Schareina & Brabec go 1-2 at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge

Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally’s Tosha Schareina made it two victories in a row at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, Round 2 of the 2025 FIM World Rally Raid Championship, as he picked up the opening Stage 1 victory in the 400 km run (243 km Special, 157 km Liaison) from Al Ain to Mezaira’a in the United Arab Emirates’ Empty Quarter desert.

And ripping into 2^nd position, 1:54 back of his teammate, was Ricky Brabec with an overall time of 2:55:54. So far at the ADDC after the Prologue and Stage 1, Monster Energy-backed racers Schareina and Branch hold the No. 1 & 2 overall positions, with Schareina in the top spot at 3:00:53 and Brabec close behind in the No. 2 position (3:03:00).

“It was really good,” said Schareina following his Stage 1 win. “From the beginning this stage was completely dunes, full sand. The first part was smooth, but the second part was pretty sketchy with more speed, more difficulty. But yeah, I tried to go smooth through the end and we were able to get the win at this stage.”

Added Brabec: “Stage 1, Abu Dhabi, was good. We got a really good result – 2^nd – with is cool. Full day of dunes and two track through the sand. Happy we made a good adjustment to the bike last week doing some testing. So far so good. With four days left hopefully we can keep this momentum going forward and be in a good position at the end. One thing’s for sure – this team will never give up. We’re going to keep going.”

Rounding out the top ten for Monster Energy at Stage 1 in Abu Dhabi were defending WRRC champion Ross Branch (Hero Motosports) in 5^th place, his teammate, Jose “Nacho” Cornejo, in 7^th and Honda HRC Rally’s Adrien Van Beveren, the 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge winner, in 9^th place followed by teammate Skyler Howes in 10^th.

Stage 1 Notes:

• “Many times. And tomorrow there’ll be more for sure.” – Schareina, laughing, when asked if there were any times during Stage 1 that were particularly sketchy, scary.
• Monster Energy Nations Check! Tosha Schareina (Spain), Ricky Brabec (USA), Ross Branch (Botswana), Jose “Nacho” Cornejo (Chile), Adrien Van Beveren (France) and Skyler Howes (USA).
• “It was a weird stage. Not taking any risk was less adrenaline. Just happy to be here and putting in a push. My body’s feeling OK.” – Branch, who was injured in a Dakar crash and still feeling the effects.
• A bit warm at  today on arrival to bivouac, near 36 degrees Celsius (almost 100 degrees Fahrenheit). But according to Monster Energy’s Joe Parsons, his Monster Army soldiers at the ADDC, from both Honda HRC Rally and Hero Motosports, were ready for battle. “We’re in it to win it,” said Parsons.
• The Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally team’s starting positions for the ADDC’s Stage 2 will be Schareina in 1^st, Brabec in 2^nd, Branch in 5^th, Cornejo in 6^th, Van Beveren in 8^th and Howes in 9^th.
• “Also, thanks to Ricky (Brabec). After he passed me, whenever there were some pretty big drops in the dunes, he always put his hand up to alert me – which is good.” – Branch, regarding the sportsmanship that can occur in the WRRC between racers.
• 2023 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge winner Van Beveren and current WRRC points leader Daniel Sanders (KTM) both ran into difficulty in the ADDC Prologue race and find themselves behind the 8-ball in terms of having to catch race leaders Schareina and Brabec. Sanders and Van Beveren are in 8^th and 9^th positions, respectively, following the Prologue and Stage 1.
• However… Van Beveren catches a break in Monday’s Stage 2 because Schareina, having won Stage 1, will have to open Stage 2. Van Beveren starts in the 8^th position, which gives him (and the others behind Schareina, and No. 2 starter Brabec) the advantage of seeing the lines the lead racers are taking and adjusting to find more speed.

Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge Stage 1 results

1^st – Schareina (Monster Energy/Honda), 2:54:00

2^nd – Brabec (Monster Energy/Honda), 2:55:54

5^th – Branch (Hero/Monster Energy), 2:59:08

7^th – Cornejo (Hero/Monster Energy), 2:59:39

9^th – Van Beveren (Monster Energy/Honda), 3:01:13

10^th – Howes (Monster Energy/Honda), 3:02:17

Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge overall standings top five (Prologue through Stage 1)

1^st – Schareina (Monster Energy/Honda), 3:00:53

2^nd – Brabec (Monster Energy/Honda), 3:03:00

5^th – Branch (Hero/Monster Energy), 3:06:17

Monster Energy WRRC Motorcycle Standings (after Round 1, Dakar)

Place/Name/Team

2^nd – Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy/Honda)              

3^rd – Adrien Van Beveren (Monster Energy/Honda)                     

5^th – Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy/Honda)

6^th – Skyler Howes (Monster Energy/Honda)

7^th – Jose “Nacho” Cornejo (Hero/Monster Energy)

Up next…

Stage No. 2 of the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship’s Abu Dhabi Challenge stop features a solid 228 km Special, along with a short 78 km Liaison to complete the Mezeer’ah to Mezeer’ah loop. For more information, including “Live” timing and scoring, visit www.worldrallyraidchampionship.com