The Dakar Rally roared into life in Saudi Arabia as the New Year dawned, with the Monster Energy Honda HRC riders taking on the opening prologue and getting their first true taste of the world’s toughest rally. Over the short but demanding test, it was Ricky Brabec who emerged as Honda’s strongest performer, securing third overall and finishing just five seconds shy of the fastest time set by Edgar Canet.

From the Yanbu start camp, competitors tackled a 41 km liaison before reaching the start of the 22 km timed prologue.  It would be a rapid loop that required absolute focus as high speeds, rock-littered tracks and constantly changing terrain would keep riders on edge as they pushed hard from start to finish.

For two-time Dakar winner Brabec, the importance of a solid opening result was clear.  A strong performance would allow him to choose a favourable starting position for stage one and he delivered with confidence, completing the prologue in just over eleven and a half minutes aboard his Honda CRF450 RALLY.

Last year’s Dakar runner-up and 2024’s undisputed prologue specialist, Tosha Schareina, slotted into sixth in RallyGP, 23 seconds off the lead as he worked to maintain a consistent rhythm across the open landscape. Close behind, Adrien Van Beveren, lining up for his eleventh Dakar Rally, crossed the line just one second further back after surrendering a little time in the closing kilometres.  Skyler Howes rounded out Honda’s efforts with an encouraging eighth place, clearly at home on the longer prologue and finishing only 32 seconds from the top of the timesheets.

Attention now turns to stage one, where riders will depart Yanbu on a demanding loop back to the bivouac.  A total distance of 518 km awaits, including 305 km of competitive timed action across punishing rocky terrain.  With punctures a constant threat, precision and patience will be vital, while a hint of dunes and sandy sections will offer a brief taste of what lies ahead in the vast Saudi desert.

Ruben Faria – General Manager:

“We tried to push as much as could during today’s Dakar Rally prologue to secure strong starting positions for tomorrow’s stage one. While the results weren’t exactly what we hoped for, it’s just the beginning of this long rally.
Our standout rider was Ricky, who delivered a strong performance to finish third and this puts him in a favourable position to choose his start spot for tomorrow. Tosha finished sixth in the RallyGP class. He was just two seconds off the lead at the halfway point but struggled in the latter part of the prologue and lost some time. Tomorrow could be tricky for him, as many of today’s top riders may choose to start further back, but he’ll push as hard as he can.
Adrien finished seventh. He went slightly off course in one section, costing him a bit of time, while Skyler, who didn’t have the smoothest prologue, ended up eighth.
Now, we start to focus on stage one. Our riders will aim to maximise their performance and improve their positions as the rally gets underway.”

Ricky Brabec (9): 

“The prologue was great, I made it to the finish in a good position so we’re looking good for tomorrow. I’m happy to get some speed under our belt and shake the monkey off our back. Overall it’s a good start, but tomorrow starts the real Dakar Rally.”