Thierry Sabine

1980s – The Golden Era

• 1981: Hubert Auriol became the first notable BMW motorcycle champion in the Paris-Dakar Rally.
• 1983: BMW dominated with the legendary R 80 G/S, winning the Paris-Dakar Rally. This bike featured the innovative single-sided Paralever swingarm, which improved handling in extreme conditions.
• 1984-1985: BMW secured back-to-back Dakar victories. The GS was now the definitive rally raid motorcycle.

• 1987: The tragic death of rally founder Thierry Sabine in a helicopter crash marked a turning point. Yet, the spirit of the adventure continued strong.
• 1988: The Score Baja 1000 gained international recognition. It showcased the North American style of desert racing with its unique challenges through the Baja California Peninsula.

1990s – Evolution and Global Expansion

• 1987: The tragic death of rally founder Thierry Sabine in a helicopter crash marked a turning point. Yet, the spirit of the adventure continued strong.
• 1988: The Score Baja 1000 gained international recognition. It showcased the North American style of desert racing with its unique challenges through the Baja California Peninsula.

1990s – Evolution and Global Expansion

• 1990: BMW launched the R 100 GS, building on earlier successes with improved capabilities.
• 1994: The Paris-Dakar route changed for the first time. Political instability in some regions forced organizers to adapt. This marked the beginning of the event’s geographic evolution.
• 1997: BMW introduced the F 650 GS, bringing rally raid technology to a lighter, more accessible platform.
• 1999: The first Rally of the Pharaohs took place in Egypt. This event grew the sport beyond the Paris-Dakar.

• 2007: Environmental concerns and security threats led to the first cancellation of the Dakar Rally. This highlighted the challenges facing the sport.
• 2008: Due to security concerns, Dakar Rally left Africa for South America, starting a new chapter.
• 2009: BMW released the game-changing R 1200 GS. It featured a new DOHC engine and sophisticated electronics. The bike was raced to victory by Stéphane Peterhansel with BMW X-Raid.

Recent Years: Growth and Innovation

• 2013: BMW celebrated 30 years since its first Dakar victory with a special GS edition.
• 2014: The Baja Rally became Mexico’s first FIM-sanctioned rally raid event. It brought international standards to the legendary Baja Peninsula.
• 2017: The Silk Way Rally rose in prominence. It traced the historic Silk Road route, expanding rally raid competition into Central Asia and Russia.
• 2018: The Africa Eco Race was established. Its goal was to return to the spirit of African rally raiding, following much of the classic Paris-Dakar route.
• 2019: BMW released the R 1250 GS with ShiftCam technology. It marked a pinnacle of modern adventure motorcycles developed through decades of rally raid experience.
• 2020: The Dakar Rally moved to Saudi Arabia, starting another important chapter for the event.
• 2021: Held once again in Saudi Arabia, Kevin Benavides (Honda) became the first Argentine rider to win the motorcycle category.
• 2023: Rally raid began adopting alternative fuel technologies and electric motorcycles, signaling a sustainable future for the sport.
• 2024: The 45th anniversary of the GS series coincided with a resurgence in rally raid popularity worldwide. Adventure motorcycling reached new mainstream heights.
• 2025: Daniel Sanders won his first Dakar victory, a key win for KTM amid financial challenges.
• 2025: Sandra Gómez, from Cercedilla, Madrid, was the only female rider in the motorcycle category of Dakar 2025. She rode a Fantic XEF 450 Rally (#100). She finished 43rd overall and 33rd in Rally 2 — the best result by a Spanish woman in two decades, excluding Laia Sanz.