Monster Energy Honda HRC ready for Dakar full send

Monster Vitality Honda HRC – Dakar 2026 Preview

With the Dakar Rally 2026 version kicking off in just some days, the Monster Vitality Honda HRC crew has given us a glimpse into the mindset of their 4 riders, as they put together for probably the most difficult occasion on the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) calendar.

Monster Vitality Honda HRC

The crew enters Dakar and 2026 with momentum, confidence and renewed willpower to struggle for total victory aboard their Honda CRF450 RALLY machines.

Two-time Dakar champion Ricky Brabec leads that cost. With ten Dakar campaigns beneath his belt and a stellar 2025 season, which included a runner-up end on the Abu Dhabi Desert Problem and two third-place podiums on the South African Safari Rally and Rallye du Maroc, Brabec arrives able to confront the punishing Saudi terrain head-on.

Ricky Brabec #9

“I’m tremendous excited to be coming into one other yr with Monster Vitality Honda HRC and going to a different Dakar. It’s been a optimistic yr studying by way of ups and downs since my harm throughout the 2024 Rallye du Maroc. This complete yr has been actually good, mentally I really feel like we struggled in areas, though lately I really feel like now we have fastened just a few of those. The crew is trying good, wholesome, match and quick. So for the 2026 Dakar I feel now we have an excellent programme heading into this one.”

Fellow American Skyler Howes, is concentrating on a return to the Dakar podium after securing third place in 2023. Now again to full health following his 2024 Vegas to Reno harm, which disrupted his World Rally-Raid Championship marketing campaign in 2025, Howes heads into the rally inspired by his fifth-place end on the inaugural South African Safari Rally and is keen to tackle the recent challenges awaiting in Saudi Arabia.

Skyler Howes #10

“My preparation for the Dakar has been going very well. We’re in a a lot better place than we had been as at this yr’s race I used to be coming off a fairly severe leg harm and never a lot time to coach and check with the crew. This season, staying wholesome all through the entire yr and an entire season was a serious plus. I spent lots of time with the crew, testing extra with the bike, getting issues refined and being in a a lot better place for me personally, like being comfy and assured on the bike.

“Off the bike coaching, I’ve been biking a bunch after which within the fitness center loads so my bodily health is in a a lot better place for me too. I’ve completed rally coaching with Ricky and Preston, we spent just a few days out within the desert doing street books and coaching collectively, which is very nice to have the opposite guys right here, because it’s like a mini crew, we will all work collectively and prepare collectively. We had a extremely good shot this yr at Dakar, I used to be within the prime three total for the primary week and nonetheless had an excellent end, however I’m heading into 2026 in a a lot better place, so I’m excited for that trying ahead to getting this race going.”

French sand specialist Adrien Van Beveren returns from accidents sustained at Rally-Raid Portugal and wrist surgical procedure stronger than ever. Following a commanding efficiency at Rallye du Maroc, the place he narrowly missed out on a podium spot and with two consecutive third-place Dakar finishes in his pocket, Van Beveren is laser-focused on lastly claiming the dream victory that has eluded him as he traces up for his eleventh Dakar.

Adrien Van Beveren #42

“This yr went effectively, I had some challenges although, tearing my wrist ligament simply earlier than South Africa. I raced with that harm, then I had the surgical procedure, so I spent my summer time recovering from that. I did lots of biking as a result of I couldn’t journey bikes for nearly two months. Then I rode once more in August and I used to be match, I used to be feeling good and obtained again to a excessive degree fairly quickly. I went to Portugal, was second within the race preventing for the win after which I had an enormous crash. I had damaged ribs, a damaged scapula, a dislocated shoulder and a few neck ache. However I confronted this problem and went again to Andorra for ten days of restoration, was in an hyperbaric chamber, had physio on a regular basis and I raced in Morocco ten days later. I wasn’t but again to full health however I completed fourth. I used to be completely satisfied about this because it was a method to flip the web page and go ahead after the crash. After that I simply went full on with my coaching and centered on that to get again in the perfect form.

