After yesterday’s misfortune, with Gonçalo Guerreiro forced into an early retirement due to a fractured arm, the bp Ultimate Adventure Team saw Martim Ventura climb to 4th in Rally2 today after completing Stage 9 of the 2026 Dakar Rally. This stage marked the start of the second marathon leg of what is widely regarded as the toughest off-road race in the world. The day featured a 410-kilometre timed selective section, run mostly on rocky terrain and finishing with a demanding dune crossing.
Ventura, who is competing in the 2026 Dakar Rally as an official HRC Honda rider, lost a significant amount of time up to KP41, the first time control point of the stage, where he was 21m11s down and recorded the 79th fastest split. From that point on, however, he launched a remarkable recovery, eventually taking 14th place in the category and becoming one of the fastest riders across multiple positions, at a pace that made him one of the quickest on the day—only losing time to the stage winner.
Despite the early setback, today’s result allowed the young bp Ultimate Adventure Team rider to move up to 4th among the Rally2 contenders. He is now just five minutes off the category podium, while also holding 14th in the overall standings, 34 minutes from the Top 10.
Tomorrow, the Dakar caravan takes on Stage 10, the second part of the marathon leg, taking competitors from tonight’s bivouac to Bisha, with 371 kilometres against the clock. The route includes an extensive dune sector.
Official Press Release
Disclaimer:
As a service to the sport we all love and follow, Rally-Raid Network posts numerous media releases from a wide variety of sources on our website. Due to the large number, and some times short time available, it is nearly impossible to review each public release. These articles are written by reporters or press officers who work for various organizers, teams, drivers, riders, and other parties, and they do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rally-Raid Network.
