Dakar

Ex-Yamaha rider van Beveren joins Honda for Dakar 2023

Adrien van Beveren will contest the 2023 edition of the Dakar Rally with Honda following the end of Yamaha's factory rally-raid programme.

Jamie Klein

Edited: Jun 4, 2022, 10:40 AM

Copy link

Share on Viber

Add as a preferred source

629a23bb05df81.68505077

Yamaha announced back in February that this year's Dakar was its last in the legendary event as a works outfit, ending an unbroken spell of participation dating back to the inaugural race in 1979.

However, its top finisher from this year's edition has now found a home with arch-rival marque Honda, where he joins Ricky Brabec, Pablo Quintanilla and Jose Ignacio Cornejo in the factory line-up.

“I am really happy and excited with this opportunity!" said van Beveren. "I feel proud to become a Honda Racing rider, since HRC is the worldwide competition factory reference. I am sure it will be an incredible experience.

"To [ride] a red bike brings me good memories, since I had a Honda when I was 8 years old! In addition, it’s great to have Monster Energy onboard – I’ve been riding with them for more than 10 years”.

Honda's general manager and ex-rider Ruben Faria added: “We are very pleased with this announcement and we have already completed together the first tests with the Honda 450 CRF RALLY.

"There is great harmony in the team and I am sure Adrien will help us to achieve our competitive goals."

Honda's statement announcing van Beveren's arrival made no mention of the rider whose place he ostensibly takes, Joan Barreda.

The 38-year-old Spaniard battled injury to finish fifth in this year's Dakar, notching up two stage wins (bringing his career total to 29) before sitting out the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge in March to focus on his recovery.

According to Spanish publication Marca, Honda is waiting for a decision on whether Barreda opts to continue his top-line career on two wheels for what would be his 10th consecutive Dakar with the brand.

Barreda has previously openly floated the idea of switching from motorcycles to cars, a path well trodden by the likes of Stephane Peterhansel, Nani Roma and Cyril Despres over the years.

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?

Take our 5 minute survey.

- The Motorsport.com Team

Read and post comments

Share Or Save This Story

Copy link

Share on Viber

Previous article How Audi took the Dakar by storm with its hybrid game-changer

Next article Dakar Rally announces longer 14-stage route for 2023

Top Comments

There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?

View More & Comment

Latest news

Why aerodynamics will become "even more important" under 2027 MotoGP regulations

MotoGP

MGP MotoGP

Qatar GP

14 min

Why aerodynamics will become "even more important" under 2027 MotoGP regulations

Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value

WEC

WEC WEC

Monza

1 h

Sebastien Bourdais hopes latest WEC success will remind teams of his value

"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027

Formula 1

F1 Formula 1

Sao Paulo GP

3 h

"It's horribly painful" - Williams drops 2026 car upgrades to benefit 2027

The lowdown on this year’s FIA F3 title protagonists

FIA F3

The lowdown on this year’s FIA F3 title protagonists

Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.

From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.

You have 2 options:

Become a subscriber.
Disable your adblocker.

Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here

Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page

Manage Alerts