Monster Energy/Honda’s Schareina Wins Dakar ’24 Opening Prologue

The 46th running of the famed Dakar Rally couldn’t have started any better for Monster Energy as one of the most talked about off-road motorcycle racers of 2023, Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy/Team Honda), picked up right were he left off last year and nailed the top spot on the Dakar’s opening Prologue stage, besting Red Bull/Gas Gas’ Daniel Sanders by 12 seconds (17:35 to 17:47) at the finish of the short (163 km Liaison/27 km Special) loop run from – and back to – Alula, Saudi Arabia.

In addition to Schareina’s podium, Hero Motosports, fueled by Monster Energy’s, Ross Branch nailed another Prologue podium finish, clocking in just 19 seconds back of Schareina. And giving Monster Energy its third rider in the top four was Monster/Honda’s Adrien Van Beveren, who ripped into the 4th spot, just five seconds back of Branch.

Quotes:

Schareina: “Yeah, I felt really good. It was not too short of a stage, but the hardest, longest Prologue we expected. But yeah, I felt really good and the bike worked really good, too. We have to keep our feet on the ground, keep focused, because the main event starts tomorrow (Saturday).”

Branch: “It was an amazing way to start the Dakar 2024. We started out on a nice, sandy track and I had a good feeling right from the get-go. I had so much fun. A really incredible ride and what a way to start. Being 3rd on the day was just a bonus because it’s a really long rally this year. Just went out and had some fun, enjoyed myself on the bike. Looking forward to the next two weeks. This is gonna be a good one.”

Notes:

• Today’s Prologue course, which could be summed up as a ‘microwave version’ of a full stage, contained all the technical attributes that Saudi Arabia’s Dakar courses are known for; deep sand through much of the race coupled with bold rocky portions that jut up from the desert, along with high attention navigational zones that demand the utmost concentration. And it was a combination of the aforementioned challenges that caught Monster Energy/Team Honda’s Skyler Howes, who ran into some difficulties in the Alula canyons, suffered a minor crash, and got off course to the tune of a 44th place Prologue finish. From there Howes will have to start first in tomorrow’s Alula to Al Henakiyah stage, which will be challenging. But Howes’ climb back through the standings will be something to keep an eye on.

• Monster Energy’s Sara Price (South Racing/Can-Am Maverick X3), coupled with navigator Jeremy Gray, and competing in their first Dakar Rally, placed 6th on Friday in the Prologue. Added Price: “Jeremy absolutely killed it on the navigation! Car felt great and we’re looking forward to tomorrow – the start of a long, 15-day journey.”

Monster Energy Standings @ Dakar (after Prologue)

Place/Name/Team                                                             Time

1st – Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy/Honda)                     17:35

3rd – Ross Branch (Hero/Monster Energy)                             17:54

4th – Adrien Van Beveren (Monster Energy/Honda)               17:59

7th – Pablo Quintanilla (Monster Energy/Honda)                   18:22

The 2024 Dakar Rally resumes on Saturday with Stage 1, set to run from Alula to Al Henakiyah. Tracking at speed through the timeless shadows of the historical Nabataean temples, the Alula to Al Henakiyah opening stage runs a sizable 414 km (Liaison) with a 127 km Special. The course, never before charted since Dakar landed in Saudi Arabi in 2020, serpentines around volcanoes, combining both rock and sand in an effort to challenge the world’s best off-road racers. For more information, including “Live” timing and scoring, visit www.dakar.com