Stage 12 Recap: Brabec Dominates with Consistent Performance
Yanbu, Saudi Arabia — Stage 12 of the 2026 Dakar Rally concluded with Ricky Brabec from the Monster Energy/Honda HRC Rally team taking first place, finishing the day with a time of 3:19:01. Spanish racer Tosha Schareina secured third position in the stage, finishing 12:58 behind Brabec, and currently holds third overall in the standings, trailing Brabec by 27:51 as the rally approaches its conclusion.
In the Rally2 class, Preston Campbell, also with Monster Energy/Honda HRC, continued to impress in his rookie Dakar Rally, placing third in today’s stage and maintaining second place overall. He remains 6:12 adrift of KTM’s Toni Mulec, who leads the class.
Campbell remarked on his experience: “The stage was good. I had a lot of fun … It was a really fun flow and, yeah, I was happy with my ride today.” Reflecting on his overall performance, he stated, “I’m super happy with my two weeks here at the Dakar…lots of learning, lots of improvement.”
Campbell’s teammate Martim Ventura occupies the third overall position in Rally2, secured by a significant gap of over half an hour to fourth place, represented by Poland’s Konrad Dabrowski. Both riders are poised for podium finishes, marking a successful debut for the Monster Energy/Honda HRC junior program.
Joe Parsons from Monster Energy commented on the junior team’s success, stating, “Two years later we’re here at the ’26 Dakar with two young kids… both of them are going to be on the box!”
Looking Ahead to Final Stage
The final stage will cover a total of 138 km, featuring 105 km of timed specials through rugged terrain, concluding in Yanbu’s central bivouac. Brabec leads the overall standings with a cumulative time of 48:08:12, followed by Campbell (+6:12) and Howes in fourth place (+58:21).
Current Standings: Stage 12 Results
- 1st: Ricky Brabec (Monster Energy/Honda) – 03:19:01
- 2nd: Tosha Schareina (Monster Energy/Honda) – 03:31:59 (+12:58)
- 3rd: Preston Campbell (Monster Energy/Honda) – 03:41:47 (+08:12)
- 7th: Howes (Monster Energy/Honda) – 03:43:25 (+24:24)
With one stage remaining, the competitors are set for an exciting conclusion to the 2026 Dakar Rally.
