9th Jan 2026, Saudi Arabia: – Monster Energy Honda HRC continued to showcase strength and resilience at the Dakar Rally, building momentum from Stage 3, conquering the first marathon challenge with a Stage 4 victory, and following it up with another win on Stage 5.
The push began on Stage 3, as riders tackled the demanding 504 km route from Yanbu to AlUla. Ricky Brabec and Tosha Schareina rode strategically across the rugged Hejaz Mountains and fast sandy plains to keep the overall leaders within reach. Brabec set the fastest time on the road and finished third after bonus time, while Schareina delivered another composed ride to remain firmly in contention. Skyler Howes bounced back strongly with a top-four finish, and Adrien Van Beveren battled through a difficult day to keep his rally alive.In Rally2, Dakar rookies Martim Ventura and Preston Campbell handled the complex terrain and navigation well. Ventura recovered from an early crash to move into provisional second overall, while Campbell impressed once again to climb onto the provisional Rally2 podium.
Attention then turned to the opening leg of the marathon stage. Stage 4 delivered 417 km of rocky plateaus and sandy canyons under strict no-assistance rules, placing durability and precision at a premium. Schareina rose to the challenge, claiming a commanding Stage 4 victory as Brabec and Howes completed a dominant Honda one-two-three. In Rally2, Campbell finished third on the stage to take control of the overall class standings.The second half of the marathon demanded careful management, with riders relying on improvised repairs to reach Hail. Despite the challenges, all Monster Energy Honda HRC riders successfully completed the marathon and rejoined team support.
Stage 5 saw the team immediately return to the attack. Opening the stage once again, Schareina charged to his second stage win of the rally by just six seconds over Brabec, earning valuable bonus time and leaving the pair locked together at the top of the overall standings. Howes continued his upward momentum with a strong third-place finish, while Van Beveren pushed steadily as he works to regain time.With momentum firmly on their side, Monster Energy Honda HRC now looks ahead to the next phase of the Dakar Rally, where longer stages and dune-heavy terrain promise to further test endurance and strategy as the fight for victory intensifies.
For more information on all the race details, please visit: https://rally.hondaracingcorporation.com/report/the-marathon-stage-challenges-monster-energy-honda-hrc/
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