Honda HRC riders hit the ground running at Rally-Raid Portugal
Both Preston Campbell and Martim Ventura got up to speed on their CRF450 RX RALLY bikes at the 2025 Rally-Raid Portugal during the 5km prologue, held this afternoon on the sandy expanses at Grândola.
Drawing on his extensive desert racing experience, Preston was first out for Honda HRC and despite first-day nerves, he quickly found his rhythm and posted the fourth-fastest time in Rally 2, finishing just 11 seconds behind prologue winner Edgar Canet.
Buoyed by the support of a strong home crowd, Martim followed closely, clocking a time just nine seconds slower than Preston to secure tenth place. The opening test, which covered less than five minutes on the surprisingly firm surface, gave riders a taste of the challenges ahead.
As stage one looms, riders are preparing for a tough 425 km route, 302 km of which will be against the clock. The fast, gravel-based course out of Grândola promises to be even more demanding under dry conditions, with a variety of obstacles and terrain changes that could play a decisive role in shaping the opening day’s results.
Preston Campbell 85
The first prologue was really good, I had fun and I felt good on the bike. I had some pre-race nerves but overall it was super fun. I think I did OK, made it through the prologue and now ready for stage one.
Martim Ventura 84
Prologue done. I’m not the best guy in the prologue but I enjoyed it, there were lots of crowds there in my home country so it was really positive to see all these people. It was a bit sandy today and cost me a bit of time in some corners, but I’m feeling good. Tomorrow is a long day and I can get into my rhythm slowly, as I like. It was a tense prologue, not the best result for me, so I will try to move up the rankings in the next few days. Let’s go.
