Ricky Brabec Dominates Stage 1 of the 2026 Morocco Rally
In an exhilarating start to the 2026 Morocco Rally, Ricky Brabec has claimed victory in the first stage, establishing himself at the forefront of the competition. The seasoned rider from Monster Energy Honda HRC, who has previously placed third in this rally on four occasions, showcased his prowess by clocking the fastest time during the Zagora special stage. Completing the course, Brabec finished a remarkable 23 seconds ahead of his closest rival, Daniel Sanders, while Edgar Canet trailed by 44 seconds, and Luciano Benavides came in fourth, finishing 1 minute and 53 seconds behind the leader.
The first stage, characterized as the longest of the event, spanned a total of 639.4 kilometers. Competitors departed from Agadir at 4:00 AM to tackle a liaison of 264 kilometers, before entering the special stage at 8:45 AM. Lorenzo Santolino, riding for Sherco TVS Rally Factory, opened the way through the 271.7-kilometer special stage, which introduced the riders to the initial dunes of the rally, albeit without significant technical challenges. Following this, a second liaison of 103.7 kilometers brought the participants to the bivouac in Zagora. Marc Coma, the rally director, described the stage as reminiscent of Dakar's style due to its length and structure, allowing less experienced riders to acclimatize to navigation and terrain in preparation for the tougher stages ahead.
With this victory, Brabec now leads the overall standings, holding a 10-second advantage over Sanders and a 43-second lead over Canet. This win also marks his first stage victory since the twelfth day of the Dakar, highlighting Honda's return to the top of the World Rally-Raid Championship.
Honda Celebrates Double Victory
In an impressive display of skill, Martim Ventura secured the win in the Rally2 category, contributing to Honda's successful day. After a strong start, Ventura managed to race among several RallyGP competitors and achieved his ninth stage victory in the W2RC circuit. He outpaced Michael Docherty, who is still adjusting to his new Hero motorcycle, establishing a solid lead of 58 seconds over him and a significant gap of 9 minutes and 17 seconds over his teammate Bruno Crivilin, who had triumphed in the previous stage.
In the Rally3 category, Albert Martin also continued his winning streak, capturing his second consecutive victory as Triumph Spain marks a perfect debut in the W2RC with two back-to-back wins.
The results of the first stage of the 2026 Morocco Rally indicate a competitive field, and fans can look forward to the upcoming stages as the event unfolds. For complete results, visit www.rallyemaroc.com.
As reported by enduro21.com.
