With the 2026 World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) fast approaching and the Dakar Rally round one on January 3, Monster Energy Honda HRC has announced an unchanged, four-rider team.

The Monster Energy Honda HRC team continues with a familiar and highly competitive line-up for 2026. Honda point to stability and teamwork at the core of their programme, with four world-class riders leading the charge: Ricky Brabec, Tosha Schareina, Adrien Van Beveren and Skyler Howes.

Two-times Dakar champion Brabec heads the squad (already heading to his 11th Dakar, how di d that happen so quickly?!) but it has proven race winner Tosha Schareina, enormous experience in Adrien Van Beveren and Skyler Howes.

Their key can also be their collective force with the four-rider factory team – biggest of all in the Dakar entry list – all of which are race and stage winners.

The CRF450 RALLY: Still the sauciest bike out there?

Honda’s CRF450 RALLY, is the cornerstone of the team’s success and “continues its evolution with refinements aimed at maximizing performance and reliability across every type of terrain”.

As ever, that’s all we’ve got on the details of the 2026 HRC CRF450 Rally machines. Feast your eyes…

Ruben Faria – General Manager: “We are very close to the Dakar, and we are all eager to tackle the most important race of the year. We finished on a high note in Morocco with Tosha’s victory, and that gives us a lot of motivation. The riders are training physically and mentally for a very tough Dakar.

“We start in Yanbu and finish 13 days later in Yanbu. This year we are not going to the Empty Quarter, but it will still be a tough race because there are many kilometres and anything can happen. We are making the final preparations and looking forward to a new Dakar with great enthusiasm.”

Ricky Brabec: “The next season means a lot, we have worked really hard this year going in the right direction after the Dakar. The beginning of the year I struggled a lot to find comfort and every race we made correct improvements to be better for the 2026 season.

“I’m excited to head to my 11th Dakar with HRC and I hope to do the job well enough to make it a victory for HRC and the team. Every rider is healthy and the team is looking strong for the start of the 2026 season.

“For me personally I feel like this year I have learned a lot about man and machine specially rushing an injury in the Morocco rally in 2024 that held me back in the Dakar 2025. I had lost a ton of training time and preparation for this one just trying to recovery well enough to get cleared in able to race. This season we remained healthy and are looking better then ever for the next season and I’m happy to spend it with Monster energy Honda HRC . They don’t give up and neither do we.”

2026 W2RC calendar:

January 03-17 Dakar Rally, Saudi Arabia

March 17-22 BP Ultimate Rally Raid Portugal

May 24-29 Desafio Ruta 40, Argentina

September 28 - October 03 Rallye du Maroc, Morocco

November 22-27 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, United Arab Emirates

Skyler Howes: “I think this year’s Dakar is going to be really exciting. We’re not going to the Empty Quarter, which means we’ll face new kinds of challenges in the other regions — and the terrain variety looks great. It’s going to be a tough race, just like every year, but after all the hard work we’ve done as a team, I’m really looking forward to it.

“The rest of the season also looks promising. Portugal can be tricky with the weather, but it’s always fun, and going back to Argentina is something I’m really excited about — the fans there, and in Europe too, are incredible and bring a lot of energy. Hopefully this year we get a bit more desert riding and fewer slippery tracks.

“Morocco, now under new management, could go either way: more challenging or similar to previous editions, but it’s always one of the best races. And finishing the season in the dunes of Abu Dhabi is going to be a great way to close the year. Overall, I think 2026 will be an amazing season. The training never stops, the teamwork never stops, and we’ll be pushing hard all year long.”

Adrien Van Beveren: “I’m feeling really good right now. After a lot of training this year and the heavy crash in Portugal, I feel more than ready to take on the Dakar. I’m in the best moment of my career, and I need to make the most of it in 2026. Every year I feel more comfortable with this race, and I know exactly which cards I need to play. I’m going in calm, but extremely motivated. I’m super happy with the team and grateful to be living the dream I’ve had since I was a kid.”

Tosha Schareina: “I am very motivated to tackle the 2026 season. We all know that the Dakar is the main race, and the whole team has worked hard to be as well prepared as possible. Winning in Morocco has given us that extra boost to stay motivated.

“For 2026, the order and the races have changed a bit, with the second round of the world championship being held at home in Portugal/Spain. I think this is a very good change, as it gives us a break from the desert after the Dakar and a complete change of terrain.

“Route 40 is also back in Argentina, which motivates us all because of the warmth we all feel there. In short, we are ready to give our all and fight for the top spot.”

The Dakar Rally starts on January 3, Enduro21 will as ever, be all over it. Stay tuned.

Photo Credit: Honda Racing