The 2025 Dakar for the Fantic Factory Rally Team is off to a promising start, with Jeremy Miroir finishing 25th overall at the end of the first special stage: 413 km of fast tracks, sand, rocks, oued crossings, and, above all, highly technical navigation.
Fantic had the honour of opening the action at the world’s most prestigious rally raid event. Yesterday, Tomas de Gavardo, #148 aboard the Fantic XEF 450 Rally, was the very first rider to tackle the 29 km prologue. Behind him, the adrenaline of over 500 two- and four-wheel competitors was palpable. Today, it was Balooshi’s turn, a GP rider, to lead the way with the challenging task of opening the track. To complicate matters, a malfunction in the electronic road book during the first part of the special stage made navigation exceptionally difficult. His position in the ranking (50th) therefore does not reflect the level of Mohammed Balooshi, one of four “satellite riders” supported by the Italian brand in the 2025 Dakar.
As for the three Fantic Factory Rally riders, Frenchman Jeremy Miroir, a navigation specialist, delivered a strong performance, finishing 25th overall and ninth in the Rally 2 class to begin his second Dakar. Tommaso Montanari, returning to competition after the injury he sustained at the Rallye du Maroc, struggled physically but gritted his teeth to finish 29th in his class (48th overall). Spanish star Sandra Gomez, the only woman competing in the 2025 Dakar on a motorcycle, completed the stage in 61st place out of more than 130 riders.
Matilde Tomagnini, Fantic Rally Raid Project Manager:
“This year, the competition has started with a very tough first week. After today’s 400 km, tomorrow the riders will set off on the 48-Hour Chrono: more than 950 km to be covered over two days without assistance, with six different bivouacs along the route. The goal is to have all our riders reach the finish.”
Jeremy Miroir:
“For the first stage, today was really long. The pace was immediately very fast, with the dust reigning supreme. I am happy with the result. Let's say it was a good test ahead of the 48-Hour Chrono.”
Tommaso Montanari:
“Starting the Dakar with such a long stage was not easy. I have been in a lot of pain physically, and intense pain tends to consume your thoughts, making navigation even harder. I gritted my teeth and made it back to the bivouac, although my position doesn’t reflect my potential. However, I chose not to push too hard, as it’s only the first stage.”
Sandra Gomez:
“Dust, dust, and more dust. We had to slow down because visibility was so poor, which allowed the cars to catch up. Many riders got lost and turned back, so much so that we found some coming towards us in the opposite direction. That wasn’t very enjoyable.”
Mohammed Balooshi:
“My stage was compromised by the electronic road book which was blocked for over one hundred kilometers so it was really difficult to advance. I slowed down and waited for other riders to follow, but that meant sitting in the dust and not seeing anything. Not only that, without the road book I didn't even have warnings of the dangers. It was tough. Luckily, it started working again shortly before the first refueling.”
