Dakar pressure mounts as Brabec and Schareina chase the leaders
Dakar Rally in Saudi ArabiaThe Dakar Rally stepped up a gear on stage two as Ricky Brabec and Tosha Schareina pushed hard to keep the overall leaders within striking distance.
Departing Yanbu, the Monster Energy Honda HRC riders headed north on a demanding 504 km route that crossed the rugged Hejaz Mountains along the eastern edge of the Red Sea, before finishing at the AlUla bivouac.
Starting the stage in third position, Brabec quickly capitalised on not being the lead rider, setting the fastest time at the opening checkpoint. As the course opened out across the fast sandy plains of the Medina Province, the American maintained a strong pace all the way to the finish. Although he recorded the fastest stage time outright, time bonuses earned by Daniel Sanders and Edgar Canet ultimately dropped him to third on the day. Finishing 1’46” down, Brabec retains third overall, now 2’18” off the lead, a margin he’ll be eager to reduce on stage three as more bonus time comes into play.
Skyler Howes enjoyed a much-improved day following his crash on stage one. With his Honda CRF450 RALLY back in full working order, the American was able to make the most of his preferred sandy terrain to secure fourth place, just over three minutes off the win. It marked a strong recovery as he moves up to seventh overall.
After spending much of the opening stage riding alone, Tosha Schareina once again delivered a measured and consistent performance. The 2025 Dakar Rally runner-up kept the leading group firmly within reach across the rocky terrain, finishing fifth on the stage. He now sits just over two minutes behind Brabec and remains firmly in contention for a provisional podium position.
Adrien Van Beveren was hoping for a smoother run after completing most of stage one without a front brake, but his day was again compromised following a crash into a tree. Despite the setback, the Frenchman nursed his damaged Honda CRF450 RALLY to the finish in eighth place, nearly nine minutes down. He now faces a 14-minute deficit in the overall standings.
Stage three promises an even tougher challenge, with a massive 736 km loop around AlUla. The region’s spectacular rock formations will provide a stunning backdrop, but with navigation set to be critical, precision will be essential to avoid losing valuable time.
-6-thumb.png)
We’re now at AlUla after a very rocky stage and it was one where we didn’t want to take risks. Adrien crashed just after the refuelling and he lost a bit of time, but he has no injuries so that’s good and he can get back on his bike tomorrow.
Tosha didn’t push as much today. During the first part of the stage he got a splinter from a tree in his arm and it caused a big abscess, so in the refuelling zone the doctor removed it and he was then able to ride the second part a lot smoother to finish in a good position for tomorrow. Skyler lost a bit of time at the beginning but then pushed a lot harder to claim a strong fourth place. He didn’t want to push too much today as it was stony, but Ricky did a strong stage and finished where he planned to be, which was behind Daniel Sanders. Tomorrow’s stage three is a loop from AlUla and this area has a lot of canyons which could make it quite complicated for navigating, so let’s see if that’s what happens then.
We’re now at AlUla after a very rocky stage and it was one where we didn’t want to take risks. Adrien crashed just after the refuelling and he lost a bit of time, but he has no injuries so that’s good and he can get back on his bike tomorrow.
Tosha didn’t push as much today. During the first part of the stage he got a splinter from a tree in his arm and it caused a big abscess, so in the refuelling zone the doctor removed it and he was then able to ride the second part a lot smoother to finish in a good position for tomorrow. Skyler lost a bit of time at the beginning but then pushed a lot harder to claim a strong fourth place. He didn’t want to push too much today as it was stony, but Ricky did a strong stage and finished where he planned to be, which was behind Daniel Sanders. Tomorrow’s stage three is a loop from AlUla and this area has a lot of canyons which could make it quite complicated for navigating, so let’s see if that’s what happens then.
-4-thumb.png)
Day two in the books. It was a long day, full of rocks, but I enjoy the rocks so hopefully we have more days like this. Fortunately, I couldn’t make a push to grab some bonus time, but I did the best I could to keep up with the boys up front. Hopefully tomorrow is a good day for us, we’ll keep consistency and keep pushing forward.
Day two in the books. It was a long day, full of rocks, but I enjoy the rocks so hopefully we have more days like this. Fortunately, I couldn’t make a push to grab some bonus time, but I did the best I could to keep up with the boys up front. Hopefully tomorrow is a good day for us, we’ll keep consistency and keep pushing forward.
-2-thumb.png)
Today started out a little bit slow in the rocks, but once it opened up with the high speeds, I felt really good, at home and happy to bring in a decent stage finish, so really happy with how stage two went and looking forward to stage three.
Today started out a little bit slow in the rocks, but once it opened up with the high speeds, I felt really good, at home and happy to bring in a decent stage finish, so really happy with how stage two went and looking forward to stage three.
-3-thumb.png)
It was not the best day for me, I felt OK at the beginning and I tried to push to get into a good rhythm riding on the stones. Then I had a big crash, it was not from a stone but from a tree and I flew off my bike. Then I tried to manage my broken bike to the finish.
It was not the best day for me, I felt OK at the beginning and I tried to push to get into a good rhythm riding on the stones. Then I had a big crash, it was not from a stone but from a tree and I flew off my bike. Then I tried to manage my broken bike to the finish.
-5-thumb.png)
It was really long, 400 kms of stones with a little bit of dunes at the end. I tried to get into a rhythm because I was in the middle of nowhere, with no one behind and no one in front. I think we did a good stage and we have a good start position for tomorrow.
It was really long, 400 kms of stones with a little bit of dunes at the end. I tried to get into a rhythm because I was in the middle of nowhere, with no one behind and no one in front. I think we did a good stage and we have a good start position for tomorrow.
Rally GP Result - Stage 2
Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | Team | Constructor | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | SANDERS Daniel | AUS | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | 4:13:37 | |
2 | CANET Edgar | 73 | SPA | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | +1:35 |
3 | BRABEC Ricky | 9 | USA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | +1:46 |
4 | HOWES Skyler | 10 | USA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | +3:15 |
5 | SCHAREINA Tosha | 68 | SPA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | +3:34 |
6 | EVAN BRANCH Ross | 16 | BWA | Hero Motorsports Team Rally | Hero | +3:56 |
7 | BENAVIDES Luciano | 1 | ARG | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | +7:11 |
8 | VAN BEVEREN Adrien | 42 | FRA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | +8:58 |
9 | CORNEJO FLORIMO José Ignacio | 11 | CHI | Hero Motorsports Team Rally | Hero | +9:49 |
10 | SVITKO Stefan | 142 | SLO | Slovnaft Rally Team | KTM | +11:55 |
Rally GP Provisional Standings After Stage 2
Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | Team | Constructor | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | SANDERS Daniel | AUS | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | 7:42:24 | |
2 | CANET Edgar | 73 | SPA | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | +0:30 |
3 | BRABEC Ricky | 9 | USA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | +2:18 |
4 | SCHAREINA Tosha | 68 | SPA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | +4:41 |
5 | EVAN BRANCH Ross | 16 | BWA | Hero Motorsports Team Rally | Hero | +7:46 |
6 | BENAVIDES Luciano | 1 | ARG | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | +10:04 |
7 | HOWES Skyler | 10 | USA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | +12:37 |
8 | CORNEJO FLORIMO José Ignacio | 11 | CHI | Hero Motorsports Team Rally | Hero | +13:37 |
9 | VAN BEVEREN Adrien | 42 | FRA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | +14:09 |
10 | SVITKO Stefan | 142 | SLO | Slovnaft Rally Team | KTM | +24:08 |
