The Monster Energy Honda HRC Team is ready to ring in the new year at the 2026 Dakar Rally with two Top Americans. Two-time Dakar champ Ricky Brabec and his wingman Skyler Howes. While this isn’t his first rodeo — Brabec has 10 Dakar campaigns under his belt — the fire is still there for the former winner and the ultimate goal for challenger Howes.
“I’m super excited to be entering another year with Monster Energy Honda HRC and going to another Dakar,” notes Brabec. Following a stellar 2025 season, which included a runner-up finish at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and two third-place podiums at the South African Safari Rally and Rallye du Maroc, Brabec is ready to confront the punishing Saudi terrain head-on. “It’s been a positive year learning through ups and downs since my injury during the 2024 Rallye du Maroc. This whole year has been really good, mentally I feel like we struggled in areas, although recently I feel like we have fixed a few of these. The team is looking good, healthy, fit and fast!”
Fellow American Skyler Howes is targeting a return to the Dakar podium after securing third place in 2023. Now back to full fitness following his 2024 Vegas to Reno injury, which disrupted his World Rally-Raid Championship campaign last year, Howes heads into the Dakar Rally encouraged by his fifth-place finish at the inaugural South African Safari Rally and is eager to take on the fresh challenges awaiting in Saudi Arabia.
“We’re in a much better place than we were as at this year’s race I was coming off a pretty serious leg injury and not much time to train and test with the team,” adds Howes. “This season, staying healthy throughout the whole year and a complete season was a major plus. I spent a lot of time with the team, testing more with the bike, getting things refined. I’ve done rally training with Ricky and Preston, we spent a few days out in the desert doing road books and training together, which is really nice to have the other guys here, as it’s like a mini team, we can all work together and train together.”
