Honda HRC Battles Through Dakar’s Longest Stage

Monster Energy Honda HRC riders endure the longest stage of the 2026 Dakar Rally as Brabec drops to third overall and the marathon stage approaches.

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Monster Energy Honda HRC riders battled through the toughest test of the 2026 Dakar Rally so far as the event entered its final week with the longest special stage of the race, a demanding 483-kilometre loop from and back to the bivouac at Wadi ad-Dawasir.

The stage combined fast mountain valley tracks, vast dune fields in the Dawasir Valley, and a short rocky section before a high-speed sandy run to the finish. Strong winds and drifting sand added further complexity, making navigation and tyre preservation just as important as outright speed.

Brabec slips to third overall after tactical ride

Ricky Brabec started the stage tenth on the road and used the advantage of following tracks to strong effect, regularly topping timing checkpoints through the first half of the special. At one point, he built a lead of more than two minutes over Daniel Sanders as conditions became increasingly difficult.

However, stage winner Luciano Benavides benefited from time bonuses for opening the route, allowing the Argentine to leapfrog Brabec in the classification. Brabec ultimately finished third on the stage, five minutes behind Benavides, and now sits third overall, 4 minutes and 47 seconds off the lead.

Schareina and Van Beveren push forward

Tosha Schareina continued his recovery drive following an earlier penalty, bringing his Honda home fourth on the stage. Although nearly ten minutes behind the winner, he remains within striking distance of the provisional podium, now 15 minutes behind the overall lead.

Adrien Van Beveren also showed improved pace after recent setup changes to his Honda CRF450 Rally. The Frenchman finished just a couple of minutes behind Schareina despite a small navigational detour, continuing his steady return to confidence and speed.

Howes stays consistent amid harsh conditions

Skyler Howes maintained his consistent run through the rally despite being caught in sandstorm conditions during the stage. He secured another top-six finish and remains fifth overall, with his focus now turning to the upcoming marathon stage and avoiding the tyre problems that caused drama earlier in the event.

Marathon stage looms

Tuesday marks the opening leg of the marathon stage, one of Dakar’s defining challenges. Riders will cover 541 kilometres en route to a remote bivouac north of Bisha, where they will once again camp overnight without team assistance.

With no mechanical support available and tyre management proving critical earlier in the rally, the marathon stage is expected to play a decisive role in the final outcome — even if the distance is shorter than some of the previous days.

As Dakar enters its decisive phase, Monster Energy Honda HRC remains firmly in the fight, with multiple riders still pushing for top positions as the desert continues to test both machine and rider to their limits.