- The traditional FIM Awards ceremony took place this Saturday, December 6, at the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, Switzerland. The Fédération internationale de motocyclisme (FIM) honored the winners of more than 50 titles in the presence of its President, Jorge Viegas.
- Winner of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) was one of the stars of the event. The prize ceremony gave a glamorous finale to a 2025 season in which the Australian pushed the sport to unprecedented levels.
The fourth W2RC season was one for the record books, and not just because of the results of the new champion (see Stats below). With 273 FIM riders representing 50 nationalities, the World Rally-Raid Championship reached new heights in 2025. Further proof of the interest shown in the W2RC, both from organizers and competitors. The fans will once again see their heroes in five events in 2026 (calendar here).
RECOGNITION FROM HIS PEERS
Always a prestigious and special event, the FIM Awards ceremony had a unique flavor this year: for the first time in its 121-year history, the Federation held its event in Switzerland, where it is headquartered. It provided the perfect opportunity to offer the champions the privilege of attending the inauguration of the new Racing Motorcycle Museum (RMM), which tells the rich motorcycle racing history of which they are now part.
The celebrations then moved to the SwissTech Convention Center in Lausanne, where 900 guests cheered the winners of 50 FIM world titles. As being the new rally-raid king, Daniel Sanders was one of the stars of the night. “Chucky” walked the red carpet alongside champions such as Marc Marquez (MotoGP™), Toprak Razgatlioglu (Superbike), Josep Garcia (EnduroGP), Romain Febvre (MXGP), Bartosz Zmarzlik (SpeedwayGP), and Toni Bou (TrialGP). Finally, FIM President Jorge Viegas gave the Australian the medal recognizing his monumental season.
STATS: A YEAR TO REMEMBER
Daniel Sanders couldn’t have dreamed of a better season, winning both rounds in the Middle East, the Dakar and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. He then dominated the inaugural South African Safari Rally, becoming the first rider to achieve three consecutive W2RC victories. Thanks to a fourth success in a row at the bp Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, "Chucky" clinched the FIM World Rally Championship title before the final round – another unprecedented feat! Tosha Schareina and Monster Energy Honda HRC took their revenge by winning the Rallye du Maroc, but Red Bull KTM Factory Racing celebrated its first constructors' title.
The Australian finished the season as the new RallyGP stage wins record holder (24), ahead of Schareina (19) and Adrien Van Beveren (17). By dominating 16 of the 37 specials contested in 2025, the new World Champion also broke the previous record of 10 wins in a single season, held by Luciano Benavides (2023) and Schareina (2024). He also set a new benchmark for points scored (133), like Red Bull KTM Factory Racing in the constructors’ championship (202). Discover all the 2025 W2RC key numbers here.
QUOTES:
Jorge Viegas, FIM President: “To be able to celebrate this occasion in the FIM’s home country for the very first time and to have every 2025 FIM World Champions in attendance has cemented this edition of the FIM Awards to be one of the best we have enjoyed in the fifteen year history of this unique event. This very special evening has only been possible thanks to the support of the Canton of Vaud, the City of Lausanne and Swiss Moto, plus all the other stakeholders who have been able to join us to celebrate our collective achievements on and off the track this year. Each and every champion who has taken to the stage has earned and been totally worthy of the gold medal they have collected from our legends and special guests who were on hand to present these awards. The evening was brought to the perfect close by being able to present the new FIM Sporting Trophy to Marc Marquez who produced one of the greatest sporting comebacks ever this season. Finally on behalf of the FIM I would like to thank everyone who has been part of our successes during 2025, I truly hope together we can make 2026 even better.”
David Castera, W2RC Promotor: “The most complete rider claimed victory. Daniel Sanders wasn’t just fast on all the terrains, he was also the best in terms of strategy, winning key stages for the overall standings in each race. Rally-raid isn’t just about speed; you also have to know how to navigate. And Daniel was able to win several stages while opening the road, few riders can do that. The impressive records achieved in 2025 illustrate his dominance and consistency. This title is well deserved, as for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, which has had a near-perfect year for its W2RC return. The World Championship is growing up and the level of competition has passed a new step. The 2026 season promises to be thrilling, with the usual rounds serving as pillars of the calendar, and the return to Argentina, which I know is highly anticipated by the riders and the local public.”
Daniel Sanders, 2025 FIM W2RC RallyGP World Champion: "It was an incredible season. We had five great races and stayed consistent throughout the whole year, riding fast and navigating well. It paid off, allowing us to wrap up the World Championship one round early. We worked really hard last year, and since I’ve been part of the rally-raid team for the last five years. It’s been fantastic to help develop a bike as good as this one, and the crew deserved the title. It’s a team effort, so earning both the riders’ and constructors’ titles means a lot. We’re now ready to go again next year! Dakar is coming up soon, so we need to perform well and stay consistent, which is the hardest part of rally-raid. We’ve celebrated our success, it’s time to put the past behind us and get back to work in order to continue like this."
Andreas Hölzl, Rally Team Manager for Red Bull KTM Factory Racing, 2025 FIM W2RC Constructors’ World Champion : "We came back in 2025, and from day one things went really well. The guys did a great job and the riders pushed really hard. They told us what we needed to do to build a perfect, comfortable bike for them, and that’s exactly what we did! Hard work paid off. We’re super proud of that, super happy for the brand. There’s a whole team, a constructor full of enthusiasm, behind this success and these race wins. It all comes down to what we put in. The season started perfectly in Dakar, with Daniel leading from day one until the end. He did the same in the W2RC championship. Luciano is a great guy and he did an awesome job, earning some important points. There’s a lot of work behind all this. It’s not just the team doing the racing part; there’s also the team inside the company, working full gas every day. We’re super happy and proud about our season."
ALL THE 2025 FIM W2RC WINNERS:
- RallyGP World Championship: Daniel Sanders (AUS - Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
- Constructors’ World Championship: Red Bull KTM Factory Racing
- Rally2 World Cup: Edgar Canet (ESP - Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
- Rally2 Teams’ World Cup: BAS World KTM Team
- Rally3 World Cup: Thomas Zoldos (FRA - Aub’Moto)
- Quad World Cup: Gaëtan Martinez (FRA - CFMOTO Thunder Racing)
- Women’s Trophy: Sandra Gómez Cantero (ESP - Fantic Racing Rally
- Team) Rally2 Junior’s Trophy: Edgar Canet (ESP - Red Bull KTM Factory Racing)
- Veteran’s Trophy: David Pabiska (CZE - SP Moto Bohemia Racing Team)
- Rally3 Junior’s Trophy: Noa Sainct (FRA - Nomade Racing)
