MONSTER ENERGY HONDA TEAM IS AT FULL STRENGTH IN MOROCCO
On the return of the FIM Cross-Country Rallies World Championship to Morocco, the Monster Energy Honda Team is at full strength and determined to keep the lead. Starting on the 1st of October, the Rallye du Maroc promises an intense week for machines and riders.
Between October 1st and 6th, the action of the FIM Cross-Country World Championship is back with the third stage of the calendar. The Rallye du Maroc follows the Dakar Rally and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, bringing back a similar scenario that combines hard and soft tracks.
Covering more than 2,200 kilometers and over 1,500 kilometers of timed special stages, the 2022 edition of the Rallye du Maroc will be based around the Moroccan town of Agadir, a famous beach resort on the Atlantic. Competition opens on October 1st with a short 9 kilometer Prologue. The race will unfold with five long full stages held on fast tracks and open desert connecting Agadir to Tan Tan and Laayoune. Riders will be challenged in their speed and navigation skills through the sand dunes and rocky pistes – facing temperatures up to 30ºC.
The Monster Energy Honda Team starts with four CRF450 RALLY bikes in the experienced hands of Pablo Quintanilla (Chile), Ricky Brabec (USA), José Ignacio Cornejo (Chile) and Adrien Van Beveren (France).
With a comfortable lead in the Constructors’ World Championship, Honda has proven its consistency in the toughest conditions. The sporting results speak for themselves, with emphasis on the silver achieved by Quintanilla (Dakar Rally) and by Brabec (Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge).
Ruben Faria
“It’s a great feeling to be back on Morocco! The fact that we are returning to the south of the country to meet landscapes that remain unexplored since the last Dakar held in African soil makes it even more special to all of us. Our team is highly motivated to this comeback to action, knowing that Rallye Du Maroc is an important moment – not just because of its own weight in the Word Championship, but also as a great opportunity to test for the Dakar 2023. Last year we were quite happy here, with a great win from Pablo Quintanilla. Now our goal is to do our best and fight for the overall lead in the Championship – where we are second. All our riders are also keen to do their part to make sure we are able to grow our Manufacturers lead in the Championship. All these past months, after the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, we have been working hard together, so we feel strong and confident to start racing!”.
Ricky Brabec 9
“We have a new route to discover and it feels good to be close to the ocean with milder temperatures. I am determined to do my part here in Morocco and this means helping Honda to keep its lead in the championship. This is our last chance to prepare Dakar 2023, so a good performance is on my mind. At the same time I want to finish strong and safe”.
Pablo Quintanilla 7
“I have won here last year and this means a lot to me. Now my main focus is to do a good race as a preparation for the Dakar 2023. I feel good physically and I am confident on my Honda CRF450 Rally. I am expecting a demanding race for all. The least I can say is – for sure – it’s going to be competitive.”
Private: José Ignacio “Nacho” Cornejo 11
“I am very excited about the new route! It sounds like a great way to prepare the Dakar 2023. Morocco is always our last race with a desert flavour and this brings us a great opportunity to improve our performance individually and as a team. My goal is to do a solid race and to be able to improve my standings in the championship ranking.”
Adrien Van Beveren
“This is my first race within Monster Energy Honda Team and it means a lot to me. In a way I feel like a child with his new bike – I really feel good riding the Honda CRF 450 Rally. At the same time I am keen about one thing: doing a consistent race. If I am fast and focused I know a good result will be just a consequence.”
Location Information
Morocco has always been a land of rally raid. The story began in 1982 with the arrival of Paris-Agadir, the first rally raid to run in Morocco. The following year, the rally took the name of ‘Atlas Rally’ and became the flagship rally to the Rally Raids calendar. The Atlas… read more.
| Winner 2023 | Toby Price (KTM) |
| Winner 2022 | Skyler Howes (Husqvarna) |
| Winner 2021 | Pablo Quintanilla (Honda) |
| Winner 2020 | Cancelled due the COVID-19 Pandemic |
| Winner 2019 | Toby Price (KTM) |
| Winner 2018 | Toby Price (KTM) |
| Winner 2017 | Matthias Walkner (KTM) |
| Winner 2016 | Toby Price (KTM) |
| Winner 2015 | Sam Sunderland (KTM) |
| Winner 2014 | Marc Coma (KTM) |
| Winner 2013 | Paulo Gonçalves (Honda) |
| Winner 2012 | Cyril Despres (KTM) |
Agadir, Morocco - View in Google Maps
