Ross Branch in 2nd place at ’25 Dakar Rally’s opening Prologue

The stage to set the starting field for the first stage (Stage 1) of the 2025 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship’s famed Dakar Rally, dubbed the “Prologue,” saw defending series champion Ross Branch (Hero Motosports, fueled by Monster Energy) run his Hero Rally 450 bike to a podium 2^nd place finish on Friday in and around Bisha, Saudi Arabia.

Branch would be followed by an army of Monster Energy-backed racers in the Prologue, including defending Dakar champion and the only American to win the Dakar Rally twice (2020 & ’24), Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy/Honda HRC Team) in 4^th. Then rounding out the Prologue’s top ten were Brabec’s Monster Energy/Honda HRC Teammates Tosha Schareina (5^th), Pablo Quintanilla (6^th), Adrien Van Beveren (8^th) and Skyler Howes (10^th).

Also, in SSV class racing at Dakar’s Stage 1, Monster Energy’s Sara Price (Can-Am Factory Team), and her new co-driver, Sean Berriman, raced their way to a solid top five (4^th) place position in the Prologue, 39 seconds back of the early leaders, Americans Brock Heger and Max Eddy (RZR).

Saturday’s Jan. 4^th opening Stage 1 will be a test right out of the gate to see who put in the most training in November and December as a technical 413 km Special awaits the racers, along with a navigation and time-affirming 86 km Liaison.

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Said Branch: “Dakar 2025 officially started – and man-o-man it was so much fun! 30 kilometers of wide open stuff was really cool for me. I had a great time. Happy with the bike. Happy how everything’s working. And just happy to be back at Dakar. Really grateful to be here and looking forward to a nice, long rally. I think it’s going to change up a bit throughout the week, things are going to get super tough. But this was about the best start I could have asked for. Keep that ball rolling and having as much fun as I possibly can.”

Said Schareina: “Yeah, was a good Prologue. Super lenient stage. Super-fast, not too much to do with navigation. Just follow the marks. Happy with my riding. Tried to ride safe because I caught some cars on the piste. Tried to arrive smooth at the end. We’re in good position for tomorrow and let’s go for it!

Said Brabec: “All has been good so far. 29 kilometers, fairly fast with not too much navigation. But anyway, the Prologue was good to us. Ended up 4^th, and was hoping for a little bit better position, but this will do. I caught up to a competitor that was right in front of me, had some dust, and that took a little bit to get around him. Got in safe and looking forward to Stage 1 and great success the next two weeks.”

Said Quintanilla: “Finally we start the Dakar Rally! Prologue of 30 k’s was quite long, but for me it was a good day. I felt good on the bike. As we know, the Prologue is important, but can also be quite risky. It’s not that much time that you can win, but you can lose plenty. I tried to keep a good pace, but didn’t take any risk. Got to choose a good position for the start tomorrow. It’s a big day, Stage 1, and I feel good with confidence and I will enjoy the riding.”

Prologue Facts:

Last year’s Dakar winner, Ricky Brabec, was reported to be flying during the Prologue, the fastest bike in portions of the 30 km race. But the dust was quite heavy and, rather than risk it all early on, Brabec settled on a 4^th place result.
Extremely high wind and a sandstorm actually greeted the Dakar teams in Bisha, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday prior to Friday’s Prologue. Tents and anything short of automobiles and motor homes, semi tractors and trailers were blown all over the place. A message from Mother Nature emphasizing why this part of the world is the ultimate test of man/woman and machine.
“More or less, just wanted to get through it.” That’s how Monster Energy/Honda HRC Team’s Skyler Howes put his Prologue effort. Howes is just getting back on the bike after tearing up his ankle at the Rally Du Maroc last October. One his finish in Friday’s Prologue, Howes said: “Puts me in 10^th, which is the choosing position for tomorrow.”
Just ahead of Howes in the Prologue was Hero/Monster Energy’s Sebastian Buher who placed 9^th. Buher said the start of the Prologue was “Racing between bushes with some bumps,” and he’s OK with his selection for Saturday’s Stage 1 start. “Not good, but not bad either,” he said.
Sara Price’s new Can-Am Factory Team co-driver in the SSV class is Sean Berriman. Berriman you’ll recall was the co-driver for Monster Energy’s Casey Currie when Currie and Berriman won the then “UTV” class back in 2020.
Also with Price… in moving up to the Can-Am Factory Team this year she’s getting to run the new Can-Am Maverick “R” model side-by-side. Last year, with the South Racing/Can-Am privateer effort, Price’s first year racing Dakar, she raced Can-Am’s previous year (’23) Maverick SXS. So the technology’s a step up for her in 2025 with the elevation to Factory Team level.

Monster Energy Dakar Prologue Motorcycle Results

Place/Name/Team
Time

2^nd – Ross Branch (Hero/Monster Energy)
17:03 (- minus :12)

4^th – Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy/Honda)
17:09 (- minus :18)

5^th – Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy/Honda)
17:16 (- minus :25)

Monster Energy Dakar Motorcycle Standings (after Prologue)

Place/Name/Team
Time

2^nd – Ross Branch (Hero/Monster Energy)
17:03 (- minus :12)

4^th – Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy/Honda)
17:09 (- minus :18)

5^th – Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy/Honda)
17:16 (- minus :25)

Monster Energy Dakar SSV Class

Prologue SSV Results

4^th – Sara Price (Can-Am Factory Team)
18:05 (- minus :39)

Overall

4^th – Sara Price (Can-Am Factory Team)
18:05 (- minus :39)

Up next…

The 2025 Dakar Rally launches the opening Stage 1 on Saturday, Jan. 4, with a 413 km Special and 86 km Liaison. According to route designers, the Bisha to Bisha Stage 1 will throw every sort of racing surface – including rocks and hardpack – with the notable race surface exception, oddly enough, being sand. “A maze of tracks” await the lead pack at the halfway point, according to race officials. For more information, including “Live” timing and scoring, visit www.dakar.com