Richard William Brabec (born 21 April 1991) is an American professional off-road and rally raid motorcycle racer. He is prominent for being the first American competitor to win the motorcycle division of the Dakar Rally in 2020. He won the Dakar again in 2024.
Biography Brabec was born in San Bernardino, California and started BMX when he was five years old. When he was 15, he and his family moved to the desert city of Hesperia, California. First trying motocross, Brabec began desert racing in 2011.
In 2014, Brabec won the Baja 1000, Baja 500 and San Felipe 250. He was fifth in the bike category at Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in 2015. In 2016, he was sixth at Merzouga Rally and seventh at Atacama Rally in the bike category.
He made his Dakar Rally debut in 2016 and finished in 9th. In 2017, he won his first stage, but failed to finish the race. In 2018, he was running in 6th place when he was forced out of the race. It was the second time in his career that he retired from a race. In 2019, he retired for the third consecutive year. In 2020, he won the bike category and two stages.
Brabec also represented the United States at three International Six Days Enduro events. The International Six Days Enduro is a form of off-road motorcycle Olympics that is the oldest annual competition sanctioned by the FIM, dating back to 1913.
Career results Dakar Rally results YearClassVehiclePositionStage wins2016 Bikes Honda 9th 02017 DNF 12018 DNF 02019 DNF 12020 1st 22021 2nd 42022 7th 02023 DNF 12024 1st 12025 5th 12026 2nd 1
World Rally-Raid Championship YearTeamVehicleClass12345Pos.Points 2022 Monster Energy Honda Team Honda CRF450 Rally RallyGPDAK7ABU2MAR3AND7 2nd 592023 Monster Energy Honda Team Honda CRF450 RallyDAKRetABU7SON7DES2MARRet9th38 2024 Monster Energy Honda Team Honda CRF450 RallyDAK1ABURetPORRetDES1MARRet4th632025 Monster Energy Honda HRC Honda CRF450 RallyDAK5ABU2SUD3POR4MAR3 3rd 822026 Monster Energy Honda HRC Honda CRF450 RallyDAK2POR8DESMARABU38
Other results
Baja 1000 2014 Baja 500 2014 San Felipe 250 2014 Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge 5th 2015 6th 2018 Atacama Rally 7th 2016 9th 2018 6th 2019 Merzouga Rally 6th 2016 Dakar Rally 2020 Rallye OiLibya du Maroc 2017 2018 5th 2019
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