Saudi Arabia | January 4, 2026 — KOVE’s Dakar 2026 campaign moved into full race mode on SS1, where #66 Neels Theric delivered a standout recovery drive, climbing through the field to finish P24 on the stage after starting P115. The result underlines both the rider’s resilience and the team’s rapid technical response following an issue in the prologue.
Prologue setback, official recognition from Dakar
On January 3 (Prologue), Theric suffered an ignition sensor issue. To reach the finish, he had to push the bike for more than 2 km through the sand and heat. Dakar later recognized his determination with an official decoration during the traditional awards ceremony.
KOVE’s immediate response: diagnosis, corrective action, readiness for the stages ahead
Following the prologue, KOVE’s priority was clear: identify the cause quickly, implement corrective measures, and confirm the bike’s readiness for the next day. Dakar is brutal on both rider and machine, and Neels showed exactly what it takes: stay focused, fight through it, and finish.
SS1: P115 to P24, 91 positions gained
On January 4 (SS1) — Theric started P115 and charged through the field, gaining 91 positions to finish P24 on the stage. While the overall classification is still impacted by the prologue result, the SS1 performance indicates the package is back on track for the stages ahead.
Sunier moves to P42 overall, best-ranked Chinese rider
KOVE factory rider #45 Sunier continued with a consistent start to the rally. After placing P43 in the prologue order, he moved up to P42 overall after SS1, remaining the best-ranked Chinese rider so far. His 2026 target is to set a new best Dakar result for a Chinese rider.
Results (after SS1)
#45 Sunier — SS1: P43 | Overall: P42
#66 Neels Theric — SS1: P24 | Overall: P108
Dakar is an endurance test of speed, reliability, and execution. KOVE will continue to provide the strongest possible technical support to our riders across every stage, with a clear focus on consistency and performance as the rally progresses.
