The Baja Rally is a navigation-based rally raid event—like the Dakar Rally—which will be held in the Mexican state of Baja California from September 27 to October 3, 2026. I'm sure you know this, given you already clicked the link. But this year, the rally organizers are putting up a big cash prize for the racer who finishes atop the podium in the Rally Pro category.
A cash purse of $15,000 USD (said to increase to a maximum of $30,000) will be shared among the top racers at this year’s event, with $10,000 reserved for the first-place finisher in the Rally Pro class.
Additionally, the top finishing amateur racer—those competing in either Rally 1, Rookie, Senior or the Malle Moto category—have the chance to win a ChampADV-built 450 Rally Trophy Bike based on the wildly successful Kove 450 Rally. Hell to the yeah.
According to a Baja Rally press release, “$1,000 from each Rally Pro entry fee is "staked" into the cash purse with a guaranteed minimum of $10,000 USD reserved for the top pro finisher, while 2nd and 3rd placing racers' proportion of the purse increases nominally when the field of Rally Pro entrants increases past 10.”
The press release also shared details on the Baja Rally Trophy Bike, which will be awarded to top amateur racer, stating that “a consortium of collaborators has pledged a purpose-build Kove Rally 450 motorcycle as the winner's trophy for the overall top amateur finisher from any "non-professional" category.” They also noted that the bike can be “easily converted to and from a travel adventure bike complete with protection hard parts and soft-luggage.”
In the same press release, Baja Rally General Director, Mauricio Parra, explained why this custom-built rally bike is so significant - “this trophy has two aspects: the material value which is measurable and then you have the luster of the honor of it. Both aspects converge into a single showpiece, a timeless symbol of triumph that the winner will cherish for their lifetime.”
The Baja Rally is the longest running rally raid motorsports competition in North America. Now in its 14th year, the Baja Rally has expanded for 2026 to include rally stages that travel south into Guerrero Negro, a town in the state of Baja California Sur (BCS). For 2026, the rally will be headquartered at the Hotel Mision Santa Maria in San Quintin, then head south to the desert oasis of Cataviña where the first “marathon” stage will be held. Racers will then travel further south to Guerrero Negro before returning to San Quintin on October 3. In total, the Baja Rally will encompass six total stages - to include two marathon stages and one loop stage - and will be travel between three different bivouac locations in Baja California and Baja California Sur.
Since the inaugural Baja Rally in September 2013, over 15,000 km of off-road routes have been safely and responsibly raced by more than 432 competitors over the course of 66 stages during a total of 59 days. The 2026 edition hopes to draw more attention to the sport of rally raid, while also offering both professional and amateur racers a chance to go home with a sizable cash prize or a custom-built rally bike.
Entry to the 2026 Six Day Baja Rally opens on January 1, 2026.
