Saudi racer Yazid Al-Raji, the winner of the 2025 Dakar Rally, retired from competition on stage four on January 7 due to technical issues that forced him to withdraw at the 234-kilometer mark. This decision ends his hopes of defending his title this year.
The official website stated that Al-Raji, aged 44, has lost all prospects in the overall standings following his withdrawal.
Al-Raji claimed victory in the off-road competition during the 2025 Dakar Rally and is a two-time winner of the World Baccarat Cup organized by the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
In July 2025, reports indicated that the Silk Road rally raid reached Mongolia with a special stage spanning over 200 kilometers through winding turns, dry riverbeds, and rolling steppes between hills.
