After an impressive rookie season in the World Rally-Raid Championship, Red Bull KTM Factory Racing signed Edgar Canet to the 2025 Dakar Rally roster. It will be the 19-year-old’s first time competing at Dakar.

Despite his youth, Canet quickly stood out when he won the Rally2 Prologue in his debut race at the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid in April. Perhaps due to a penalty the next day, he narrowly missed the class overall podium by just one second behind reigning series champion Romain Dumontier. While he did not win any stages at the next round, the Desafío Ruta 40, he finished third in class behind Dumontier and eventual champ Bradley Cox.

Things only got better for Canet from there. At the W2RC-ending Rallye du Maroc, he claimed the Prologue again as well as Stage #5 en route to a second in Rally2, trailing Cox by just four minutes. Had he registered for points, Canet’s season would have earned him fifth in the Rally2 standings despite not racing Dakar or Abu Dhabi.

Canet is the only Rally2 rider on the KTM team, which otherwise races in RallyGP with Luciano and Kevin Benavides and Daniel Sanders.

“I’ve been racing on a KTM since I was four years old, so to join the factory team now is amazing,” said Canet. “I spent a few days riding in the USA with my new teammates Luciano, Kevin and Daniel, and they helped me so much. I have adapted really well to the KTM 450 Rally, which I know is a winning bike, so I can’t wait to race it at the Dakar. My goal is to get to the finish line and learn as much about the race as possible, and I feel mentally and physically ready for what is to come.”

Perhaps all the more impressive, he only started cross-country rally when he turned 18. After a successful career in motocross, winning the Spanish Motocross Championship in the 85cc class at the age of 14, he opted to make the switch with the blessing and mentorship of two-time Dakar winner Nani Roma.

“We’re super happy to announce that Edgar Canet is joining us in Rally2 for Dakar,” commented team manager Andreas Hölzl. “He has done a great job this season and is a very promising young talent. At only 19 years old, he is performing really well and we’re looking forward to supporting him through his first Dakar.”

KTM did not race for the 2024 championship amid budget cuts and restructuring, turbulent waters that continue to this day. Its parent company Pierer consolidated all three of its W2RC programs into KTM ahead of the Rallye du Maroc, which respectively moved Sanders and 2023 RallyGP champion Luciano Benavides there from GasGas and Husqvarna. Sanders won the Morocco rally for bikes.

Featured image credit: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing