2026 Sonora Rally | SS3, Day 3

Photo courtesy of WESTx1000

Day three of the 2026 Sonora Rally saw competitors traverse the longest and most demanding stage of the week, from Caboca to La Salina. Over 265 kilometers of dune, desert and coastal terrain, racers face a brutal test of endurance, navigation and survival. We will continue to share daily updates as the rally unfolds. stay tuned.

Start press release:

The third stage leaves a salty aftertaste

The longest leg of the Sonora Rally, a driver specifically targeting La Salina

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The third stage of the Sonora Rally expands into the heart of the event, propelling racers from Caboca to La Salina through the longest and most demanding day of the week. As competitors made their way to the start, the desert issued a quiet warning – masses of eroded animal bones appeared in their peripheral vision, a chilling reminder that everything here dies, including specialized motorcycles and UTVs. From the first few kilometers, the stage unfolds as a complete cross-section of the Sonoran terrain, combining dunes, open desert, coastal influences and technical navigation into a single, unforgiving test.

The seemingly endless flat terrain also contains surprises. At one point, a vulture takes to the air clutching a snake carcass—a fleeting but stark reminder of the surroundings of the course. As the 265 kilometers ticked by, the roar of the engines carried across the dunes like the sonar of an underwater submarine, making it difficult to determine where another competitor had swooped in from. It’s not a day you can overwhelm – it has to be managed.

On the front, the results reflect this balance. In Pro Moto, Adolf Alonso (2nd) won Stage 3 in 4 hours, 42 minutes and 59 seconds, followed by Ciaran Narain (21st) and Kyle McCoy (1st). In the Auto category, Jorge Cano and Abelardo Ruanova (#202) had a strong showing and continued their steady progress with the fastest time in the UTV category. But the focus of phase three isn’t outright speed, it’s survival.

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The length of the stage inevitably takes its toll. Gary Payne and Phil Ashworth (#201) were forced to stop early due to electrical issues, but the team rolled up their sleeves, made repairs, and planned their return tomorrow. Steven Brink and Kevin Omo (#203) needed some good old-fashioned bushcraft mechanics to fix a damaged front end. For Christophe Suberville (#23), a major mechanical failure deep in the field stopped his day. However, being a rally driver, he pushed the bike across the finish line, all the way to the timing controls to confirm his result.

For others, the challenges are more subtle but just as costly. Mike Johnson (#8) had some rear brake fatigue. Meanwhile, Tim Goss (#11) had an incident on the course when his head collided with the rally playing field, breaking the screen. In the end, his head and computer still worked, and although he rode carefully with the airbag inflated until he could replace the canister, he wasted time.

Navigation remains very clear throughout. Despite a complex set of rally-specific pictographs, competitors largely stick to the track. In this increasingly tense field, the Dakar Dream Race has begun to materialize. Adolfo Alonso (2nd) leads the standings in the third stage, followed by Alexis Raoux (16th) and Ryan Nariño (5th), with Armando Alonso Morales (6th) and Timur Urakov (15th) still far ahead. With $10,000 in Dakar entry support looming, consistency is starting to outpace speed.

As the final few kilometers approach, Sonora is like walking a tightrope as the terrain opens up towards the coast. As Sonora’s intrepid riders and riders aim for the finish line, they are greeted by a giant tailbone courtesy of a long-dead whale—a fitting landmark for this all-demanding stage.

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As the sun sets over Santa Clara Bay, the longest day of the 2026 Sonora Rally comes to an end. Top-notch steaks, pork, cooked vegetables and authentic Rally Blonde beer ensure a delicious evening for all at Sonora Tribe, while an evening bonfire adds flavor to the riders’ meetings. The field has been stretched and tested, but not broken yet. Tomorrow will start early, with temperatures expected to hit the 80s by 8:00 AM, and with the heat there will be less room for error.

For the latest updates, news and race coverage throughout the rally, follow Rally Sonora on Instagram, YouTube and Facebook. Commentary and match coverage will also be shared via the Chasing Waypoints podcast, which can be viewed on YouTube.

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