Ricky Brabec made history in 2020 as the first American winner of the Dakar motorcycle category. If nothing unexpected disrupts the short 175 kilometer final special, the Honda rider is poised to clinch his second Dakar title this Friday.
Today Brabec faces the penultimate stage, a grueling 480 kilometer stretch that tests every ounce of endurance. Along the route to Yanbu he encountered several setbacks, yet his margin remained healthy as long as his main rival, Ross Branch, kept pace behind him. The Honda squad demonstrated exceptional teamwork on Wednesday, allowing Brabec to extend his lead by nearly 11 minutes. With a calm approach, Brabec can control the race, but he must stay vigilant since he still carries the burden of leading from the front.
Branch started the day with a strong rhythm and applied pressure, but Brabec managed the challenge with precision. He gained more than five minute bonuses and opened the track on one of the Dakar’s most demanding stages. Although Branch finished the day 32 seconds ahead, Brabec still held a significant overall advantage, extending the gap to ten minutes and twenty-two seconds.
One final obstacle remained for Brabec: a short twelfth stage that could still present risk. It is a reminder that last year Kevin Benavides overtook Toby Price in the final moments of the rally to claim victory in a dramatic finish.
The son of racing families, Ricky Brabec spent years in BMX before moving to off road, where he secured major wins in the United States at events like Baja 500, Baja 1000, and Vegas to Reno. His growing reputation drew the attention of HRC, which invited him to compete in the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 2015. Now aged 32, he stands as one of Dakar’s most seasoned veterans, showcasing consistent speed and reliability over two weeks of racing at the sport’s highest level.
Stage 11 provisional classification
1. Ross Branch Hero 4H 51′ 57″
2. Ricky Brabec Honda 32″
3. Adrien Van Beveren Honda 3′ 17″
4. Luciano Benavides Husqvarna 4′ 38″
5. Daniel Sanders GasGas 12′ 23″
6. Jose Ignacio Cornejo Honda 25′ 28″
The general classification is as follows
1. Ricky Brabec Honda 49 SA 37′ 57″
2. Ross Branch Hero 10′ 22″
3. Adrien Van Beveren Honda 14′ 31″
4. Jose Ignacio Cornejo Honda 38′ 44″
5. Kevin Benavides KTM 41′ 19″
Attribution: Racing News Agency. This summary reflects the latest stage results and overall standings from the Dakar rally as reported by race coverage channels.