Schareina Takes Consecutive Wins in Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

Tosha Schareina of Monster Energy Honda HRC clinches consecutive stage wins at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, showcasing his skill and endurance across challenging Arabian dunes.

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Monster Energy Honda HRC’s Tosha Schareina sent a resounding message on his debut at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge by securing a stunning stage win – his second consecutive victory in the rally. The 243km special stage, which took riders from Al Ain’s first bivouac across the expansive Liwa region to the finish line at Mezaira’a, proved a true test of skill and endurance amid the Arabian dunes.

A Perfect Start Amid the Dunes

With the riders experiencing the vast, sandy terrain for the first time, the stage quickly evolved into a battleground of strategy and stamina. Schareina, who claimed the prologue win, strategically lined up tenth – a position that ultimately played to his advantage under the scorching heat. Displaying exceptional mastery over the soft sand and towering dunes, he crossed the finish line nearly two minutes ahead of second-placed Ricky Brabec, thus seizing the overall lead with a 2’07” margin.

Ricky Brabec, the 2022 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge runner-up, made a late surge during the stage. Benefiting from key bike adjustments made during last week’s testing on his Honda CRF450 RALLY, Brabec climbed from fifth to a solid second place, showcasing both determination and technical finesse on the unforgiving desert track.

Competitive Battleground

Not all riders had it as smooth as Schareina and Brabec. Adrien Van Beveren, who began the day among the opening riders alongside Rally 2’s Michael Docherty, set a blistering pace with his breakaway. Despite finishing over seven minutes behind the leader, Van Beveren was satisfied with his performance, noting that the unpredictable desert terrain had contributed to the loss of time. “I started second and got into the lead around 45km, then opened up the rest of the stage. Riding with Michael Docherty and keeping up the pace was challenging but rewarding,” he remarked.

Skyler Howes also faced his share of challenges. Finishing eighth overall, Howes admitted that minor mistakes – including missing a dune at the start, which led to wrist pain – cost him precious seconds. Nevertheless, he remains optimistic, determined to fine-tune his Honda’s settings and claw back time in the upcoming stages.

Strategic Insights and Future Outlook

Ruben Faria, General Manager, expressed his satisfaction with the team’s performance so far. “We’ve started this rally with a victory on the prologue and now can add victory on the first stage too with first and second places for Tosha and Ricky. Although Adrien and Skyler faced some setbacks due to the challenging terrain and time bonus limitations, we’re confident that with adjusted starting positions in stage two, they can recover time and continue to push for a podium finish,” Faria explained.

Looking ahead, stage two promises an even more formidable challenge. Set as a 302km loop around Mezaira’a, the riders will enter the iconic Rub’ Al Khali—commonly known as the Empty Quarter. With towering dunes exceeding 250 metres, this stage will test the riders’ physical and mental limits under intense desert heat. Tosha Schareina, who celebrated his stage win with palpable enthusiasm, acknowledged the tougher task ahead. “I thought the terrain would be more hard-packed, but it was all sand and dunes from the start. I pushed hard, especially through the sketchier sections, and now I face the challenge of opening the stage tomorrow,” he said.

Ricky Brabec summed up the team’s spirit, “We got a really good result on stage one. The adjustments made to the bike are paying off, and with four days left, I’m hopeful we can maintain this momentum and finish in a strong position.”

As the rally continues, the combined strength and strategy of the Monster Energy Honda HRC team, along with the individual grit of their riders, promise to make the upcoming stages as thrilling and unpredictable as the first. With the vast Arabian desert as both adversary and ally, every turn of the dunes will be a new chapter in this epic motorsport saga.