Hero’s Ross Branch wins Rallye Du Maroc’s opening stage, Honda racer Ricky Brabec crashes out

Monster Energy/Hero Motosports’ Ross Branch battled some wild conditions, along with the best off-road motorcycle racers on the planet, and came away victorious in today’s opening stage of the Rallye Du Maroc, the fifth and final round of the 2024 World Rally Raid Championship.

And joining Branch on the Rallye Du Maroc Stage 1 podium for Monster Energy was Tosha Schareina (Honda Rally Team), who also won the previous day’s (Sunday) Prologue race, which set the starting order for Monday’s opening stage.

Due to heavy rains, which delayed teams from getting to the Zagora bivouac until the early morning hours of Monday, the Stage 1 start was delayed, with the route being switched from the original Stage 1 route to Tuesday’s planned Stage 2 route (in order to avoid flood damage to the Stage 1 course). With that the racers expected a somewhat easier 180 km stage, but were instead greeted by tough conditions – which led to an unfortunate crash for WRRC motorcycle division title contender Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy/Honda Rally Team).

“Yeah, Rallye Du Maroc gets me again. Two years in a row… retired, Stage One,” said the dejected Brabec. “More or less healthy, no crashes this year or last year. All was going well, riding smooth, fast, with Pablo (Quintanilla, Monster Energy/Honda Rally Team). But dunes are dunes and you never really know what’s on the other side. Jumped one dune, wasn’t a small dune. Guess you could say I jumped a little too far.”

At the bottom of the dune, where Brabec said “was exactly where I wanted to land,” there was another “knuckle,” as Brabec called it. The knuckle, though, wasn’t shock-absorbing sand, but rather hardpack dirt and rock. And Brabec came down from heights, catching the suspension linkage and right footpeg on the feature, which sent the percussion directly into his right MX boot (actually breaking the boot) and up through his knee to his hip.

“That’s basically what got me,” he said. “I didn’t have a chance to get anything soaked up by suspension. The first point of contact was the right peg, which my right foot was standing on. At the moment it hurt. (I) waited about ten minutes, tried to stand up and push, but I quickly noticed that my knee was exploded at this time. And it was all I could do to get through the end of the Special and try to get back to the bivouac.”

Branch, who was leading Brabec by nine points in the overall WRRC standings, and 3rd place overall Adrien Van Beveren (Monster Energy/Honda Rally Team) by 16 points. (With Brabec out), Branch needs only to complete the four remaining Rallye Du Maroc stages (finishing Friday) to win the overall title.

“Stage One in the books – and probably one of the harder stages I’ve ever done,” said Branch. “It was rocks, hard pack and kickers from the beginning and we just tried to keep it on two wheels. Extremely long stage and the navigation got tough at the end, but we enjoyed it, got back in one piece and lived to fight another day.”

Branch said he pretty much rode on his own through Stage 1, laughingly calling it a “Bit lonely out there,” but added that it was “good to be back on the bike and enjoying racing with all my friends.”

Schareina would agree that the opening stage, even with its Stage 2 route adjustment, was difficult and he was happy to make the podium.

“Yes, another hard day at the office. The first 30 k’s (kilometers) were very hard, something I did not expect… really expected something easier,” said Schareina. “Really sketchy. Gnarly sections with big rocks and I tried to ride smooth and with confidence because it would be so easy to crash and damage the bike. But I tried to push harder once we got out into the dunes and I think, with third place, we didn’t lose too much time with the guys in front.  A good position for the start tomorrow and another good battle with the guys.”

Tuesday’s Stage 2… will run a similar loop around Zagora as Stage 1, 317 km Special with a 158 km road sections (Liaison), totaling 475 km.

Rallye Du Maroc Stage 1 Results (& Overall Standings)

1st – Ross Branch (Monster Energy/Hero) 2:16:57

3rd – Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy/Honda) + 1:48

5th – Pablo Quintanilla (Monster Energy/Honda)  + 7:18

7th – Sebastian Buhler (Monster Energy/Hero) + 10:07

8th – Adrien Van Beveren (Monster Energy/Honda) + 10:23

2024 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (through 4 of 5 rounds)

Overall Standings

1st – Ross Branch (Monster Energy/Hero Motosports), 72 points

2nd – Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy/Honda HRC), 63 points

3rd - Adrien Van Beveren (Monster Energy/Honda HRC), 56 points

4th – Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy/Honda HRC), 45 points

5th – Pablo Quintanilla (Monster Energy/Honda HRC), 37 points

6th – Sebastian Buhler (Monster Energy/Hero Motosports), 29 points

7th – Jose “Nacho” Cornejo (Monster Energy/Hero Motosports), 28 points

8th – Skyler Howes (Monster Energy/Honda HRC), 26 points

9th – Aaron Mare (Monster Energy/Hero Motosports), 25 points