“Dream. Dare. Live it.” is the slogan of the world-renowned Dakar Rally, and that’s exactly what the Bennetts-backed Searles brothers did at the 2026 event!
Running under their own Searles2Dakar team, and riding a pair of Bennetts insured Husqvarna FR450 Rally machines, Craig and Carl completed the debut Dakar in a fantastic 72nd and 73rd.
Starting and finishing in Yanbu on the shores of the Red Sea, the 2026 Dakar saw 115 motorcyclists invited to take starters orders for the opening stage on January 2nd, with Herefordshire brothers Craig and Carl Searles among the line-up. Riding their own Searles2Dakar Husqvarna machines, and sponsored by motorcycle insurance specialist Bennetts, the duo took on the demanding 12 stages, covering 8,000km as they covered everything from huge sand dunes, flat-out desert riding, and sleeping under the stars.
Not only was the 2026 Dakar the duo’s first attempt, but it also marked the first pair of British brothers to take on the iconic event. It was a full family affair as well, with their father Andrew driving the support truck! However, the duo were no strangers to rally riding, having competed in the 2025 World Rally Raid Championship at Abu Dhabi as well as the Baja Qatar.
Carl Searles:
“Setting off together on the final stage was incredibly emotional and having the whole crowd cheering us on is something we’ll never forget. Having completed it, it’s safe to say the Dakar genuinely throws everything at. We want to say a massive thank you to Bennetts and everyone who supported us throughout the rally – their backing gave us the motivation to push on when things were tough, and above all, the biggest thanks go to our dad and the entire team. Without them, there’s no way we would have made it to the finish line.”
Chris Newble, Brand, PR and Events Manager at Bennetts:
“It has been an incredible fortnight following Craig and Carl, who, despite having just completed hundreds of kilometres of some of the most challenging riding in the world, still found the time to send us live updates at the end of every stage. What started out as a simple phone call to insure their bikes a few years ago has grown into a fantastic partnership and everyone at Bennetts is genuinely thrilled at their achievements.”
Watch, like and subscribe to our Youtube channel
👍 Like | 💬 Comment | 🔔 Subscribe for more modern classic motorcycle content
* Disclosure: This page contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission (at no cost to you) if you click on the link and make a purchase. Any money made goes straight back into the website and magazine. Your support is appreciated!
Modern Classic Motorcycle News - Kindle Edition
