Vincent Biau is heading back to the Dakar Rally in 2026, once again competing in the Original by Motul subclass. Unlike his debut two years prior, it won’t be on a Husqvarna.

Instead, he plans to give the Suzuki DR-Z4S its first ever taste of Dakar action. It will be the first Suzuki motorcycle to race Dakar since Roberto Vecco entered the 2019 edition with an RM-Z450.

The D4-Z4S is a dual-sport motorcycle and the latest iteration in the 25-year-old DR-Z400 line. In stock form, it features a single-cylinder 398cc dual overhead camshaft engine with electronic fuel injection, which is fed through a ride by wire throttle body. The engine is housed within a new twin-spar frame and KYB suspension. The long-travel suspension, which entails an inverted front fork and coil-spring rear fork, is fully adjustable with 296 millimeters of rear wheel travel.

Suzuki bikes have appeared at Dakar since the very beginning with models like the TS 125 and SP 370. In 1983, Marc Joineau finished third overall on a DR500. 2019 was the last Dakar to feature a Suzuki bike courtesy of Vecco, but he did not finish; Mário Patrão is the last Suzuki rider to complete the Dakar when he finished 30th on his RM-Z450 in 2014. The Japanese manufacturer is otherwise decently represented on the four-wheel side like the Jimny and Samurai, which have taken part in both the main Dakar Rally and the Dakar Classic.

When permitted, Biau usually enters rallies on a Suzuki V-Strom 800DE adventure bike such as the Hellas Rally Raid and Africa Eco Race. He eschewed the 2025 Dakar Rally in favor of the latter, where he finished 13th in the Multi-Cylinder class after being sidelined for a few days due to illness.

In returning to Saudi Arabia in 2026, he and Suzuki France’s goal is to “take a production motorcycle and make it competitive, reliable, and efficient in the most extreme conditions on the planet.” While aiming to keep the bike as close to the base model as possible, some changes will need to be made to ensure it meets FIM standard and the sport’s demands, such as a high-capacity fuel tank with a range of 250 kilometers and the navigation tower. He intends to design custom parts for these.

“This race isn’t just a competition, it’s a true technological laboratory,” proclaims Biau’s sponsorship docket.

Biau finished 58th in Rally2 and 15th in Malle Moto at his maiden Dakar in 2024.

Featured image credit: Vincent Biau