“I’m tremendous completely satisfied as I’m feeling good on the bike and powerful bodily. I’ve misplaced some kilos since this summer time and I really feel like I’m in my greatest form ever. It’s good to say that as a result of I’m 34 years previous, I carry expertise with me having competed in 10 Dakar, quickly to be 11 and I really feel it’s an excellent second. I can get pleasure from this expertise however I’m nonetheless bodily sturdy and nonetheless in a position to go actually quick, navigate effectively and intention to achieve the dream. Dakar is my dream, I’ve been absolutely devoted to that all through my life. It’s good to really feel on this place now the place I’m a extremely sturdy contender. I’ll carry all that have with me and attempt to make it occur.”

Spain’s Tosha Schareina delivered a outstanding runner-up end at this yr’s Dakar regardless of driving a lot of the occasion with a collarbone harm, an achievement that underscored his grit and potential.

His victory at Rallye du Maroc secured second within the World Rally-Raid Championship standings and though he’s the least skilled of the Monster Vitality Honda HRC lineup, he’s undeniably a rising risk over the 8,000 km they may all face.

Tosha Schareina #68

“We at the moment are in within the final straight earlier than Dakar, the final little bit of preparation. Truly we’ve spent all yr coaching for this rally as a result of it’s the primary purpose and the primary race of the yr and every race of the World Rally-Raid Championship is to organize for Dakar. We’ve got been in Morocco for coaching and it’s been the final preparation for the bike as effectively. It’s the identical bike that we received the Rallye du Maroc and I feel that win was actually essential for us as a result of it was the final push that we wanted as motivation for Dakar, not only for me however for the mechanics and for all of the crew too.

“Within the lead as much as Dakar I’ve been coaching, slightly little bit of fitness center, biking, a little bit of motocross, as a result of these final weeks earlier than this rally are only for for calm and peace and spending time with the household earlier than spending practically a month away in Saudi Arabia. I feel it’s essential to reach there having rested earlier than the primary race and you must attempt to discover a good stability between coaching and having day off. I’m actually pleased with how now we have ready heading into this Dakar and I feel now we have every little thing to get an excellent outcome on this 2026 version.”

Dakar Rally 2026

The 2026 Dakar Rally kicks off on third January in Yanbu, a coastal metropolis on Saudi Arabia’s western edge the place the Purple Sea meets infinite desert horizons. Riders will sort out a punishing prologue earlier than embarking on 13 gruelling phases that wind by way of towering sand dunes, rocky wadis and huge barren plains.

Two marathon phases will push each man and machine to their absolute limits, with no crew help for riders as they navigate the blistering warmth by day and cooler nights, with solely fundamental gear and meals rations.

This epic loop throughout Saudi Arabia’s various and unforgiving terrain will check endurance, talent and technique at each flip, culminating again in Yanbu the place the rally will shut one other unforgettable chapter within the historical past of the world’s most legendary motorsport journey.

Monster Vitality Honda HRC prepared for Dakar 2026 full ship

Ruben Faria – Honda HRC Normal Supervisor

“The Dakar Rally, an important race of the yr is right here. Monster Vitality Honda HRC is able to begin as we’ve put lots of work into the second a part of the 2025 season. Ricky completed the Rallye du Maroc in a extremely great place, Tosha received it and Adrien, who was getting back from harm, did a extremely good race as day-to-day he obtained higher and higher. Skyler crashed, however he’s already recovered and his coaching has gone effectively forward of the Dakar, so now we have all 4 riders in actually fine condition.

“The 2026 race seems to be good however will once more be actually robust. Within the first week now we have a marathon stage, so the riders received’t have help they usually’ll have to sleep in tents removed from cities. The remaining day is in Riyadh, prefer it was some years in the past. I feel the primary week’s terrain could have extra stones, riverbeds and will likely be technical on the similar time, so the riders might want to take care of their bikes and never crash on these kinds of phases. The second week is extra open desert and once more there will likely be a marathon stage. The riders and crew are prepared, all people is completely satisfied and we need to get this Dakar began on third January. We have to be cautious day-to-day, we can’t push an excessive amount of on the primary stage, however my first purpose is to reach with the 4 riders to the remaining day in an excellent place inside the highest ten, earlier than we will then make a plan for the second week.”