Tomás de Gavardo will be switching to a Fantic XEF 450 Rally as a factory rider for Fantic Rally Team after competing in his first two Dakar Rallies on a KTM 450 Rally. He is the first South American to join the team’s works division as they aim to expand their market in the region.
Despite battling a cold, Gavardo managed to finish twenty-fifth in Rally2 at the most recent Dakar Rally in January, with his best performance being twenty-third in Stage #9. Competing for BAS World KTM Racing Team, this was his second Dakar after finishing thirty-third in his class at the 2023 edition.
Prior to his venture into marathon rallies, Gavardo achieved success by winning the FIM Bajas World Cup’s Junior Trophy champion title in 2019. He also made his debut in the World Rally-Raid Championship at the 2022 Andalucía Rally, securing a tenth-place finish in Rally2 to earn his spot in the 2023 Dakar Rally.
Following in the footsteps of his late father Carlo de Gavardo, who finished third in the 2001 Dakar Rally, Tomás began his racing career in enduro at a young age and went on to become a national champion. He started exploring cross-country rallies in 2016, and has also participated in iconic events like the 2022 Baja 1000.
Gavardo’s first race with Fantic will be at the Rallye du Maroc on 6–11 October.
“We are a small Italian company with a huge passion for what we do, and we look forward to expanding our brand’s reach in Chile, South America, and beyond,” said Fantic business development manager Matilde Tomagnini. “Riders like Tomás, who are dedicated and passionate, perfectly embody our vision.”
Fantic, a well-known name in the enduro world, fielded three factory bikes at the 2024 Dakar Rally for enduro champions Jane Daniels, Jeremy Miroir, and Tommaso Montanari. Mioir, a former FIM International Six Days of Enduro winner, achieved the best result among the three with a nineteenth-place finish in Rally2, followed by Daniels in thirty-third and Montanari in seventy-eighth. In April, the manufacturer expanded their rally activities by launching the Fantic Rally Raid and Fantic Rally Xperience programs, providing official support at W2RC rounds and offering a factory ride for the 2026 Dakar Rally in the former, and supporting amateur rallies in the latter.
The 2025 Dakar Rally is scheduled for 3–17 January.
