Lucas Moraes captured victory in Stage 7 of the 2025 Dakar Rally, while Daniel Sanders continued his dominance in the bikes category with his fifth stage win of the event.

The 410km stage, shortened due to weather conditions, featured fast limestone plateaus transitioning into dunes. Recent rainfall increased sand density, creating deeper tracks that influenced navigation and racing conditions.

Toyota Gazoo Racing's Moraes, starting 27th, masterfully navigated the challenging terrain to claim the car category win. Mattias Ekstrom finished second, 7m41s behind, while American Mitch Guthrie secured third place.

The overall car standings remain incredibly tight, with Toyota drivers Henk Lategan and Yazeed Al Rajhi separated by just 21 seconds. Ekstrom holds third overall, 10m25s off the lead.

In the bikes category, Daniel Sanders continued his exceptional performance, securing his fifth stage win after starting ninth. He outpaced Red Bull KTM teammate Edward Canet by 3m36s. Tosha Schareina finished third and maintains second place overall, though 15 minutes behind Sanders.

Adrien Van Beveren skillfully defended his podium position despite starting second, benefiting from road-opening bonuses. He now sits 26m07s behind Sanders, with American Ricky Brabec in fourth, 33m19s back.

In the Challenger class, American Corbin Leaverton claimed his first stage win since the prologue, finishing 24 seconds ahead of Yasir Seaidan. The husband-wife team of Nicholas Cavigliasso and Valentina Pertegarini maintain their overall lead with a 30-minute advantage.

The SSV category saw Jeremías Gonzalez Ferioli secure his first stage win of the year, while overall leader Brock Heger continues to dominate the classification. Xavier de Soultrait remains second overall, though 1h35m behind Heger, with Francisco Lopez closing the gap in third.

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