Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Ricky Brabec’s path to the top of rally racing didn’t happen overnight.
In this episode of Bore and Stoke, we talk about his roots in the desert, the journey to becoming a Dakar champion, and the lessons learned along the way.
We also reflect on one of the closest finishes in Dakar history—not as a headline, but as part of a bigger story about resilience, growth, and the pursuit of perfection in rally racing.
We’d like to extend a special thank you to our podcast sponsor, the Honda Gold Wing. If you’re gonna ride, ride something legendary. Learn more about the Honda Gold Wing here: powersports.honda.com/motorcycle/touring/gold-wing?cid=dis_ver_dly&cmpcd=FY26Full_Year_Gold_Wing
00:00 Intro
00:35 Advertisement
01:26 Welcome RICKY BRABEC
03:15 Ricky’s ladder into rally racing
14:10 Ricky’s first rally was gnarly
18:00 Ricky’s second chance on the Honda — and roadbooks
22:40 Dakar comes calling
27:09 Learning from Johnny Campbell
32:11 Partying takes a back seat
37:56 What’s cool about desert racing
40:11 Dakar’s rise in popularity in America
44:51 Bringing up a sore subject
51:33 Advertisement
52:10 Managing each stage mentally
58:01 Ricky’s relationship with danger
01:02:00 Airbags have changed the game — but it still hurts
01:06:09 Americans at the Dakar
01:09:00 Training with Jimmy Lewis
01:14:37 What makes the Ricky Brabec/Honda package work so well?
01:16:30 What’s going on at the Rip n Dip ranch?
01:24:27 What a cool guy
01:26:28 Rate us and leave a comment!
01:28:00 Advertisement
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Established in 1994, Motorcycle.com is the premier online resource for motorcycle and scooter enthusiasts. With hundreds of high quality, detailed video reviews on bikes from Harley-Davidson, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and just about everybody else, it's the best place to go to learn about the latest and greatest two-wheeled creations. There's simply no better resource if you're planning on buying or if you just want to check out some awesome machines.
Ricky Brabec’s path to the top of rally racing didn’t happen overnight.
In this episode of Bore and Stoke, we talk about his roots in the desert, the journey to becoming a Dakar champion, and the lessons learned along the way.
We also reflect on one of the closest finishes in Dakar history—not as a headline, but as part of a bigger story about resilience, growth, and the pursuit of perfection in rally racing.
We’d like to extend a special thank you to our podcast sponsor, the Honda Gold Wing. If you’re gonna ride, ride something legendary. Learn more about the Honda Gold Wing here: powersports.honda.com/motorcycle/touring/gold-wing?cid=dis_ver_dly&cmpcd=FY26Full_Year_Gold_Wing
00:00 Intro
00:35 Advertisement
01:26 Welcome RICKY BRABEC
03:15 Ricky’s ladder into rally racing
14:10 Ricky’s first rally was gnarly
18:00 Ricky’s second chance on the Honda — and roadbooks
22:40 Dakar comes calling
27:09 Learning from Johnny Campbell
32:11 Partying takes a back seat
37:56 What’s cool about desert racing
40:11 Dakar’s rise in popularity in America
44:51 Bringing up a sore subject
51:33 Advertisement
52:10 Managing each stage mentally
58:01 Ricky’s relationship with danger
01:02:00 Airbags have changed the game — but it still hurts
01:06:09 Americans at the Dakar
01:09:00 Training with Jimmy Lewis
01:14:37 What makes the Ricky Brabec/Honda package work so well?
01:16:30 What’s going on at the Rip n Dip ranch?
01:24:27 What a cool guy
01:26:28 Rate us and leave a comment!
01:28:00 Advertisement
Subscribe!
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=Motorcycle
YouTube - youtube.com/Motorcycle
Facebook - facebook.com/MotorcycleCom
Twitter - twitter.com/MotorcycleCom
Web - Motorcycle.com
Established in 1994, Motorcycle.com is the premier online resource for motorcycle and scooter enthusiasts. With hundreds of high quality, detailed video reviews on bikes from Harley-Davidson, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Kawasaki and just about everybody else, it's the best place to go to learn about the latest and greatest two-wheeled creations. There's simply no better resource if you're planning on buying or if you just want to check out some awesome machines.
