January 7, 2026

KOVE has secured its first-ever Dakar R2 stage victory, as Neels Theric won SS4 of the Dakar Rally 2026 in the R2 category aboard the KOVE 450 RALLY EX.

SS4 marked Part 1 of the first Marathon Stage, one of the most demanding formats in rally-raid racing where riders must complete two consecutive stages with limited external support. Theric's SS4 win also makes KOVE the first Chinese manufacturer to claim a R2 stage victory at Dakar, joining a short list of brands to have won in the class, including KTM, Husqvarna, Sherco, and Honda.

A COMEBACK BUILT ON EXECUTION

The SS4 victory carries additional weight given the team's opening setback earlier in the rally. In the January 3 Prologue, Theric encountered an unexpected technical issue and was forced to push the bike to the finish, impacting his overall starting position for the first stages.

From SS1 onward, the focus shifted to recovering rhythm and rebuilding position step by step — culminating in a breakthrough win on SS4.

Next: Marathon Stage Part 2

Stage 5 (SS5) continues the Marathon on January 8, and KOVE will maintain the same approach: disciplined execution, stable pace, and performance proven where it matters most.