Monster Energy Interview | Joaquim “J-Rod” Rodrigues

Portuguese off-road great Joaquim “J-Rod” Rodrigues (Monster Energy/Hero Motosports) was pumped for this year’s Dakar Rally, and a spot on this rapidly emerging race team out of India. A veteran of multiple Dakar Rallies, past stage winner and competitor in many of the world’s great professional off-road motorcycle contests, Rodrigues was set on putting a rough 2023, injury-wise, behind him and challenging for the Dakar title.

Off to a high speed start, the former pro supercross racer was running flat out at the 82 km mark of the famed Dakar Rally’s opening stage when he wadded up his Hero 450 Rally bike and, when he’d come to a stop and the dust settled, found that he’d snapped a couple bones in his hand.

A split second miscalculation and all the months and months of unbelievably difficult training, both off and on the bike, testing and planning was seemingly cast aside in the unforgiving dirt, rock and dust at Dakar. Wrecked, in the outskirts of the Empty Quarter desert, Rodrigues was found by his Monster Energy/Hero Motosports teammates Joan Barreda and Sebastian Buhler, along with Maciej Giemza (Gas Gas). The three racers would render assistance to Rodrigues until the med-vac chopper arrived. 

But rather than be all chapped, head hanging and on his way to the airport to catch a flight back home, Rodrigues got bandaged up, had his broken up hand immobilized at the nearby AlUla Hospital, and immediately made his way back to Monster Energy/Hero Motosports’ bivouac to see if there was any way he could help the team.

And turns out there sure was, as you’ll read here with MonsterEnergy.com’s discussion with “J-Rod.”

Monster Energy: Hey, Joaquim? Good to see you back with the Monster Energy/Hero Motosports program. How are things going in Abu Dhabi? How’s the hand doing?

Joaquim Rodrigues: Hey! How are you guys doing? My thumb and the little finger are getting better, thank you. I’ve got them moving a little bit, but they’re still swollen and I’m having some difficulty bending them. I’ll tell you, it’s hard for me to have to leave Dakar because of these two little shit fingers (laughter).

ME: Just a bit on how it’s going at Abu Dhabi, but what we really want to hear about it that, and this is Breaking News, we understand you’re going to get back on the bike here in a few weeks to race and event in India with Monster Energy/Hero. That’s amazing given the extent of your hand injury at Dakar. Get us caught up.

JR: Yes, Abu Dhabi is always a good and fun place to come, been happy in the past here with really good results – including a podium the last time I was here. You are right when you say ‘I will be back on the bike soon and will take the opportunity to go to India and help the guys at Monster and Hero for the cool event they having. And, of course, it’s always and honor to be invited to the country where you always have a warm welcome. It’s going to be fun and everybody is invited!

ME: So you’re at the Desert Challenge, Round 2 of the World Rally-Raid Championship. And Monster Energy/Hero has you playing an interesting role with the team as your fingers heal back to the point where you can race again. Talk about your duties here at Abu Dhabi.

JR: It’s just a good opportunity to see different things. Since I always been working and testing closely with the team and developing the bike and setting it up to what the bike is today, the team wanted me to be here to help the riders with the bike and work with them. And not only with the bike, but also help them with preparation, advice, etc. Then I try to help the full team, everywhere -  mechanics, logistics, and help Waffie (Monster/Hero Team Manager Wolfgang Fischer) with "a little managing" of the team (more laughter).

ME: When it was reported that you were airlifted from the Stage 1 82 km mark at Dakar to AlUla Hospital, WRRC fans probably thought ‘That’s it, he’s headed back to Portugal.’ But instead, you came back to Monster Energy/Hero’s bivouac and remained for the rest of the Rally. Talk about that and the importance of staying with your team.

JR: Yes, that was an easy decision for me. I’ve always been a team guy and thought I could still help the team since it was just two broken fingers. So, in my point of view, I think I could still help the team and the rider with bike set up, advices, with some of my knowledge that could be useful, you know? Even that I was out, and not able to race, to try to do whatever I could to help the team to get the results that they deserve. We been working hard developing the bike to be the best and, fortunately, Ross (Branch) put one amazing performance and showed that we have a great bike, great team and that makes me really happy and proud to know that I have a "Lil finger" in it (laughter). I'm really lucky to be part of this group.”

