2022 DAKAR RALLY PREVIEW Ricky Brabec, Skyler Howes, Andrew Short & Mason Klein Lead The Strongest Contingent Of American Riders Ever! By Scot Harden
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hile most of us were settling down for an extra shot of eggnog, sliding ever deeper into an l-tryptophan stupor, White Christmas droning on somewhere in the background, relishing in all our great good fortune on Christmas Day 2021, small groups of off-road motorcycle racers from points around the globe were boarding flights heading to Saudi Arabia for the start of the 44th Dakar Rally. Their delayed gift to themselves — nothing less than the ultimate prize in off-road motorcycling! Spanning 12 days, 5200 total miles, and 2700 miles of special tests. Some Xmas present! A.S.O. Dakar Race Director David Castera describes this year’s route as “Sand… in all shapes and colors.” What’s that mean? The old adage, “be careful what you wish for,” may never be truer! Following requests from racers in 2020 and 2021, major sand dune crossings have been brought back and figure to play a very prominent role in this year’s Rally.
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Expect a much different riding challenge this yearr. If nothing else, year three in Saudi Arabia promises to ratchet up the level of intensity and pressure exerted on every racer, especially those battling for the win. If 2021’s see-saw, back and forth racing is any indication of how things will shape up in 2022, expect some close racing, with the final result probably going down to the wire. In other words, don’t forget to bring your popcorn! I’ve followed Dakar with great interest, and the sport of rally racing has evolved over the years. My reference points go back to the late 80’s when I embarked on my Rally career and continued through 2004/2005 when I served as Team Mgr. and rider for the Red Bull/KTM US Dakar team. There have been some major moves during these decades The move from Dakar’s traditional home in Europe/North Africa to South America and ultimately to its current residence in Saudi Arabia, has dramatically altered the event’s vibe and the competitive make-up of the race. The move to lighter bikes, the trend to shorter, more technical routes, more control over the G.P.S., and the roadbook have led to some of the closest racing ever as factory riders and teams are confronted by an ever more level playing field. By comparison, the big race teams in the past could use their cubic dollars, map specialists, satellite technology, years of experience, and local knowledge to get a leg up on the competition. They provided their racers, in some cases, remarkably accurate forecasts and information regarding daily navigation and anticipating terrain conditions for each stage. Now that advantage has seemingly vanished. With G.P.S., and even roadbook info, now provided just moments before the start of each stage, every day will reveal itself as a complete surprise. This also means even more pressure is put upon the rider, and race strategy increasingly comes into play. Determining when to lead and when to follow, when to try to build an advantage, when to lay back and let others do the heavy lifting of opening the road. As if that isn’t enough, the talent at the top seems to be closer than ever. Five powerful factory teams (Red Bull KTM, Monster Energy Honda, Rockstar Husqvarna, Red Bull GasGas, Monster Energy Yamaha) and another half dozen satellite teams are vying for top honors. Red Bull KTM is chomping at the bit to reclaim its 18-year stranglehold on Dakar after losing in 2020 and 2021 to Monster Energy Honda. Former Red Bull KTM Dakar champions Matthias Walkner and Toby Price lead the team. And to show just how serious they are about reclaiming the top spot, they hired last year’s champion Kevin Benavides in the off-season away from the Monster Energy Honda Team. All three Red Bull KTM teammates are former Dakar champs. There are no water boys in this group, just three very badass dudes competing for the overall win. Meanwhile, Monster Energy Honda returns as the two-time defending champions. Led by America’s Ricky Brabec, with Pablo Quintanilla, Jose Cornejo and Joan Barreda rounding out the team, Honda has stacked the deck. Ricky is the only