Honda’s Ventura (Rally2) wins again at W2RC du Maroc, w/ Monster’s Price (Defender) tops in Stock Car

As the 2026 OLA Energy Rally du Maroc hits its stride at the midway point of the four-stage contest, two Monster Energy racers have made the way to the front of their respective classes. On the bikes, Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally’s Martim Ventura has put together back-to-back stage victories to take control in the Rally2 class, while in the Stock Car division, Monster Energy’s Sara Price (Defender) leads the Stock Car division with a 1-2 finish in the first two Zagora-to-Zagora stages.

And in the premier RallyGP motorcycle class, Monster Energy’s Ricky Brabec (Honda HRC Rally), who won the opening Stage 1 contest on Tuesday and was leading the overall heading into today’s Stage 2, would place 2nd to KTM’s Daniel Sanders, relinquishing the overall lead through two (of four) stages and a Prologue stage. 

Wednesday’s Stage 2 was another standout performance for Ventura, who came into the du Maroc round leading the overall W2RC Rally2 class points chase. 

“Yesterday was tough… today was much tougher,” said Ventura of Stage 2. “And I was a bit tired from yesterday. Tough rally just two days in, but I was able to find a good rhythm today in the morning. And then, after refueling, I got some energy back. But 15 km from the finish I made a mistake – and crashed. But it’s alright. I am in good shape for tomorrow and will try and minimize the risks.”

Joining Ventura on the Rally2 podium, as he did in Stage 1, was Hero Motosports, powered by Monster Energy’s Michael Docherty – again in 2nd position. Overall, Docherty trails Ventura by a fairly close margin (03:36) through the Prologue and two (of four) stages. And in third position in Stage 2, with his first podium of the week, was Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally’s Preston Campbell.

In the Stock Car division at du Maroc, Monster Energy’s Price, along with navigator Sean Berriman, placed 2nd to off-road great Stephane Peterhansel and his navigator, Michael Metge, by just under two minutes (01:58). Defender’s Price and Berriman still lead the overall class in time heading into Thursday’s penultimate Zagora-to-Zagora Stage 3.

“It’s awesome to be back. Like a full circle moment here in Morocco, from 2023 where it all started for me to now – winning the opening stage of the du Maroc and leading the overall through Stage 2,” said Price. “Coming in 2nd today and still having a 14-minute lead over Stephane (Peterhansel) is just amazing. So we just have to keep our heads down. Drive smart. And keep the car happy to the end.”
 

The W2RC FIM motorcycle field at the du Maroc continues through the sands of the Sahara, opening the next three (of three) stages out of the Zagora bivouac – smack dab in the middle of the Moroccan Desert. Thursday’s Stage 3 again showcases sand tracks, dunes and highly technical navigation through the vast Sahara desert. 

Notes & Quotes

• “Today was rough. They (race officials) said it was going to be pretty physically demanding and (Brabec pauses, catches his breath)… it was pretty demanding. Long day. Four hours in the saddle, bouncing the rocks and the small, little dunettes. It was a tough day. Navigation was trick here and there. Me and Daniel (Sanders) rode together from like Kilometer 90 – all the way to the finish.” – Brabec.
• 21 degrees Celsius in the morning at the start of Stage 2 – and when the racers hit the finish line it was 31 degrees Celsius. So a bit of a swing in temperature from the start to finish of Stage 2, similar to the temp swing racers faced in Stage 1. Full sun all day. 
• On the menu in the morning at the Monster Energy support trailer were scrambled eggs and omelettes with cheese, ham and avocado to support the racers for a long day in the Moroccan Desert.
• “My day was good. Super rocky and technical right off the start, but I felt really good. It was tough – and I was pushing. Found Bruno (Crivilin, Campbell’s Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally teammate) in the dunes and rode with him. It was super fun, like motocross. We picked up the speed and it just got faster and faster. We kept pushing and I felt good physically all day. Some good times out there today.” - Campbell
• “Today was really difficult, physically and on the bikes. But I had fun riding. No pressure. Good flow in the dunes and riding together with Preston (Campbell). More action now, day by day.” Crivilin.
• “Been a frustrating day. Tried to push early so I could make a better push in the dunes. But, unfortunately, I got lost at Kilometer 115. In my opinion it was not clear on the roadbook. It’s pointed out that it was straight, and it was not. But anyway, I don’t have much to say about this. Lost a bit of motivation because I tried my best, and when you give away that many minutes, it’s not nice.” – Van Beveren
• “Another ride that wasn’t expected. We came here for the championship, and that is part of the game. But so may problems for me. I’ll keep fighting, but we are so far away from the overall (lead), but anything can happen as I say. We didn’t come here to throw in the towel.” – Schareina
• Sanders’ 3:04 RallyGP victory over Brabec on Stage 2 put the Australian up by 2:54 heading into the penultimate Stage 3 – which is still way too close to call.
• And in Rally2, Ventura’s 2:38 finish out front of Docherty extended the Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally racer’s overall class lead to 3:36 ahead of the Hero, powered by Monster Energy racer – and 22:18 ahead of his Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally teammate Campbell.
   

Monster Energy Rallye du Maroc Stage 2 results
 

RallyGP
2nd – Brabec (Honda), 03:38:18 (+ 03:04)
5th – Howes (ZXMoto), 03:45:48 (+ 10:34)
6th – Van Beveren (Honda), 03:48:04 (+ 12:50)
7th – Schareina (Honda), 03:51:38 (+ 16:24)
10th – Cornejo (Hero), 03:59:05 (+ 23:51)
 

Overall (Prologue + Stages 1 & 2)
2nd – Brabec (Honda), 06:29:26 (+ 02:54)
5th – Van Beveren (Honda), 06:44:30 (+ 17:58)
6th – Schareina (Honda), 06:50:13 (+ 23:41)
7th – Cornejo (Hero), 06:57:38 (+ 31:06)
9th – Howes (ZXMoto), 08:03:00 (+ 01:36:28)
 

Rally2
1st – Ventura Honda), 03:39:06
2nd – Docherty (Hero), 03:41:44 (+ 02:38)
3rd – Campbell (Honda), 03:49:23 (+ 10:17)
7th –  Crivilin (Honda), 03:52:39 (+ 13:33)
 

Overall
1st – Ventura (Honda), 06:32:42
2nd – Docherty (Hero), 06:36:18 (+ 03:36)
3rd – Campbell (Honda), 06:55:00 (+ 22:18)
4th – Crivilin (Honda), 06:55:32 (+ 22:50)
 

2026 W2RC overall points (through 3 of 5 rounds)
 

RallyGP class
2nd – Tosha Schareina (Monster/Honda), 64 points
4th – Ricky Brabec (Monster/Honda), 54 points
5th – Adrien Van Beveren (Monster/Honda), 41 points
6th – Skyler Howes (Monster/Honda & ZX Moto), 64 points
8th – Ross Branch (Hero/Monster), 31 points
9th – Nacho Cornejo (Hero/Monster), 21 points
 

Rally2 class
1st – Martim Ventura (Monster/Honda), 69 points
3rd – Preston Campbell (Monster/Honda), 52 points
6th – Bruno Crivilin (Monster/Honda), 20 points

Up now… 

Rallye du Maroc’s Stage 3 is the second (of four) stages run in a loop starting – and finishing – in the Zagora bivouac. Sand tracks, dunes and highly technical navigation is on the menu for the Monster Energy W2RC racers and their competitors over the final three stages in the Moroccan desert.