The 2025 Sertões Rally (July 26 – August 3) is shaping up to be one of the most demanding editions yet, with a grueling 3,334 km route connecting Goiânia to Marechal Deodoro (AL). And for the riders in the motorcycle and quad categories, the challenge is even greater. Unlike in cars, here the riders are their own navigators, handling both the throttle and the roadbook. Every day, factors like starting position—which affects visibility, the presence of tracks, and the amount of dust—can completely change the race, even on special stages that stretch hundreds of kilometers.
While a high level of competition and standout international talent is nothing new in the two-wheel division (as in other categories), the 33rd edition of the Sertões is turning heads thanks to a particularly stacked roster. Two European stars will make their debut in the greatest rally in the Americas—both with résumés and talent that make them serious contenders for the top step of the podium.
Honda arrives with Spanish rider Tosha Schareina, runner-up in the last Dakar Rally and currently third in the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC). At 29 years old, he has victories in events like Ruta 40 in Argentina and Rally-Raid Portugal under his belt. Tosha will ride the factory-spec CRF 450 Rally, backed by HRC, Honda’s elite racing division, returning to the Sertões for the first time since 2014.
Also racing for Honda is Romain Dumontier, the 2023 Rally2 World Champion and development/test rider. While Romain has competed in Brazil before—in Enduro—he returned earlier this year to contest the full Brazilian Rally Raid Championship, using it to adapt to the terrain and style he’ll face in the Sertões. Still recovering from an injury, the Frenchman is cautious when talking about expectations.
The red-and-blue team also includes Argentine rider Martin Duplessis, runner-up in the 30th anniversary edition of the Sertões (2022), and Brazilian newcomer Bruno Crivilin, a 12-time national Enduro champion. Crivilin, who also has wins in Regularity rallies where navigation is key, is already showing serious promise in his first full season of rally.
The reigning champion, Yamaha, also comes in strong—but will be missing its defending winner. Adrien Metge is out with an injury. Stepping up to lead the blue squad is Gabriel “Tomate” Soares, who is having a breakout year. In his first season with the team, the rider from Minas Gerais has already won two national rounds (Minas Brasil and Jalapão) and currently leads the championship, of which the Sertões is a part. Gabriel Bruning, runner-up in 2023, is another strong contender for the podium.
But the Sertões isn’t just about who wins the overall classification. On two wheels, it’s also a test of endurance, grit, and the sheer will to cross the finish line after nine intense days of speed and dust through the heart of Brazil. It’s a journey Moara Sacilotti knows like no one else. When she sets off in the Prologue this Saturday in Senador Canedo, she will become the first person—man or woman—to start the Sertões for the 25th time, always on a motorcycle. Her legacy includes a victory in the Over category (2022) and a passion that burns brighter with each edition. This year, she’ll race with a Kawasaki KX 450x.
Another highlight will be the Big Trail class, featuring high-displacement adventure bikes now carving out their space in the competition. 2020 overall winner Ricardo Martins, riding for Yamaha, will pilot a Ténéré 700, as will Janaína Souza, a São Paulo native now based in Portugal. BMW enters with two F 900GS Trophy bikes—one ridden by Tiago Fantozzi, the 2003 champion, and the other by Tomaz Santos. Three Ducati Desert X machines will also take on the challenge, ridden by Adriano Galante (with support from Ducati Brazil), Rafael Krukoski, and Daniel Schnetzler. Argentine Crispy Arriegada, a former Enduro World Championship bronze medalist, will ride a KTM 890.
The Sertões warriors are back for 2025—and no group embodies that more than the riders in the Self category. Managed by Instituto Sertões and the Txai team, Self features a unique group of competitors who maintain their own bikes and sleep in tents throughout the rally. Here, the challenge is double: racing for results and surviving the adventure. But camaraderie and unity make the experience unforgettable.
In the quads, championship blood runs deep. Marcelo Medeiros, from Maranhão, will go all-in to become the first six-time winner in the category—he currently shares the five-title record with Carlo Collet. From Ceará, Wescley Dutra is chasing a third crown.
On Wednesday (July 23), Sertões Village officially opened at the Serra Dourada Stadium parking lot. Teams poured in, set up their paddocks, and the energy of race week took over. On Thursday, the public will have free access starting at 9 a.m. Meanwhile, fans can still trade two kilograms of non-perishable food for tickets to the Saturday night Super Prime, at locations like Flamboyant Shopping Mall and GoiâniaTur. All donations go to the Organization of Goiás Volunteers (OVG) to support communities in need.
Tosha Schareina:
"This will be the longest race I’ve done since Dakar this year. I’m excited—it’s my first time in Brazil, and my expectations are really high. I’ve heard amazing things about the rally, and we all know how incredible Sertões is."
Gabriel “Tomate” Soares:
"I’m really excited for what will be my fourth Sertões. It’s been a great year so far—with a new team, I’m feeling very comfortable on my WR450F, and I’m doing well in both the Overall and my category. That definitely gives me extra motivation for Sertões. I really like the terrain—starting in Goiás, which is similar to my home in Minas Gerais—so I believe we have everything we need to deliver a brilliant rally."
Moara Sacilotti:
"The anticipation is huge—it’s my 25th time at Sertões, a very meaningful milestone in this sport. The internal and external pressure is definitely there. I’ve prepared to win the Over category again, but I know my competitors trained hard too. I’m back with Kawasaki and feeling really comfortable on the bike. The rally is expected to be tough—and that makes it all the more exciting."
Marco Antônio Pereira (Self rider and coordinator):
"We’ll have 10 riders this year, four of them rookies. The responsibility is double for me—racing and managing logistics for everyone. I’m happy to see many riders returning from last year, even though it’s a tough experience that pushes physical and mental limits. But the environment we build is really special. The goal is for all of us to finish the rally."
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