Romain Bouzigon hoped to race the Dakar Rally in 2025, but his campaign had to wait a year. Sure enough, he received his acceptance message from the ASO on Friday, locking in his Dakar debut.

Bouzigon is a longtime motocross rider and best friends with Benjamin Melot, who finished second in Original by Motul at this year’s Dakar. He wanted to join his buddy in that race, but a broken collarbone in a crash just 50 kilometers from the 2023 Rallye du Maroc finish derailed those plans. He returned to Morocco the following year, this time with the 2026 Dakar as his target, where he finished 57th in Rally2.

Other non-FIM races that the Frenchman has done include the Carta Rallye and Swank Rally di Sardegna. He finished 31st overall at the latter in 2024. In April, he finished sixth in 450cc and 11th overall at the Carta Rallye.

He posted on social media:

It is with immense pleasure (and overwhelming emotion) that I announce my presence at the start of the next @dakarrally in Yanbu on January 4, 2026

Yet another step toward achieving this childhood dream!

This positive response from the organization validates the work my friend @benjimelot and I have done over the past three years!

Now it’s time for the final stretch of preparation. And I’ll need you to keep the necessary motivation

We’ve never been more ready!!! We believe in it!!!!!!

Thank you to all my sponsors and partners who make it possible for me to be here

Bouzigon, Melot, and French Motocross Championship rider Gaëtan Cadot run the MX Performance Academy in Franche-Comté.