VOL. 54 ISSUE 1 JANUARY 10, 2017 P93
in 2016 I did three rallies: the
Merzouga Rally in Africa, the
Morocco Rally in Africa and the
Atacama Rally in Chile. They
help you, of course, because
it's roadbook training; it's racing
at high speeds with the best in
the world, literally. Learning the
roadbook and learning the bike
a little bit more and learning how
the rally team works, I feel really
good going into the Dakar 2017
only because Johnny and I have
been working on some things
here [in the local desert] and I'm
way more comfortable on the
bike. I think Dakar this year is
going to be good.
During some of the rallies
this year, it seems like the
team's had a few issues with
the bikes, different things
popping up. What has the
team learned from this?
I really don't know the prob-
lems with the bikes. I don't get
into it with [the mechanics and
engineers] about that stuff be-
cause I kind of know how things
should be done. I don't think the
way they do it is [necessarily]
right; I don't agree with it only
because we go to races with
new product without testing it. If
it was my own budget, I would
be concerned, but I asked them
if we could try the product at
home before we go race with it.
I don't know their system; I don't
question it—I just race.
You and the JCR Honda
team have done durability
testing of the CRF450 Rally
bike here. Does testing in the
American desert help develop
the bike or is it mostly to help
you get used to riding the
rally bike?
We test and we helped
build the new bike out here in
Barstow, actually. We had a
two-week test with [fellow team
riders] Joan [Barreda] and [Mi-
chael] "Mika" [Metge]. Joan and
Mika really, really enjoyed it, so
I think out here in Barstow, the
Mexican desert out there in So-
nora, Dumont [sand dunes]—we
kind of went all over the place.
They really liked it.
At the 2016 Dakar, which
was your first, you were there
mostly in a backup role to
Joan and Paulo Goncalves.
In subsequent rallies you've
continued your rally educa-
tion. In the upcoming Dakar,
will your role change?
As he prepares
for his second
Dakar, Brabec
finds himself
on the factory
Honda team
once again.
PHOTO
COURTESY
OF
MONSTER
ENERGY
HONDA
TEAM
