Monster Energy signs rising U.S. motorcycle off-road racing star Preston Campbell to its stable of athletes

Good day for the newly minted Monster Energy athlete, Preston Campbell, who just found out that he’s been elevated to ‘sponsored athlete’ status with the M-claw marque, which also sponsors his FIM World Rally-Raid Championship team – Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally.

“I am stoked to be part of the Monster Energy family and to represent the brand that has such a big history in our sport,” said Campbell.

Epic start this year to Campbell’s appointment to the Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally’s Rally2 program, featuring the all-new crate-to-showroom-floor-to-podium Honda CRF450RX race machine. In his rookie Dakar campaign, Campbell led the majority (7) of Dakar’s 13 stages, only to lose the lead in the latter stages of the race to a veteran racer, holding on for 2nd place by just several minutes.
 

The result beyond the Dakar result for Campbell was one of, quickly, wrapping his head around what it takes to compete with the world’s top professional off-road motorcycle racers, and the top tier culture surrounding the Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally team featuring champion teammates such as American two-time Dakar winner Ricky Brabec and ’26 W2RC overall runner up, Spain’s Tosha Schareina.

“Being part of the Monster Energy Honda HRC program is a dream come true,” beamed Campbell. “I have dreamed of being able to race the World Rally-Raid Championship for Monster Energy Honda HRC the last ten years. And to work towards that and get the opportunity to represent and race for the team is an amazing experience. To be able to train and learn from the team and teammates is awesome everyone becomes family after you spend so much time working together.”
 

So now, in addition to representing with the great Japanese marque Honda at the highest level, Campbell now stands arm-in-arm with a host of legendary motorcycle racers that have (and some still do) ran the classic glowing green M-claw logo. Names like Carmichael and McGrath… Rossi and Bagnaia.

“I see Monster Energy as the leading brand supporting our industry,” said Campbell, straight up. “Monster Energy really sticks behind its athletes and the events helping push and grow our sport.”

With that, it can also be discussed that there’s a level of excellence the Monster Energy athletes must strive for, all the while knowing that the race jersey with the glowing green M-claw brandmark on the chest they pull on, then strap on an M-claw logoed helmet with “Monster Energy” emblazoned on the jawline, an extra layer of confidence is added for when it’s time to hit the starting line.

Said Campbell of that M-claw confidence: “Just to know that you have a great support team behind you helps a lot. Not second guessing what you’re doing, just having the confidence of a great group backing you.”
 

In addition to having Monster Energy in his corner now, Preston Campbell also has the luxury of having another motorcycle racing legend in his corner – a formidable athlete who signed with Monster Energy some 20 years ago (2006) as one of Monster Energy’s first off-road racers. And that’s the 11-time SCORE Baja 1000 (and five-time Baja 500) champion, Johnny Campbell, aka Preston’s dad.

Backed by a similar deal Preston just signed, Johnny Campbell raced with Monster Energy back when there were like four to six flavor choices, and a can dubbed the “BFC.” And now, some 20 years later, there’s more than 300 Monster Energy flavors worldwide!

“I am very proud of Preston and his accomplishments,” said Johnny Campbell. “To position yourself to have the support of an iconic company like Monster is no easy task. He has put a lot of hard work and effort into his young career. It is great to see him follow in my footsteps and also excel in areas I only dreamed of. Monster has been on the cutting edge of providing a desirable beverage and that success is evident in their product.”
 

And in terms of growth, Johnny Campbell’s had a front row seat to the sport of off-road motorcycle racing, and has seen firsthand the consistent growth over the years – along with Monster Energy’s longstanding support of the sport, that’s now ‘generational’ in the Campbell household.

“It's really great to see a brand like Monster get behind the sport of motorcycle racing,” he said. “It truly shows their passion and dedication to the sport through their longevity of supporting events, teams and athletes. It means a lot to the sport and has elevated it greatly. On the off-road side, Monster has brought the recognition the sport deserves through its undying support, for which I am very thankful.”