American driver Ricky Brabec (Honda) became two-time champion of the Dakar motorcycle rally this Friday. After two weeks of taming the Saudi desert, the Californian finally defeated the Botswanan Ross Branch (Hero), who finished second. Brabec, who already won the first rally in Saudi Arabia in 2020, won the overall standings with more than ten minutes ahead of the Hero driver.
The podium in the general motorcycle classification was completed by Frenchman Adrien van Beveren (Honda). The best Spaniard was Albert Martín, from the Pedregà Team, who finished 35th.
For the first time in 24 years, KTM has failed to place any of its motorcycles on the podium. Thus, Brabec returns to Honda the title that the Austrian firm took in the previous edition thanks to Kevin Benavides. He does so by revalidating the title four years after a 2020 in which, coincidentally, the same Carlos Sainz who this year has been crowned again with the car championship also won.
In the last stage, Brabec knew how to take advantage of the lead of 10 minutes and 22 seconds with which he started. During the 175 km route around Yanbu, Brabec performed a perfect race, without slowing down, to win the title of this 46th edition.
Finally, the American driver – as well as his Honda teammates – has completed a Dakar at a very high level and with great solidity. With the exception of the prologue, he has been among the top seven in all stages and leading the way on decisive days.
At 32 years old, the son of racing parents, Brabec competed successfully for many years in BMX before moving to off-road. In this discipline he managed to achieve victories in some of the most prestigious events in the United States such as the Baja 500, the Baja 1000 and Las Vegas to Reno. Similarly, he also claimed the top three desert racing crowns: AMA Hare
Brabec’s high level caught the attention of HRC, which invited him to participate in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 2015. After reaching an impressive fifth position, he would move on to rally-raid where he was signed as an official Honda driver for the Dakar 2016 edition. in which he placed ninth.
In 2017 Brabec achieved his first stage victory. However, he would have to wait until 2020, after the frustration of three successive retirements, to become the first American to win the Dakar. In addition to entering the history books of motor sport, he offered Honda its first motorcycle victory in more than 30 years. In 2024, the pilot has revalidated his good piloting and has lifted his second Tuareg statuette.
