Team HRC’s weapon of choice for the Dakar Rally is the all-conquering CRF450 RALLY. It started in 2013 when the participation of Team HRC with the prototype based on commercial competition enduro model generated valuable information on key areas such as engine power, aerodynamic performance, durability and maintenance requirements.

These learnings were used as a basis for the design of new CRF450 RALLY. For 2015, the Rally bike was updated with some new technological additions, maintaining the PGM-FI fuel injection system which has proven effective even under the most severe environmental conditions as experienced on the Dakar. After coming tantalisingly close on a number of occasions, constant evolution meant that the 2020 iteration of the machine brought a stunning victory with Ricky Brabec.

This was followed swiftly by a repeat victory in 2021 this time at the hands of Kevin Benavides, with Brabec finishing second, followed by victories at events including the Andalucia and Morocco Rallies. Bringing the same level of performance into the 2022 event, Honda riders took five stage victories and a further eight stage podiums and, winning the final stage of the event, Pablo Quintanilla finished runner-up by the smallest of Dakar margins.

2023 saw Adrien Van Beveren take victory at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and Tosha Schareina mastering the Desafio Ruta 40.