The push north from Freeport to Caboca on day two of the 2026 Sonora Rally will bring a brutal combination of speed, navigation and sweltering desert heat. What starts out as fast ranch roads quickly turns into a test of precision over dunes, dust, and mechanical wear that changes the standings in multiple classes. We’ll bring you daily updates as the competition digs deeper into Sonora. stay tuned.
Start press release:
The fangs sink in
2026 Sonora Rally SS1 Day 2
Day Two of 2026 Sonora Rally Heads to Caboca
Day two of the 2026 Sonora Rally got intense, both literally and figuratively. Leaving the seaside of Puerto Libertad, with the starting gun pointed forward and upward, competitors followed the northern route inland toward the heart of Mexico and into a sweltering 97-degree furnace.
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The first half of the 252km stage was almost enjoyable. Competitors raced through 100 kilometers of near-empty, fast-inclined ranch roads lined with lush cacti — a lesson Josiah Skagen (10th) learned the hard way when he had a thorny plant implanted in his arm. But early speed is a trap. The fast track quickly gave way to tricky navigational requirements, including a patch of treacherous camel grass and a steep and treacherous stretch of sand dunes.
Large expanses of desert sand can obscure all visible surroundings. The roar of the engine dispersed the relentless buzz of flies in the air as the vehicle hurtled toward the finish line. But as the tires cut deeper into the sand, the Sonora’s fangs began to sink into its competitors.
2026 Sonora Rally SS1 Day 2
Dust becomes a serious hazard. Rally driver Alan Mason (#12) found his strong early pace evaporated in the blind corner. “I connected with Kyle McCoy and got behind him a little too close and got in his dust and couldn’t see the corner,” Mason explained. “That was pretty much the end of my game.” Mason successfully completed the stage but left with an injured shoulder.
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Speed zones also spoil a fair number of riders hoping to get clean. Ciaran Naran (No. 21) saw his blistering fitness time curtailed by a massive 20-minute penalty, allowing Mike Johnson (No. 8) to take the official victory in Moto 2.
On four wheels, mechanical wear and tear is equally brutal. The crew of the two-wheel drive Dakar Class truck (#207) spent the day battling overheating issues before it was eventually towed back to the campsite. Larry Trim and Mickey Pertol (#208) registered mechanical DNFs. Meanwhile, moto rider Ladislao Hernandez Aresti (#31) kept experiencing battery issues in the dunes, but in true rally spirit he refused to arrive in Caboca on anything but his own machine.
2026 Sonora Rally SS1 Day 2
For privateer fleets vying for Dakar entry prizes, stage two requires absolute precision. In the UTV Stock class, Jorge Cano and Abelardo Ruanova (#202) put in a perfect performance to win the class with a time of 3:32:08 and a ticket to the SSV Dakar worth $32,000. “We already know we’re the only team chasing the ticket… so we have to win it,” Cano stressed at the end of the game. “We had zero mistakes today and it was a smooth ride all day.”
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In the Moto Dakar Dream category, Adolf Alonso (2nd) rounded out the top five and took control of the championship, followed by Ryan Nariño (5th), who gave up precious time and ran “an extra six kilometers” trying to find a hidden waypoint.
Kaboka is famous for its beef and pork, and tonight the campsite hosts a sumptuous welcome dinner – a necessary intermission for the weary paddocks. They need calories. On the third day, the grid will tear 265 kilometers northwest toward La Salina, flirting with the coastline while the challenge intensifies.
For updates, news and race coverage throughout the rally, follow Rally Sonora Instagram, Youtubeand Facebook. Commentary and match coverage will also be shared via the Chasing Waypoints podcast, which can be found at Youtube, Instagramand Facebook.
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