Schareina & Brabec go 2-3 at WRRC BP Ultimate Portugal Rally’s Stage 2

With 2^nd and 3^rd place finishes in Thursday’s second stage of the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, Round 4 (of 5) of the 2025 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally’s Tosha Schareina and Ricky Brabec jumped up to  the No. 2 and No. 3 overall positions, respectively, through two of five stages of off-road racing this week throughout Portugal and Spain.

But as well as they day would go for much of the Monster Energy-backed racers and programs, two of the more notable competitors – Adrien Van Beveren (Honda HRC Rally), who placed 2^nd on Stage 1, and defending WRRC overall champ, Ross Branch (Hero Motorsports), would be forced from the race due to an accident and injury (Van Beveren) and accident resulting in an unrideable motorcycle (Branch).

The 655 km Stage 2, which ran from Grandola to Badajoz, included a grueling 429 km of Specials – running through both Portugal and a portion of Spain (Badajoz). Running, at speed, through sections lined with eucalyptus and pines, the stage would finish in a dry, sandy section which, according to the Monster Energy racers, was especially difficult in terms of traction.

“Today was really long – the longest stage of the rally,” said Schareina, who trails Daniel Sanders (KTM) by just 1:36 through the Prologue and two stages of racing. “More than 400 k’s, really fast piste, some off-camber terrain and trees made it tricky. I tried to push from the beginning. We did 2^nd, just four seconds behind Daniel (Sanders). The last 50 k’s was super, super slippery – like ice. We will try again tomorrow.”

Added Brabec, who finished 2:08 back of his teammate Schareina on the stage. “Today was a Dakar-style stage with the time. A long day. 11 hours on the bike. It’s tough on the body, but here we are. We made it to Spain. Tomorrow we have a loop around here, then we’re back to Portugal the next day. So far the rally’s going good. I’m happy where we’re at. Three days left to go. Just keep the bike moving forward.”

Rounding out the top ten in the RallyGP class was Monster Energy’s Skyler Howes (Honda HRC Rally) in 6^th position and, in Rally 2 racing, Preston Campbell (Honda HRC) placed a strong 4^th.

And some more tough news out of the Rally 2 class when Monster Energy’s Tobia Ebster (Hero Motorsport) damaged the radiator on his Rally 450, lost the coolant and was forced to exit the race. Ebster is the current Rally 2 points leader.

STAGE 2 Notes:

• The bike was destroyed, although he (Branch) came through relatively unscathed.” – Monster Energy rep Joe Parsons in speaking with Branch back at the bivouac in Badajoz.
• Added Brabec: “Adrian missed the corner by one meter and fell down a cliff. It’s unfortunate for Adrien.”
• “Well, I guess that’s part of the game.” – Van Beveren
• Said Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally principal Ruben Faria: “Adrien crashed this morning at around the 187 km mark, as he arrived too fast into a corner. He is in a lot of pain in his whole body, his shoulder is a bit damaged. But, luckily, he has escaped serious injury.”
• Schareina and Sanders battled right down to the tape on Stage 2 – with Sanders coming in a mere four seconds ahead of Schareina – after 429 kilometers!
• “Started the morning off with brand new tires, then ended the day with slicks.” – Brabec
• “Super slippery. Like ice.” - Schareina
• Added Brabec, on how he handled the slick conditions: “It was sketchy. I was a little nervous. Just put the bike in high gear and just kind of lugged it around.”

WRRC BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal

Stage 2 (Place/Name/Team/Time) RallyGP class

2^nd – Schareina (Monster Energy/Honda), + :04

3^rd – Brabec (Monster Energy/Honda), + 2:10

6^th  – Howes (Monster Energy/Honda), + 9:54

RallyGP 2 class

4^th – Campbell (Monster Energy/Honda), + 4:56

Monster Energy WRRC Motorcycle GP class standings (after 3 of 5 rounds)

Place/Name/Team

3^rd – Brabec (Monster Energy/Honda), 53 points             

4^th – Van Beveren (Monster Energy/Honda), 48 points

5^th – Schareina (Monster Energy/Honda), 46 points

6^th – Howes (Monster Energy/Honda), 35 points

6^th – Cornejo (Hero/Monster Energy), 34 points

9^th – Branch (Hero/Monster Energy), 8 points

2025 FIM World Rally-Raid GP2 class standings (after 3 of 5 rounds)

1^st – Ebster (Hero/Monster Energy), 66 points

UP NEXT…

The BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal’s third stage starts and finishes in Badajoz, covering 511 km. Riders and drivers face a spectacular 308 km selective section, very fast with good terrain, and featuring sandy stretches in true rally-raid style.