Team Dakar Galicia, sponsored by Lantania, wins the ‘Mission 1000’ motorcycle category at the 2026 Dakar Rally

Rider Fran Gómez Pallas secured victory in the electric motorcicle category with 231 points at the wordl’s toughest rally  

Madrid, 22 January 2026. Team Dakar Galicia, sponsored by Lantania, has been crowned winner of the ‘Mission 1000’ motorcycle category at the 48th edition of the Dakar Rally. Spanish team captain Fran Gómez Pallas claimed first place after racking up 231 points and an outstanding performance throughout the competition. He was joined on the podium by teammate Esther Merino, who finished third, just one point short of second place, while Miguel Puertas completed the team’s strong showing with a fourth-place finish.

The riders and electric motorcycles of Team Dakar Galicia, three high-performance Arctic Leopard units, successfully completed all stages of the rally, overcoming the demanding technical and navigation challenges posed by the Dakar’s harsh terrain. The event, held from 3 to 17 January in Saudi Arabia, brought together top riders from different disciplines to battle it out along nearly 8,000 kilometres across deserts, dunes, rocky terrain and mixed tracks.

Fran Gómez Pallas highlighted the significance of the victory and what it represents: “This win is the result of the collective effort of the entire team, everyone who has supported us, and every kilometre covered. It confirms that sustainable technologies are ready to take on the most extreme challenges. I’m convinced that the work we’ve done here will help inspire new challenges and open doors for future generations of electric rally riders”.

With both the start and finish in Yanbu, the 48th edition of the Dakar spanned 13 stages and a prologue, maintaining its reputation as one of the most extreme challenges in global motorsport, where physical endurance, navigational precision and adaptability are decisive. The ‘Mission 1000’ category follows the same stage calendar, with adapted timings, assistance and distances.

As part of the Dakar Future programme, ‘Mission 1000’ is the category dedicated to vehicles powered by alternative energy sources. With a focus on promoting innovation and sustainability, it allows manufacturers and teams to test advanced technologies under extreme conditions, without competing for the overall classification. Participants complete adapted sections that replicate the demands of the Dakar, assessing autonomy, reliability and performance, turning this category into a laboratory for clean, high-performance mobility. This year’s edition featured seven electric motorcycles in the category, alongside a hydrogen- and biodiesel-powered truck.Top of Form