The Monster Energy Honda HRC team faced a challenging fourth stage of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, with riders navigating through a mix of dunes and technical terrain. Adrien Van Beveren had his best stage so far, finishing second and moving up to fourth overall, just 21 seconds behind Luciano Benavides. Ricky Brabec had a strong stage, posting the fourth-fastest time and jumping into the provisional runner-up spot. However, the team’s original hopes of a second place overall were jeopardized when Tosha Schareina, who was in the lead before the stage, got lost and lost over 10 minutes to Daniel Sanders.
The team is still hoping to clinch a podium spot, with Ricky Brabec and Adrien Van Beveren in a strong position to push for a strong finish. However, Schareina’s setback has put him at a disadvantage, and he will need to make up significant time to challenge for the overall victory. The final stage of the rally will be a challenging 167 km, with the riders aiming to reach the finish line in Abu Dhabi. The team is optimistic, with Ruben Faria mentioning that they plan to push for a minimum of two riders on the podium and a win, should the stage conditions allow for it.