ME: That’s awesome. Much of your time at Dakar, after your crash, was spent working with Ross Branch. Talk about the relationship you have with Ross and what you felt that you lent to him, in terms of your race knowledge, that helped Ross score the runner-up position at Dakar.

JR: Me and Ross, it’s a funny story because we became really good friends since we met first time on Maroc (WRRC Rallye du Maroc). He is a really cool guy and just his laugh makes you laugh from far away! At Dakar I just try my best to help him, since I always been friend with him, knowing how he is and from decisions that he made on the past that did bite him. I just try with my knowledge give him the best advice that I can to help him eliminate those mistakes from the past, and am helping with that here at Abu Dhabi. I try to help him improve with the bike, but he is kinda guy that doesn’t like to change much - like if is bars or levers are all twisted but the result from the stage, but he had a good finish, he'll say ‘No changing! No changing!’ (laughter) I guess it’s just Botswana style.

At this point, Branch leans in on the interview, and gives his take on J-Rod…

Ross Branch: Yes, Dakar 2024 was huge for me (Branch finished 2nd overall to Monster Energy/Honda Team’s Ricky Brabec) and having J-Rod at the bivouac every day, staying on to help us out after he injured himself, I’ll tell you what, a guy like that, with so much experience, and not only from the rally side but also supercross and motocross in America, the professionalism he carries with him is incredible. I was really lucky and really happy to have him there. It was good to come back to the bivouac and have somebody there that truly understands, from a racer’s standpoint, what you’ve been through. He was the best at keeping me calm and keeping the mind games away.

Branch continued: J-Rod plays a big part on the team. Not only as a racer, but on the management side now. On the development side of the motorcycle he’s very wise on what to do, how to do things with the bike and making a lot of changes. He’s a big part of the team and I have a lot of respect for him, what he’s done for the sport and what he has done as a racer. Monster/Hero is very lucky to have a guy like that on our side.

Back to Rodrigues…

ME: Here at Abu Dhabi, what are some of the aspects of Ross’ race stage preparation and post-stage breakdown that you’re going over with him?

JR: Just trying to keep his mind at the real goals and keep away from what is out of his control. The Abu Dhabi desert is tricky and can really bite you fast so, just trying to keep his mind on the Championship (FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, which Branch will lead following the Desert Challenge). So there’s a lot of racing to do until the end of the season so, to be a champion you need to start thinking and acting like one.

ME: Great stuff. When you’re healthy, how is it competing against Ross?

JR: (Laughter) That is a lot of fun! We always start with fun bets for Prologue and the full team plays along! We always play and tease each other (more laughter). It’s fun, but at the same time I always try to help him even when we’re racing against each other. Because in the end we are a team, and if he wins we all win.

ME: That’s highly noble. How about off the track? Have you and Ross enjoyed a pretty cool friendship over the years?

JR: Like I said before, we became good friends since day one. He is a really cool guy, a good friend to be around and someone that you know, if you need him at the race, he will stop for you. I can say the same for Bühler. They are ‘Team Guys.’

ME: Talk a bit about Aaron Mare, the replacement racer for Sebastian Buhler. He had a solid 2nd place finish in the opening Stage here at Abu Dhabi. Are you consulting with him a bit as well?

JR: I met Aaron on 2022 Dakar where he did a really good job for the team. He is really nice, cool and chill. Also, a team guy. (I) never had the chance to work a lot with Aaron before, but, like with Ross, I try to listen to what he has to say and try to help him the best that I can.

ME: That’s excellent. Great stuff, Joaquim. Thanks again for taking the time to get the Monster Army caught up on your story. It’s for sure a good one. Best of luck the rest of the way here at Abu Dhabi, and we look forward to catching up with you again when you get back on the bike for the race in India.

JR: Thank you to Monster Energy for the support and all the help. I will look forward to speaking with you guys again soon.

Up next… Action gets back underway on Thursday with Stage 3, a 252 km Special with a 163 km Liaison that runs from Mezaira’a to Mezaira’a, a 414 km loop around the Liwa City oasis, featuring 52-percent dune racing. Reported “fierce” heat awaits the Monster Energy/Hero Motosports team. For more information, including ‘Live’ results tracking, link to www.worldrallyraidchampionship.com