Ricky Brabec: "We made a big mistake and that definitely killed us"

Dakar 2025 | Stage 4 | AL HENAKIYAH > ALULA
January 8 ^th 2025 - 15:01 [GMT + 3]

Thirteenth today after taking the runner-up's spot yesterday, Brabec haemorrhaged 20 minutes in the special. He makes no secret of his frustration at opening the road without reaping the rewards.

"Definitely not the best day of the week. You know, I opened almost all day. I'm really happy with my riding, and I'm happy with my navigation. But, yeah, like, 15 kilometres back, man, we made a big mistake and that definitely killed us. But we're here. We're healthy. We're walking, and nothing you could do about it. You know? Hopefully, some of the other guys followed the bad lines that we did.

I mean, overall, I'm happy with how I'm performing. Obviously, my results aren't showing that, but it's rally. One moment you could be doing the best you've ever done, and then one note later, you lost your Dakar. So, that's the way rally is. I opened up, yeah, from kilometre 3.

So, it was a long day for me, and just yeah. The 4 notes a kilometre, the guy that opens really loses the race. So if you wanna win the Dakar, I suggest you never open, and you'll win the Dakar. No problem."