- Ricky Brabec eager for repeat of 2020 victory
- Skyler Howes joins factory HRC squad
With the 46th edition of the Dakar Rally set to kick off Friday in Saudi Arabia, the reigning FIM Manufacturers World Champion Monster Energy Honda squad fields a strong lineup of six riders, including two—Ricky Brabec and Skyler Howes—who hail from the United States.
Entering the legendary event with Honda for the ninth time, Brabec is still the only American to win the Dakar Rally’s motorcycle class, which he did in 2020. “I’m looking forward to this edition of the Dakar,” said Brabec, who is from Oak Hills, in California’s Mojave Desert. “We’ll be going through rocks and riding a bit more in the open desert. That’s good, as I feel like it’s my strong point on the motorcycle. It’s going to be a long 12 days, with many new things out there, with the 48 hour chrono stage, fresh locations and the unknown factor of the weather, as things like this all play a factor. I’m really looking forward to getting to the finish of this Dakar as this is my ninth one, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed and keeping my hopes high for a good outcome.”
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Ricky Brabec |
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Having finished on the podium at last year’s Dakar Rally, Howes joined Brabec on HRC’s factory rally squad last September. “I’m pretty excited for the 2024 Dakar,” said Howes, who resides in St. George, Utah. “The route looks really fun, with some new challenges. Looking at the differences in terrain, with more broken rocks and stones, it looks like this year it’ll be very physically demanding, which is good for me. I prefer to have a rally like this, as it makes things more challenging with the navigation, plus this makes for a good rally. I’m feeling focused and confident, so I’m excited to see what this Dakar can bring us with the new motorcycle.”
Racing alongside Brabec and Howes on the Monster Energy Honda squad are Chilean riders Pablo Quintanilla and José Ignacio “Nacho” Cornejo, along with Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren and Spaniard Tosha Schareina. All are armed with the all-new Honda CRF450 RALLY machine. Also of note for American fans is 2019 AMA Hare & Hound National Champion Jacob Argubright, who is racing a Honda for the Duust Rally Team after finishing 22nd as a privateer in his Dakar Rally debut last year.
Honda is no stranger to winning the world’s toughest rally, its first victory coming in 1982 at the hands of Frenchman Cyril Neveu, who won…
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