Skyler Howes ramps up the pressure in the general standings after stage three
Dakar Rally in Saudi ArabiaThe Monster Energy Honda HRC American duo of Ricky Brabec and Skyler Howes remained focused throughout today’s Dakar stage as they overcame the punishing rocky terrain and complex navigation on stage three to put themselves on the day’s podium as they brought the overall time deficit down to the lead of the rally.
Today’s special stage on the Dakar was reduced in distance from 496km to 327km as heavy rainfall had affected the latter part of the original distance as the rally headed further north towards Al Henakiyah in Saudi Arabia.
Ricky Brabec put the disappointment of his 48 Hour Chrono stage behind him as he looked to regain some of the time he lost yesterday. He mastered the slower, more technical terrain amongst the volcanic landscapes early on and was back on the pace all day as he rode his Honda CRF450 RALLY to second position, just over four minutes behind stage winner Lorenzo Santolino. The double Dakar champion also clawed back a massive six minutes to current leader Daniel Sanders putting Brabec just 9’15” off of the lead of the rally.
With the team heading out of Bisha at dawn this morning, Skyler Howes was the first Monster Energy Honda HRC rider out of the blocks today and although he was one of the lead out riders, which can be a tricky task as there are no tracks to follow, the 32-year-old American excelled on the second part of the stage and with his 2’48” in bonuses as he finished just behind Brabec. Reminiscent of his best Dakar performance in 2023 when he was leading for six days, Howes has put in a stellar ride so far and today’s result sees him close to just 6’51’’ off the lead in the general standings as the battle starts to really hot up.
Since his Dakar debut in 2013, Pablo Quintanilla tapped into his vast experience at this event to keep himself in the reckoning with a solid ride to sixth place, the faster off-piste sections providing him with plenty of opportunity to open the throttle and catch up to the leaders. With nine stages remaining he will look to reduce his twenty minute time gap overall as the days progress across the Saudi Arabian desert.
Just two kilometres into stage three, the dusty and rocky conditions caught out Tosha Schareina and he was left looking for the right route. Once back on track he got on the gas to catch up with the lead-out rider, Sanders and Howes, but then struggled in the later part of the stage with another slight navigational error. He finished in the top ten but more importantly has managed to stay in the top five overall.
It was a difficult morning for Adrien Van Beveren in the opening section of the stage when he was following Schareina, the rocky section catching him off guard and throwing him over the handlebars. Thankfully unhurt, he remounted his Honda CRF450 RALLY only to head in the wrong direction, only aware of this when he came across Ross Branch who had been following in his wheel tracks. Riding well to the finish line the Frenchman salvaged some time to be just seven minutes off the best time of the day. It was a brave fightback for the Dakar Legend who’d also had front brake issues to contend with.
It’s a brief stop at Al Henakiyah for Monster Energy Honda HRC this evening as tomorrow’s marathon stage four will see the riders head towards AlUla which has been a stop on the Dakar Rally four previous times since 2020. The vast, breathtaking canyons in the area will be a part of the 415km special stage before they arrive at the bivouac finish line, where the riders will have just an hour and half to work on their bikes before the bikes are sealed off into Parc Ferme.
That was a good stage for Monster Energy Honda HRC as Ricky started far back and did a brilliant job to finish second today. He went off course close to the end and lost around four minutes but it was still a great stage for him.Skyler finished third and also had a good day. Up at the front, Tosha went off track in the dust and lost some time so finished 11th but he can recover good time tomorrow.Adrien had a big crash but recovered well to salvage his stage without any problems and Pablo was consistent and finished sixth so that means we have good starting positions tomorrow with two riders up front and three riders further back, so we can play both strategies.After the marathon stage into Ha’il we can then plan the strategy for the second week.
That was a good stage for Monster Energy Honda HRC as Ricky started far back and did a brilliant job to finish second today. He went off course close to the end and lost around four minutes but it was still a great stage for him.Skyler finished third and also had a good day. Up at the front, Tosha went off track in the dust and lost some time so finished 11th but he can recover good time tomorrow.Adrien had a big crash but recovered well to salvage his stage without any problems and Pablo was consistent and finished sixth so that means we have good starting positions tomorrow with two riders up front and three riders further back, so we can play both strategies.After the marathon stage into Ha’il we can then plan the strategy for the second week.
