Rieju to Return to Dakar With Rally 307
The Spanish motorcycle maker will compete in the 2027 Dakar Rally using a modified version of its 293cc adventure model.
Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Motorcycles
Spanish manufacturer Rieju will return to the Dakar Rally in 2027 with its Rally 307, a production-based adventure motorcycle powered by a 293cc engine. August Castella will ride the bike, which the company says will be selected at random from its production line and modified with customer-available accessories.
Why it matters
The entry gives Rieju a real-world test of the Rally 307's performance and reliability under the demands of one of motorsport's toughest events. Lessons from the race are expected to inform future production models.
The Rally 307 uses a 293cc engine with a claimed output of 33.5 horsepower. Purpose-built 450cc rally bikes commonly used at the event are substantially larger, and Rieju has not disclosed how its entry will perform against them.
The players
Rieju
Rieju is a Spanish motorcycle manufacturer based in Figueres, Spain, known for its off-road and adventure models.
August Castella
August Castella is the rider who led development of the Rally 307 and will compete on it at the Dakar Rally.
The details
Rieju last competed in the Dakar Rally in 2025 and will return in 2027 with the Rally 307, based on a production adventure model available to the public. Castella led development of the bike, previously tested a prototype in Africa, and recently competed in the Rallye du Maroc as part of the team's Dakar preparations.
Timeline
2025: Rieju last competed in the Dakar Rally.
2027: Rieju returns to the Dakar Rally with the Rally 307.
Roadmap
Rieju's entry departs from the Dakar's purpose-built 450cc rally bikes by racing a production-derived 293cc machine. The effort sits within a broader pattern of manufacturers using the event to validate models intended for public sale.
Results from the Dakar entry are expected to shape how Rieju evaluates the Rally 307's durability for future production models. Owners of the production bike may later see those lessons reflected in updated equipment and designs.
The takeaway
Racing a production-derived bike in the Dakar tests reliability in a way that showroom testing cannot, which is why Rieju is treating the 2027 event as a development exercise. Readers following adventure motorcycles can watch how this model performs against purpose-built machines.
What happens next
Rieju's Rally 307 is expected to contest the 2027 Dakar Rally, with the company aiming to complete as many stages as possible.
Further reading
For more on the bikes shaping this kind of endurance racing, see Motorcycles.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Cycle News.
