Lantania takes on the Dakar 2026 challenge alongside Spain’s 100% electric motorcycle team

• The company sponsoring Team Dakar Galicia, which will compete in the rally with three Arctic Leopard motorcycles
• Rider Fran Gómez Pallas leads the Spanish team competing in the “Mission 1000” category

Madrid, 19 December 2025. Lantania is back for another year of Dakar adventure. The infrastructure, water, and energy group is strengthening its commitment to sustainable innovation by supporting Team Dakar Galicia, which will compete in the 48th edition of the world’s most demanding rally riding 100% electric motorcycles. The riders will compete in the “Mission 1000” category, dedicated to vehicles powered by alternative propulsion systems.

Fran Gómez Pallas leads the Spanish team along with Esther Merino and Miguel Puertas. All three will race on high-performance electric motorcycles supplied by manufacturer Arctic Leopard, specifically three units of its Rally model. Designed for enduro competition, these motorcycles can reach a top speed of 125 km/h and offer a range of up to 215 km.

Dakar 2026 will run from 3 to 17 January in Saudi Arabia, with both the start and finish in Yanbu, on the Red Sea coast, and a total route of nearly 8,000 km. The course will take riders through deserts, dunes, rocky terrain, and mixed tracks, across 13 stages and a prologue. True to its reputation, the rally remains an extreme test of physical endurance, navigation skills, and the ability to adapt to harsh and unpredictable conditions. The “Mission 1000” category follows the same stage calendar, with adjusted timings, assistance, and distances.

Part of the Dakar Future programme, “Mission 1000” brings alternative-energy vehicles into the heart of the rally, including electric, hybrid, and hydrogen-powered technologies. The category is designed to drive innovation and sustainability by allowing manufacturers and teams to push advanced technologies to their limits in real racing conditions, without competing for the overall classification. Riders complete adapted sections that mirror the demands of the Dakar, testing range, reliability, and performance. As a result, the category has become a live testing ground for clean, high-performance mobility. This year’s line-up includes seven electric motorcycles, alongside a truck powered by hydrogen and biodiesel.

Team Dakar Galicia

Team Dakar Galicia was officially presented today in Carballo (A Coruña). Founded and led by Fran Gómez Pallas, the team builds on his extensive Dakar experience, with eight previous appearances across four continents (Europe, Africa, America, and Asia) all on a motorcycle. In his most recent outing, in 2024, Lantania already supported Gómez Pallas in the “Mission 1000” category riding an electric bike. The Galician rider brings more than 20 years of experience in motocross, dirt track, and national and international competition.

“Participating in this edition will be a unique experience. In our previous appearance, we were already pioneers among Spanish teams, leading several stages. This time, we will be the only Spanish team fielding three riders, which gives us greater confidence going into the rally. Preparation has been intense and motivation is high. We want to compete at the highest level and learn from every stage. Our main goal is to get all three bikes to the finish and fight for victory”, said Gómez Pallas.

Riding alongside him will be Esther Merino, a member of a well-known motorsport family and the 2023 FIM Bajas World Cup champion, who will take charge of the second motorcycle. Miguel Puertas, former team manager of the Himoinsa Team and a former pilot with the Patrulla Águila, with 12 previous Dakar appearances on a motorcycle, will ride the third unit. Puertas holds the Dakar Legend title, awarded to the competition’s most consistent and accomplished riders.

Through its support of Team Dakar Galicia, Lantania reinforces its commitment to innovation and sustainability, backing initiatives that help move the energy transition forward and shape a cleaner future.