peru – Argentina – Chile - Cyril Despres (FRA)

2012 Mar del Plata–Copiapó–Lima - Cyril Despres (FRA) KTM 450 Rally

2011 Buenos Aires – Arica – Buenos Aires - Marc Coma (SPA) KTM 450 Rally

2010 Buenos Aires – Antofagasta – Buenos Aires - Cyril Despres (FRA) KTM 690 Rally

2009 Buenos Aires – Valparaiso – Buenos Aires - Marc Coma (SPA) KTM 690 Rally

2008 Cancelled due to Terrorist Attacks on the route

2007 Lisboa – Dakar - Cyril Despres (FRA) KTM 690 Rally

2006 Lisboa – Dakar - Marc Coma (SPA) KTM LC4 660R

2005 Barcelona – Dakar - Cyril Despres (FRA) KTM LC4 660R

2004 Clermont-Ferrand – Dakar - Nani Roma (SPA) KTM LC4 660R

2003 Marseille – Sharm el Sheikh - Richard Sainct (FRA) KTM LC4 660R

2002 Arras – Madrid – Dakar - Fabrizio Meoni (ITA) KTM LC8 950R

2001 Paris – Dakar - Fabrizio Meoni (ITA) KTM LC4 660R

2000 Paris – Dakar – Cairo - Richard Sainct (FRA) BMW F650RR

1999 Granada – Dakar - Richard Sainct (FRA) BMW F650RR

1998 Paris – Granada – Dakar - Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA) Yamaha YZE850T

1997 Dakar – Agades – Dakar - Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA) Yamaha YZE850T

1996 Granada – Dakar Edi Orioli (ITA) Yamaha YZE850T

1995 Granada – Dakar Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA) Yamaha YZE850T

1994 Paris – Dakar – Paris Edi Orioli (ITA) Cagiva Elefant 900

1993 Paris – Tanger – Dakar Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA) Yamaha YZE850T

1992 Paris – Sirte – Cape Town Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA) Yamaha YZE850T

1991 Paris – Tripoli – Dakar Stéphane Peterhansel (FRA) Yamaha YZE750T

1990 Paris – Tripoli – Dakar Edi Orioli (ITA) Cagiva Elefant 900

1989 Paris – Tunis – Dakar Gilles Lalay (FRA) Honda NXR750V

1988 Paris – Algiers – Dakar Edi Orioli (ITA) Honda NXR750V

1987 Paris – Algiers – Dakar Cyril Neveu (FRA) Honda NXR750V

1986 Paris – Algiers – Dakar Cyril Neveu (FRA) Honda NXR750V

1985 Paris – Algiers – Dakar Gaston Rahier (BEL) BMW GS980R

1984 Paris – Algiers – Dakar Gaston Rahier (BEL) BMW GS980R

1983 Paris – Algiers – Dakar Hubert Auriol (FRA) BMW GS980R

1982 Paris – Algiers – Dakar Cyril Neveu (FRA) Honda XL500R

1981 Paris – Algiers – Dakar Hubert Auriol (FRA) BMW GS800R

1980 Paris – Algiers – Dakar Cyril Neveu (FRA) Yamaha XT500

1979 Paris – Algiers – Dakar Cyril Neveu (FRA) Yamaha XT500