Jordi Juvanteny and KH-7 Ecovergy Team have dominated the Dakar Rally’s Mission 1000 every year since its inception in 2024. It’s probably not a huge surprise given the truck was originally intended to compete in the Rally itself before being barred due to its use of hydrogen power.

While KH-7 remains atop the throne for 2026, the bikes weren’t going to just let them keep it without a fight.

Segway Racing returned from 2025, brining back two of their three riders, while Arctic Leopard returned after competing in 2024. Fran Pallas, who had a massive accident when his BAT e-bike broke apart at the 2024 Mission 1000, spearheaded the Arctic Leopard assault.

Pallas and Benjamin Pascual of Segway led the way for the two-wheelers and put up the closest competition to Juvanteny’s truck, which now features a hydrogen-and-electric hybrid system. Pascual drew first blood, but Juvanteny took the overall lead on Stage 5 after winning ten bonus points via the Launch Control contest.

Segway closed the gap by topping the Fan Boost vote on the rest day, earning ten points per rider to Arctic Leopard’s five and KH-7’s two. Even though he traversed a shorter distance than Pascual, Pallas eventually took the bike lead since he was much faster to beat the reference times.

Entering the final day, Juvanteny was clinging onto a six-point lead over Pallas. Like in Stage 2, all seven competitors earned max points, securing KH-7 the win.

“Reaching the finish line at Dakar is always a gift, but doing so while winning for the third consecutive time is an immense joy,” said Juvanteny. “This victory is the reward for impeccable teamwork.”

Pallas, who last raced the Dakar Rally itself in 2018, was still the top motorcycle ahead of PAscual.

Results

Bike

FinishOverallNumberRiderTeamDistance CompletedDistance PointsDrive ModeLaunch ControlFan VoteTotal Points
121006Fran PallasArctic Leopard Galicia Team1,087.48 km13175205231
231000Benjamin PascualSegway Racing1,160.59 km13955510209
341005Esther MerinoArctic Leopard Galicia Team1,104.21 km1337005208
451004Miguel PuertasArctic Leopard Galicia Team1,124.42 km1335575200
561002Yi GuanghuiSegway Racing1,153.66 km13750010197
671001Jie YangSegway Racing1,135.26 km13645210193

Truck

FinishOverallNumberDriverNavigatorMechanicTeamDistance CompletedDistance PointsDrive ModeLaunch ControlFan VoteTotal Points
111040Jordi JuvantenyJosé Luis CriadoXavi RibasKH-7 Ecovergy Team1,168.83 km14075202237

Stage winners

StageReference TimeCompetitorTimePoints
Prologue17:00Benjamin Pascual
Jie Yang
Yi Guanghui
15:41
18:21
17:26
15
Stage 11:18:00Benjamin Pascual
Yi Guanghui
Miguel Puertas
Jordi Juvanteny
2:00:50
2:37:30
2:12:12
2:07:29
10
Stage 21:17:00Benjamin Pascual
Jie Yang
Yi Guanghui
Miguel Puertas
Esther Merino
Fran Pallas
Jordi Juvanteny
1:57:46
3:00:34
2:56:31
3:10:17
3:08:19
3:06:18
2:59:46
10
Stage 31:26:00 (Bike)
1:34:00 (Truck)
Jodi Juvanteny1:38:4515
Stage 41:58:00 (Bike)
1:38:00 (Truck)
Benjamin Pascual1:42:3420
Stage 52:11:00 (Bike)
2:26:00 (Truck)
Fran Pallas
Jordi Juvanteny
1:53:47
1:48:07
30
Stage 61:34:00 (Bike)
1:28:00 (Truck)
Benjamin Pascual
Jie Yang
Esther Merino
Fran Pallas
Jordi Juvanteny
1:45:36
1:48:45
1:45:12
1:44:02
1:46:48
10
Stage 72:11:00Jordi Juvanteny1:36:4322
Stage 81:49:00 (Bike)
1:40:00 (Truck)
Jordi Juvanteny1:25:4830
Stage 91:17:00Benjamin Pascual
Jie Yang
Yi Guanghui
Miguel Puertas
Esther Merino
Fran Pallas
51:09
1:03:33
1:03:48
1:06:08
1:04:09
1:02:09
20
Stage 101:47:00 (Bike)
1:35:00 (Truck)
Fran Pallas
Esther Merino
1:29:35
1:31:06
20
Stage 111:57:00Yi Guanghui
Miguel Puertas
Esther Merino
Fran Pallas
Jordi Juvanteny
1:38:07
1:37:26
1:35:26
1:33:26
1:27:12
20
Stage 122:07:00 (Bike)
1:54:00 (Truck)
Miguel Puertas
Esther Merino
Fran Pallas
1:53:59
1:50:00
1:52:49
20
Stage 1348:00Benjamin Pascual
Jie Yang
Yi Guanghui
Miguel Puertas
Esther Merino
Fran Pallas
Jordi Juvanteny
30:34
40:47
32:32
40:23
38:26
36:26
31:26
20

Featured image credit: Julien Delfosse / DPPI / ASO

Leave a comment