The Monster Energy Honda Team really hit their stride at the 2017 Dakar during a wet and gruelling eighth stage of fourteen in South America as Joan Barreda followed Ricky Brabec previous day’s success by posting his second victory of the race and the team’s third of the contest.

Today the Monster Energy Honda Team talked to the press at HRC’s base just outside of Barcelona and launched the first video edit of the new-look five-rider factory squad that will face the 2017 Dakar Rally on January 2nd in South America. After their public unveiling on the eve of the EICMA motorcycle show in Milan, Italy a fortnight ago, the Iberian nucleus of the team consisting of Joan Barreda (Spain), Paolo Gonçalves (Portugal) and Frenchman Michael Metge spoke at length about the 9000km challenge ahead in the New Year. Along with Ricky Brabec (USA) and Kevin Benavides (Argentina) the quintet will be backed by the nuance and might of the world’s biggest motorcycle manufacturer (and world champions in MotoGP and MXGP this year) for their latest tilt at one of the most coveted motorsport titles.