Ricky Brabec and Honda win Dakar 2024

Ricky Brabec has won the 2024 Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, piloting his Honda CRF450R Rally to victory over Ross Branch (Hero) and teammate Adrien van Beveren.

The American was hard to beat in the second half of the race, finishing the two-week struggle nearly 11 minutes clear of Branch. It was his second Dakar overall win, the first coming in 2020.

Branch’s second place was historic for multiple reasons. Not only was it his first Dakar podium, but it was also the first podium for Botswana, and the first podium for Indian giant Hero Motorsports. Hero is the first Indian manufacturer to podium at Dakar.  

Van Beveren gave Honda two spots on the podium and finished approximately a minute and a half behind Branch.

Next was KTM duo Kevin Benavides and Toby Price, with neither of the two-time winners able to add a third title to their trophy cabinet. Australia’s Price was about 45 minutes off Brabec’s time, and it is unclear if he will return to Dakar on two wheels in 2025.

The other Australian, Daniel Sanders (GASGAS), finished a tough race with eighth place and was almost one hour and fifteen minutes off the pace. However, he spent much of the lead-up to Dakar recovering from a serious injury and has vowed to return better and stronger in 2025.

In the Car division, Carlos Sainz gave Audi its first Dakar victory, which was also the first Dakar victory by an electric-hybrid car. The 61-year-old former World Rally champion has now won Dakar four times and was embraced at the finish line by his son, Formula One star Carlos Sainz Jr.