00:00Sometimes it's the assistant trucks that need assistance.
00:13Dakar legend Dave Engel spending a ninth edition with navigator Yoss Chotanis.
00:20And one last fixer-upper before the end of this latest Saudi odyssey.
00:25Kai Husink not only fulfilled the goal of his late father to finish the Dakar,
00:33the rookie did it in style by winning his first stage of the world's toughest race on the final day.
00:42Crashes and bad luck contributed to Martin Masik falling short of becoming just the third man to win three straight truck titles.
00:50A big consolation, MM Technology with five trucks in the top ten overall.
00:57We wanted to win again, you know, to get a hat-trick.
01:00That's something what you actually cannot dream about.
01:03And we could do much better, but still before, after everything what we go through, this Dakar, it's awesome.
01:09Ups and downs as well for Mitchell van den Brink.
01:16Leading at the halfway stage before problems surfaced.
01:20A third straight podium finish without claiming top spot.
01:24The same fate as Alish Lopreis.
01:2926 minutes of penalties ultimately cost the Czech driver.
01:33But a big result for Team DeRoy, a 1-2.
01:37But the crown went to Mr. Consistency, the main man.
01:42Stress replaced with ecstasy.
01:45The new truck champion, Vajadotis Jala.
01:48Finally, when I started, my dream was just to come to Dakar.
01:57And now we are here, and we'll take the trophy home.
02:00So, life's crazy man.
02:01An incredible performance from Kai Husink, who will no doubt have caught the Dakar bug and be back next year.
02:18Mitchell and Lopreis pushed, but settled for the 2024 podium positions.
02:23But no Matsik this time in first place.
02:27Instead, it was Jala who rose from underdog to Lithuania's first truck champion.
02:33A long road driven, a reward well worth waiting for.
02:38Take down their first ever T5 truck win at the Dakar in 2026.
