Monster Energy Honda Team is confident for the Rally du Maroc in Fez

Michelle Liew

October 4, 2019

The final round Rally du Maroc will commence in Fez this weekend.

The Rally du Maroc will be underway tomorrow and Monster Energy Honda Team riders are all geared up to face the city of Fez. After the administrative and technical verifications today, the team is prepared to take on the final race of the FIM World Cross-Country Rallies World Championship. The riders that will be racing in Moroccan terrain are Ricky Brabec, Kevin Benavides, José Ignacio Cornejo and Joan Barreda.

Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy Honda Team)- What to Expect?

Photo credits: HRC

“We are in Fez and tomorrow the final rally of the season will start before the Dakar. Tomorrow is really the start of the rally with the prologue. Everything is good. We have checked the bikes and gear and passed the verifications. We are sitting relaxing trying to focus on the task ahead,” says Brabec as quoted from Honda Racing Corporation.

Kevin Benavides (Monster Energy Honda Team)- What to Expect?

Photo credits: HRC

“We are ready for the start of this final world championship event. I’m happy to be here. It has been a difficult world championship for me. Since I had a complicated start to the year with a shoulder injury that dragged on for quite a while. We are here and I want to finish in the best way possible. I will try to fight for the second position at the end of the world championship. I will continue to gain pace and motivation ahead of the Dakar. There is a new roadbook system to learn. Tomorrow, the prologue will give us the starting position for the first day, so we will have to work hard to try to get that best starting spot for stage one.”

José Ignacio Cornejo (Monster Energy Honda Team)- What to Expect?

Photo credits: HRC

“We are in Fez, Morocco for the final rally date of 2019. We hope to finish off the season in great shape, with good feelings, since it is the last competition before the Dakar. The idea is to go out and find the good sensations and establish a good race pace, but also to have a good time and have a safe rally. Here in Morocco, the rallies are always complicated, with demanding navigation on varied terrain. We are very motivated to get going.”

Joan Barreda (Monster Energy Honda Team)- What to Expect?

Photo credits: HRC

“We are in the final race of the world championship after a good, positive year, where I have been able to finish all the races. We have done many kilometres and the pace and the sensations are very good right now. The important thing is to be able to complete this week and achieve more kilometres. Also, I have to not make any mistakes or falls which could hinder the final preparations for the Dakar. It will certainly be a demanding week, with long stages… We will try to have a good rally without going over the limits, I hope it turns out to be a good race.”