Ricky Brabec: "The strategy was to do as well as I could to start back"

Dakar 2025 | Stage 1 | BISHA > BISHA
January 4 ^th 2025 - 14:16 [GMT + 3]

The reigning champion has started the rally in great form. Second today, 2'22" down on Daniel Sanders, the top-ranked Honda rider has achieved his goal: starting the next stage near his closest rivals at the moment, Sanders and Branch.

"It was a really difficult day. I couldn't even imagine starting up front and opening. These guys did an excellent job. The road book was just, you know, tricky. A lot of quick notes, but a lot of vegetation where you couldn't really, you know, find a smooth rhythm. You're always making 90-degree quick corners, getting smoked by thorn bushes, and that was it was more of a painful stage than enjoyable, but I'm happy to be at the finish line of the first stage. The last 20 kilometres were really, really tricky. I spent the time with Luciano, and we did a good job. The strategy today was to make a big push and try to do as well as I could to start back. You know, I wanna stay close with the main group. I'm happy to start the chrono tomorrow."