Technical Issues Plague the 2025 Dakar Rally
The 2025 Dakar Rally has been marred by controversy surrounding the introduction of digital roadbooks in the motorcycle category. Although the device has been used in other categories and by amateur motorcycle riders, its introduction to professional motorcycle riders has raised concerns.
One of the main issues is the potential for technical problems to affect the outcome of the race. In the third stage, Daniel Sanders, the category leader, lost his tablet after 130 kilometers and had to complete the stage by following other pilots, resulting in a loss of over 14 minutes.
KTM, Sanders’ team, complained to the FIM and received a five-minute compensation, which has sparked anger among rival teams who were also affected by technical issues in previous days.
Cornejo Speaks Out
Nacho Cornejo, a Chilean pilot, has spoken out about the issue, expressing his frustration on social media. “What’s happening, Dakar Rally? Many pilots have had problems with electronic roadbooks these days, and they have not given any of us time back,” he said.
Cornejo also made a serious accusation against the race organization, suggesting that they favor riders from “first world countries.” His comments have sparked a heated debate about the fairness of the competition.
The teams had anticipated the potential for technical issues and had requested the installation of GoPro cameras to record the operation of the tablets. This measure was implemented for the first time in the third stage, and it remains to be seen whether it will help to resolve the issue.
