“Anything less than winning is unacceptable”

Things haven't really gone Ricky Brabec's way since he became the first American winner of the Dakar in 2020. In 2021, as the defending champion, he found himself in the unfortunate position of having to open the first full-length stage after winning the prologue. He lost nearly 20 minutes and spent the rest of the rally playing catch-up, falling victim to the dreaded 'yo-yo effect' of alternating excellent performances and dropping significant time. He nevertheless fought his way back to second place overall behind former teammate Kevin Benavides, but you don't need to spend long with Ricky to realize that winning is what really counts. More frustration followed at the start of Dakar 2022, with the California native losing close to an hour on Stage 1B due to some devilishly tricky navigation. This is a man who was also forced to abandon three consecutive editions after his impressive 2016 debut, with his engine giving up the ghost when he was leading in 2019. Given how things have gone in recent years, it's no surprise to hear Ricky say he just wants to get through the first week without any major issues and ensure he's still in contention for a second Dakar crown. He certainly has what it takes to conquer the world’s toughest rally on his Honda CRF450, but also knows that to make it happen you need speed, skill and strength -both physical and mental- as well as a bit of luck on your side. The 31-year-old has posted solid results elsewhere this season, coming second at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and third at the Rallye du Maroc to finish second behind Sam Sunderland in the World Rally-Raid Championship. Ricky will be lining up for his eighth Dakar as bike number 2, but make no mistake: he's always gunning to be number 1.

“We had a great season after a challenging Dakar 2022; it wasn't easy to get through that first day with the time loss of 40 minutes. At the end of the W2RC we ended up second, so that's a positive, and we also had some nice stages and podiums throughout the year. For preparations, we've had a lot of travel, so things are a little messy right now, but we have a long few weeks with the team in South America before the new year. As far as changes go, we're on the same model as previous years. The winning package, we know it works and we know the bike is capable of it. The plan for me this year is to get through the first week without making a massive mistake and stay calm. I'm looking forward to seeing how all the new rules they have planned for us are going to work, with time bonuses. The yo-yo effect, man that's a tough one. That started more in 2021, but yes it's been difficult. It happens to all of us. Navigating isn't the easiest, especially when you think you can run from everyone while opening. But honestly, I think the biggest rival is my own self. There's more than a handful of guys who can win Dakar, but staying mentally tough and strong to get through the difficult days with yourself is a part not everyone sees. Once you've won the biggest motorsport race in the entire world, you know it can be done again. So yes, anything less than winning is unacceptable, that's always the mindset. We've tasted victory in the long haul of the Dakar and we're ready for another.”