The stage was pretty hard as the terrain today was super rough and there were a lot of rocks in the beginning. The first 120km was very rocky and the sections were quite technical. After that we had more open desert for a few kilometres, but were then faced again with a sandy section full of rocks. It was difficult to ride today and I used up a lot of energy trying to keep a good pace. It’s not my favourite terrain for riding but I think I did quite good. I gave my 100% today.
The stage was pretty hard as the terrain today was super rough and there were a lot of rocks in the beginning. The first 120km was very rocky and the sections were quite technical. After that we had more open desert for a few kilometres, but were then faced again with a sandy section full of rocks. It was difficult to ride today and I used up a lot of energy trying to keep a good pace. It’s not my favourite terrain for riding but I think I did quite good. I gave my 100% today.
I’m happy with my riding, the team and bike. The 48 Hour Chrono kind of jacked me up a little bit on time but it’s only day three of the rally so there are plenty of days left of racing and we’ll keep pushing to the end. I’m having fun and really enjoying where we’re going and the bike’s working really well. Tomorrow is a big task ahead, it’s the marathon as well and then not longer after it’ll be the rest day.
I’m happy with my riding, the team and bike. The 48 Hour Chrono kind of jacked me up a little bit on time but it’s only day three of the rally so there are plenty of days left of racing and we’ll keep pushing to the end. I’m having fun and really enjoying where we’re going and the bike’s working really well. Tomorrow is a big task ahead, it’s the marathon as well and then not longer after it’ll be the rest day.
That first hundred kilometres was gnarly – super, super rocky, like, just 100% rocks. It’s difficult to navigate through that stuff so you have to take it easy. I had one issue in a sort of construction zone when I got stuck between some huge boulders and lost a little bit of time there. Just after that, the navigation got quite tricky; pretty straightforward but it rained out here and so all the tracks were washed away, so the navigation got really difficult before we got into these sandier tracks with rocks and the navigation got even more tricky then. I ended up finding the right way and hitting all the way points and I think the other guys ended up getting lost a little bit. It looks like a really positive stage for me. I’m really happy with my navigation. Even though I didn’t do a perfect job, I still did a good job, so I’m quite happy with my performance today. My body feels good and I’m excited to make it through this. Now, the marathon stage starts tomorrow.
That first hundred kilometres was gnarly – super, super rocky, like, just 100% rocks. It’s difficult to navigate through that stuff so you have to take it easy. I had one issue in a sort of construction zone when I got stuck between some huge boulders and lost a little bit of time there. Just after that, the navigation got quite tricky; pretty straightforward but it rained out here and so all the tracks were washed away, so the navigation got really difficult before we got into these sandier tracks with rocks and the navigation got even more tricky then. I ended up finding the right way and hitting all the way points and I think the other guys ended up getting lost a little bit. It looks like a really positive stage for me. I’m really happy with my navigation. Even though I didn’t do a perfect job, I still did a good job, so I’m quite happy with my performance today. My body feels good and I’m excited to make it through this. Now, the marathon stage starts tomorrow.
Tosha made a mistake after four kilometres and he was starting in front of me. He was getting back on track when I caught up with him. I knew he was going to go on all-out attack and that he can be quick in the rocks, so I tried to ride at his pace. I rode behind him at a reasonable distance, but I didn’t want to let him out of my sight. I hit a rock and my bike suddenly slid left and then right before I was thrown over the handlebars. I don’t know if I lost consciousness or not, I don’t remember much about it, but I’m not feeling too bad. I was a bit shaken, but the airbag worked well, so I was able to set off straight away, but in the wrong direction. I followed the tracks on the ground, but because I was going the wrong way, I came face to face with Ross (Branch). That’s when I realised I was going the wrong way. Afterwards, the navigation was complicated and I’d lost my front brake. I stopped to try and repair it with a nut, but then it started working and braking all on its own. I rode sensibly afterwards. I went through all sorts of emotions: I thought I was going to lose everything with that crash.
Tosha made a mistake after four kilometres and he was starting in front of me. He was getting back on track when I caught up with him. I knew he was going to go on all-out attack and that he can be quick in the rocks, so I tried to ride at his pace. I rode behind him at a reasonable distance, but I didn’t want to let him out of my sight. I hit a rock and my bike suddenly slid left and then right before I was thrown over the handlebars. I don’t know if I lost consciousness or not, I don’t remember much about it, but I’m not feeling too bad. I was a bit shaken, but the airbag worked well, so I was able to set off straight away, but in the wrong direction. I followed the tracks on the ground, but because I was going the wrong way, I came face to face with Ross (Branch). That’s when I realised I was going the wrong way. Afterwards, the navigation was complicated and I’d lost my front brake. I stopped to try and repair it with a nut, but then it started working and braking all on its own. I rode sensibly afterwards. I went through all sorts of emotions: I thought I was going to lose everything with that crash.
The first 100 kilometres was super rocky and I got lost in the first two kilometres, I made a mistake due to the dust and I tried to push after that. I did it as I caught Skyler and Daniel who were riding together and then after the refuelling I rode with them and tried to push again to open the stage. 40 kilometres before the finish line I made a big mistake and we were lost again. The riders behind caught us up and after that we rode together.
The first 100 kilometres was super rocky and I got lost in the first two kilometres, I made a mistake due to the dust and I tried to push after that. I did it as I caught Skyler and Daniel who were riding together and then after the refuelling I rode with them and tried to push again to open the stage. 40 kilometres before the finish line I made a big mistake and we were lost again. The riders behind caught us up and after that we rode together.
Rally GP Results - Stage 3
Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | Team | Constructor | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | SANTOLINO Lorenzo | 15 | SPA | Sherco TVS Rally Factory | Sherco | 03:44:34 |
2 | BRABEC Ricky | 9 | USA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | + 04:01 |
3 | HOWES Skyler | 10 | USA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | + 04:10 |
4 | EVAN BRANCH Ross | 16 | BWA | Hero Motorsports Team Rally | Hero | + 04:14 |
5 | BENAVIDES Luciano | 1 | ARG | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | + 04:55 |
6 | QUINTANILLA Pablo | 7 | CHI | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | + 05:19 |
7 | VAN BEVEREN Adrien | 42 | FRA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | + 07:03 |
8 | CORNEJO FLORIMO José Ignacio | 11 | CHI | Hero Motorsports Team Rally | Hero | + 07:10 |
9 | COX Bradley | 49 | RSA | BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM | KTM | + 07:21 |
10 | SANDERS Daniel | AUS | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | + 09:55 | |
11 | SCHAREINA Tosha | 68 | SPA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | + 10:18 |
12 | BENAVIDES Kevin | 1 | ARG | Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team | KTM | + 29:02 |
W2RC Rally GP Provisional Standings after Stage 3
Pos. | Rider | Num | Nation | Team | Constructor | Time/Gap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | SANDERS Daniel | AUS | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | 20:05:00 | |
2 | HOWES Skyler | 10 | USA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | + 06:51 |
3 | EVAN BRANCH Ross | 16 | BWA | Hero Motorsports Team Rally | Hero | + 06:59 |
4 | BRABEC Ricky | 9 | USA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | + 09:15 |
5 | SCHAREINA Tosha | 68 | SPA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | + 13:11 |
6 | BENAVIDES Luciano | 1 | ARG | KTM Factory Racing Team | KTM | + 17:31 |
7 | QUINTANILLA Pablo | 7 | CHI | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | + 20:36 |
8 | VAN BEVEREN Adrien | 42 | FRA | Monster Energy Honda HRC | Honda | + 21:18 |
9 | CORNEJO FLORIMO José Ignacio | 11 | CHI | Hero Motorsports Team Rally | Hero | + 46:12 |
10 | COX Bradley | 49 | RSA | BAS DAKAR KTM RACING TEAM | KTM | + 51:02 |
11 | BENAVIDES Kevin | 1 | ARG | Red Bull KTM Rally Factory Team | KTM | + 02:08:46 |
