Former motorcycle world champion first took on the Dakar 20 years ago
Hélder Rodrigues finished today’s 12th stage of the Dakar Rally 2026 inside the SSV Top 10, after a particularly demanding leg linking Al Henakiyah to Yanbu. The stage featured a 310-kilometre timed special, marked by a wide variety of terrain that tested competitors’ endurance and technique. Throughout the route, drivers faced fast tracks alternating with tight, twisty sections, riverbeds, and an extremely challenging dune sector.
At the wheel of a Polaris RZR PRO entered by Santag Racing, the Portuguese driver—navigated by Gonçalo Reis—delivered a consistent, well-balanced performance, finishing the day 8th in the SSV classification and 6th in the W2RC. With the completion of this stage, the former world champion in off-road motorcycling is ever closer to completing his 13th Dakar participation. In 2026, the rider also marks 20 years since his first appearance in the world’s biggest off-road competition.
“It was a very technical day with all kinds of terrain. A very demanding stage. We had a puncture very early on. We had to deal with a lot of dust from trucks and T1+ mixed in. It was very difficult to manage the race,” Hélder Rodrigues said at the end of the stage. The Portuguese driver has competed in all Dakar settings—Africa, South America, and the Middle East—having taken part 11 times on a motorcycle and twice in the SSV category, a unique career path that reflects his strong competitiveness.
The Dakar Rally 2026 concludes tomorrow with the 13th and final stage, held around Yanbu. The final special will cover 105 timed kilometres, split into two distinct sections. In the first, competitors will tackle mountainous scenery on dirt tracks. After this segment and the corresponding liaison, the start will be given again for the rally’s final timed section, culminating in the crowning of the winners and the podium ceremony.
Source: Official Press Release
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