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.
