Honda HRC duo finish strong in desert finale at 2025 Rallye du Maroc
As the 2025 Rallye du Maroc drew to a close after a week of intense racing across the North African desert, stage five’s 311 km stretch from Erfoud to Merzouga promised a thrilling finale as riders faced fast, rocky canyon tracks before confronting the dramatic dunes that defined the stage’s conclusion.
For first-time Rallye du Maroc competitors Preston Campbell and Martim Ventura, the final day was an opportunity to make a statement in the sands and with 216 km of special stage remaining, Ventura launched a full-on attack aboard his Honda CRF450RX RALLY. At just 44 km in, he was only 11 seconds off in third place and maintaining a steady pace through the dunes, he secured a well-earned stage podium finish. An earlier issue on stage two had put him out of contention for an overall podium, but his 19th-place finish belied the week’s success and provided a significant confidence boost ahead of Dakar.
Campbell also enjoyed a strong finale, claiming a top-six stage finish and sixth overall. After a demanding week in Morocco, the young American savoured the challenges of sand riding, gaining invaluable experience that will serve him well for his first Dakar Rally in January.
The Honda CRF450RX RALLY has delivered impressive performances both at this rally and the previous Rally-Raid Portugal round. With more kilometres under its belt, the Honda HRC team now turns its focus to the ultimate test: the 2026 Dakar Rally. From 3rd to 17th January, Campbell and Ventura will tackle a monumental 8,000 km across some of the toughest terrain on the planet during the 48th edition of this legendary motorsport event.
Martim Ventura 84
I felt good this rally and I’m super happy how my rhythm was this week. In Portugal, it was the first race, but we know that for Dakar, the Rallye du Maroc is a real test so I’m pretty happy. I started rallies this year and to have this rhythm at the moment has made me happy. The race could have been better if we’d not had the issue with the mousse on the second day. But I’m happy, I did a good stage today and I have gained a lot of experience for Dakar.
Preston Campbell 85
I'm super happy to complete the week and finish the race. It was a long week, really technical, but I had a lot of fun, lots of learning and making steps in the right direction. I can’t thank the team enough for the support and my mechanic Paul and I’m looking forward to the next one. I’m ready for Dakar, looking forward to some more training and taking what I learned in Portugal and Morocco and putting it towards Dakar.
