Monster Energy Honda HRC’s five man ‘elite’ Rally-Raid team
Words and images courtesy Honda HRC
As the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship gears up for the gruelling Dakar Rally opening on January 3-17 in Saudia Arabia, here’s a closer look at the Monster Energy Honda HRC team for 2025….
- 2024 Dakar Rally winner Ricky Brabec
- Tosha Schareina
- Adrien Van Beveren
- Skyler Howes
- Pablo Quintanilla.
Pablo Quintanilla
Pablo Quintanilla (Viña del Mar, Chile, born December 10, 1986) is one of the most experienced Monster Energy Honda Team riders.
Quintanilla started to participate in motocross championships together with his brothers at the end of the 1990s, especially in 2001. When he won the Latino MX1 in Guatemala, where he was crowned Latin American 85 c.c. and Chilean 125 c.c. champion at only 15 years of age!
Quintanilla, 34, arrives with a fine track record in his Cross-Country Rallies racing career, which began with Honda back in 2013.
He went on to claim numerous triumphs, the most outstanding of which include two FIM World Championship titles in 2016 and 2017, runner-up spot in the 2020 and 2022 Dakar Rally and third place in 2016.
Pablo Quintanilla put in a solid performance at the Dakar 2023 and finished fourth.
The debut of the new bike in Morocco, only confirmed his good feeling for the big race of the year!
Ricky Brabec
Ricky Brabec’s life took a radical turn when desert races became popular in the United States.
His interest in bike racing, or more specifically desert racing, grew quickly and his incredible talent led to a fast improvement in riding skills too!
It has been an intense career so far for youngster Ricky Brabec, signed up for his first Dakar Rally at just 24 years of age.
The American, does however, have a lengthy list of titles to back him up…the youth from the US had his best season to date in 2014, when he achieved the three most prestigious titles in desert racing; the Hare & Hound, Best in the Desert and Score and collecting the Baja 1000, Baja 500 and the Baja 250!
Such an impressive honours list didn’t go unnoticed to Team HRC who scouted the youth, before inviting him to take part in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in early 2015.
His first international participation, where he was the top Junior and fifth overall. After an injury, he returned to the Hare & Hound, winning the last race!
In the Dakar Rally, the big adventure, makes a very good progression from its first rally showing his great potential in South America to the best of results, winning the 2020 edition and making history for the American motorsport: the first American to win the Dakar Rally.
In 2021 he was again in the podium, finishing second after winning four stages.
The Monster Energy Honda rider was forced to withdraw from the 2023 Dakar Rally after a crash, meaning the rider’s motivation to do well in this year’s Dakar Rally will be high.
Winning his second Dakar not only cements Ricky Brabec as one of the biggest names in rally-raid history, the first American in history to win two Dakars. He was also the first American to win two Dakars (2020-2024).
Skyler Howes
Third place in Saudi Arabia 2023, Skyler became the 5th American to ever finish on the overall podium of the Dakar Rally.
Since his first success in 2008, when he was crowned USRA 125 Desert Champion, Howes has collected a total of 54 race wins.
Professional since 2012, the 31 year old rider follows a long tradition of racing, a passion that has been passed down for many generations.
Born in Riverside, California, he lives and keeps an intense practice in Southern Utah.
Besides his commitment for rally raid, when he is not on the trails he loves to do mountain biking, rock climbing, snowboarding, jet skiing, or flying his hot air Balloon.
Adrien Van Beveren
Born on February 4, 1991 in Hazebrouck, France, Adrien Van Beveren had a successful motocross career before joining the raid rally racing.
A specialist in sand, he won the mythical Touquet Enduro three times in a row – at that time he became known as the ‘Little Prince’.
With 1.87 meters tall and weighing 86 kg, Adrien has a huge passion for motorsports.
So when he’s not riding the Honda 450 CRF RALLY, he likes to ride a wave runner, rally car, track bike or buggy.
To help his physical preparation he is also a mountain bike fan.
In each race, Adrien is for sure one of the contenders for the overall victory. He is part of the world’s rallying elite and is on the verge of reaching the summit of his sport.
It all started back home, where the French rider is a star in his region of Hauts-de-France, where he conquered his three victories in the Touquet Enduro. In the Dakar, he disputed the leadership in several editions, finishing fourth in 2017 and 2022.
After his last Dakar where he finished fifth, the Frenchman is keen to climb up the standings after a great year that saw him win the title in Abu Dhabi.
Tosha Schareina
A 29-year-old individual hailing from Valencia, Spain, entered the realm of motorcycle racing under the influence of his uncle.
Initially involved in Motocross, he subsequently transitioned to enduro and is presently actively participating in rally competitions.
Tosha consistently expressed his aspiration to participate in rallies and compete against the top contenders in the Dakar.
In 2020, he made his foray into rally events, delivering impressive performances that culminated in a victory at the Andalusia Rally, securing him a direct entry to the Dakar.
Making his Dakar debut on a motorcycle in 2021, Tosha showcased his prowess with a commendable 13th place finish, establishing himself as the second-best rookie!
In 2023, during his second Dakar appearance, he maintained his competitive edge, securing a 13th place finish.
Subsequently, he opted for a Honda bike, achieving a noteworthy second place at the Sonora Rally in Mexico, and triumphing in both the Baja Aragon and Desafio Ruta 40.
However, the most remarkable achievements are anticipated in the future.
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