Honda’s display to break the tie with KTM in the Saudi editions of the Dakar, a three to two for the Japanese now, has been such that the idea of placing three of its riders on the podium was only cut short in the penultimate stage by a mechanical problem on Chilean Nacho Cornejo’s motorcycle. The American Ricky Brabec, 32 years old, the oldest in the enviable lineup of the golden wing factory, lifts his second Touareg following an impeccable test, a script very similar to that of his first alirón in the Arabian premiere in 2020. The triumph It also underlines the decline of the KTM group, which will not have any rider on the podium for the first time since 2000.
This Californian hairstyle with a mullet and airs of cowboy He was the first American to win the Dakar, and remains the only one. A dream that as a child seemed very far away. “When I was in high school I watched the Dakar on TV, but I mightn’t even imagine being here one day. How might you achieve something like that? ”He reflected before heading to his ninth participation. His career has been meteoric since he won the main events on the other side of the pond and aroused the interest of the Japanese. A test in Abu Dhabi was enough to convince them, and the new winding consolidates it as one of the leaders in the world of rally-raid today, a discipline delighted to make its way into the demanding but profitable United States market.
10 victories and three podiums
Since his debut in 2016, Brabec has accumulated 10 stage victories, three final podiums and equals the two crowns of his former teammate Kevin Benavides – defending champion, who has finished fifth as best KTM – since landing in Saudi Arabia. The winner of the 2024 edition, who needed 51h30m08s to travel the 4,931 timed kilometers in two weeks, is the thirteenth motorcycle rider capable of repeating as champion in history. He will be joined on the podium by Ross Branch (Hero) and Adrien Van Beveren (Honda).
“He is a very down-to-earth guy, raised in the California desert, and arriving in Arabia has been very good for him because of the type of terrain and the direction that the race has taken here, for him it is like the garden of his house,” reflects Joan Barreda, his former colleague at Honda until last year. “Ricky is very American movie. He loves to go with the caravan to the desert and spend the day messing around with the buggies and motorcycles, drinking beer with friends and having a great time.” Those who know the American well also highlight his meticulousness, as he works hard physically and thoroughly prepares his mental level to reach 100% and feel strong to face the race.
In the current Dakar of devilish rhythms and tricky navigations, the tactical plan and the arsenal of six leading pilots that Honda brings to the event explain the success of the project. “Strategy plays a very important role. Maybe not until the middle of the race, but from the seventh or eighth stage onwards, and there there is practically no need to even talk regarding it. Likewise, they sit you down and tell you very clearly. The team always wants to ensure victory, no matter what,” emphasizes Barreda, who celebrates the good performance of his teammate Ross Branch, from the Indian brand Hero, in standing up to the Japanese army and climbing to second place.
Brabec’s victory gives Honda its third Touareg since 1989, the eighth since the creation of the rally in 1979. Without the bike having improved much in reliability, its weakest leg since its return to competition in 2013, the strength of talent and its fleet of drivers, with up to six tricks to fight for victory, has allowed it to regain dominance of the category. The best Spaniard at the finish line was Albert Martín (Pedrega), who completed the race more than 12 hours behind the winner.
