Matthew Ransom is one step closer to making his Dakar Rally debut in 2027. He just needs to complete one more race: the Rallye du Maroc.

Amid the greenlight letters sent out by the ASO this week, Ransom received a provisional acceptance that states he will be assured a spot in the Dakar field if he completes the RdM. These letters are typical for riders trying to qualify for Dakar through World Rally-Raid Championship races that take place after registration closes in July. Such races in 2026 are Morocco in September and the season-ending Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in late November.

Such a situation wouldn’t have arose had Ransom and his friend Justin Jumet been able to run the Desafío Ruta 40 in May as initially planned. However, they had to push their entries back to Morocco because of delays in sending their bikes to their dealer for Argentina.

The duo run Off Piste Adventure, a rally riding and training school. Their effort is nicknamed “Kansas to Dakar”, referring to their home state.

“For years, Dakar has been a dream that felt almost impossible,” Ransom said on Wednesday. “Thousands of miles of training, countless hours building roadbooks, racing rallies across North America, and the incredible support from the Off Piste Adventure community have all led to this moment.

“Nothing is guaranteed yet. Rallye du Maroc is still ahead, and I have to earn that final spot by crossing the finish line. But for the first time, Dakar isn’t just a dream—it’s within reach.”

Featured image credit: Matthew Ransom