Monster Energy Honda HRC set for South African Safari Rally debut

The Monster Energy Honda HRC team arrives in South Africa for round three of the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship and the much-anticipated debut of the South African Safari Rally.

In what will be unfamiliar terrain for all competitors, the rally kicks off on 19th May from the renowned Sun City resort in the North West Province. Riders will tackle 2,645 km of racing, including 1,218 km of timed specials, spread across a prologue and five gruelling stages plus a two-day marathon stage included. As riders traverse the vast savannah grasslands there’ll be many hurdles to overcome as they race towards the Botswana border before returning to Sun City for the event’s conclusion and crowning of the inaugural champion.

Tosha Schareina arrives in South Africa riding high after back-to-back podiums. Following a hard-earned second place at Dakar after riding with a shoulder injury sustained on the rally in Saudi and then a gritty comeback in Abu Dhabi, the Spaniard currently sits second in the standings and is eager to claim his maiden win of the season.

Teammate Ricky Brabec, now fully recovered from his injury at last year’s Rallye du Maroc, is also in contention. Though disappointed with a fifth-place Dakar finish, the two-time Dakar winner bounced back in style in Abu Dhabi, securing second place and fending off Schareina in a thrilling finale. Occupying third place in the standings, Brabec is determined to etch his name into the history books in South Africa.

Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren, who secured third place at this year’s Dakar, is also aiming for a return to the podium. With his signature zebra-striped helmet, Van Beveren will feel right at home on the African plains and he’s looking forward to the challenge of a new rally-raid on his first visit to South Africa, where he will look to take advantage of some improvements made to his Honda CRF450 RALLY bike.

Meanwhile, American rider Skyler Howes is pushing to break into the podium spots. Currently sixth overall in the title chase, Howes has shown solid pace aboard his Honda CRF450 RALLY so far and will look to convert consistency into top-three finishes in the stages ahead as he gets to grips with the raw wilderness of the African continent.

With a shakedown test completed on the outskirts of Sun City for Monster Energy Honda HRC and technical and administration checks all passed, the stage is now set for a thrilling new chapter in the World Rally-Raid Championship, one that promises fierce battles, untamed landscapes and a landmark victory for the eventual winner of the South African Safari Rally.

Ruben Faria

General Manager

We are in Sun City, South Africa ready for this new safari race. We completed a shakedown yesterday and everything went well, the riders are happy with their bikes and are in good shape. Today we passed the scrutineering, so we’re ready and feeling confident for this race. It’s a different rally for sure, as the terrain will be new for some riders like Ricky and Skyler, who are used to the open spaces of the desert. Tosha and Adrien, who ride around Spain and Portugal, might feel more at home on this type of rally, however the mix of bushes and trees on the stages will make it tricky. Tomorrow kicks off with the prologue, so let’s see how that goes.

Ricky Brabec ⁹

I'm very happy to be in South Africa, it is a new location, different terrain and also featuring many animals that we don't typically see, especially in the USA. I'm looking forward to this event as it's an equal playing field for most, however, we have to stay focused of the unknown that is out there. It’s really good to be back with the team after a big break and hopefully at the end of the rally we are sitting in a good position for the overall championship. First is far out of reach, however the year is only halfway over and a lot can happen. We will stay focused and keep pushing forward, working to be better with the team and with the bike.

Skyler Howes ¹⁰

This is the first time I’ve been to South Africa and it’s pretty exciting to come to a new country and to race a new area. So far all I know what to expect is what the organisation has told us and also some inside information from the locals. What it looks like is the trees have thorns on them and so that’s actually going to play an important role if you come into contact with them. I think that’s going to be a bit tricky and there’s been a lot of rain in the area lately, already that’s been a big challenge for the organisation for the road books so I think we are going to see a lot of water. As far as the navigation goes, the word is that it’s going to be quite technical just because there's going to be a lot of farmland and fences and a lot of trails connecting very quickly. I think navigation will be key on top of the other factors of the bushes and the water. At the beginning looking into this race I was thinking it was going to be a little bit easy just because there’s no off piste, it’s not the open desert, but it looks like it’s going to be tricky and still be a proper rally, so I’m excited for that and looking forward to seeing what the new race has to offer. Hopefully there’s no giraffes, elephants or crazy animals out on the track and we can race clean. I think it’s going to be fun and I’m looking forward to it.

Adrien Van Beveren ⁴²

It’s really cool to discover a new country and it’s the first time in South Africa for me. This is the good thing about rally-raid, the adventure it provides to know about new cultures, new environments and South Africa is a big world for adventure when you think about the animals and the savannah. I’m really glad and happy to race in this country and at the same time to get back to racing. It’s been quite full on since the Rallye du Maroc, with preparation for the Dakar, then Abu Dhabi, they’re all close together on the calendar which makes it quite tiring. It was good to be able to have some free time, but it’s also felt like it’s been a long time without any racing, so it’s cool to see the team again. HRC have done some good work on the bike, made some improvements, so I can’t wait to try that and enjoy this experience with the whole crew. We have a really big team, they’re really well organised and it’s nice to be a part of it. I’m proud to be an HRC rider and be able to be a part of this adventure.

Tosha Schareina ⁶⁸

It's a race I'm really looking forward to. Whenever we visit and race in new countries it is an extra motivation and even more so in a country like South Africa. I think it will be a wild race and it’s the first time it is part of the World Rally-Raid Championship. We will have to take into account the wild animals and many other factors that we don't have in the rest of the world. I'm ready to give gas in the savannah, I'm motivated and I have my HRC team to get a great result.