American Honda hosted a media breakfast Jan. 28 to honor Ricky Brabec’s historic victory at the 2020 Dakar Rally. Brabec is the first American rider to win the off-road competition’s Bike Class title. It also was Honda’s first Dakar victory since 1989.

Brabec and Honda worked together for five years to build a rally-winning program. The combination of Brabec’s speed and navigation skills, Honda’s purpose-built factory CRF450 Rally and the experience and advice of Brabec’s coach, Johnny Campbell, proved to be a formula for victory.

The win came one year after the team endured a heartbreaking loss in the final stage of the 2019 event.

Brabec said the motorcycle performed flawlessly, and its reliability contributed to the win by avoiding time penalties for repairs during race time.

“You know, with these historic wins, basically the door has been kicked wide open, in terms of American riders’ ability to win anywhere in the world,” Campbell said in response to a question about recent American successes at the Dakar Rally and FIM International Six Days Enduro. “While the door has always been cracked open a bit, now the awareness is at an all-time high.

“The Dakar is considered the pinnacle of rally racing, and Ricky proved we have the combination of speed and navigation skills.”