Monster Energy Honda HRC’s Rally 2 rider, Martim Ventura, claimed an impressive runner-up finish at his home event as Rally-Raid Portugal concluded today.
The rally featured a challenging mountainous route from Loulé in Portugal’s Algarve region, covering a total of 291 km split into two timed sections. Riders first faced a demanding 98 km stage before returning to Loulé to thrill the crowd over a final 2 km sprint.
Ventura, who had won stage four yesterday, rebounded strongly from an earlier prologue crash to stay among the front runners. His rapid pace on the Honda CRF450 RX RALLY kept him competitive against the Rally GP contenders throughout the event.
The final 2 km in front of a passionate home crowd provided an extra boost for Ventura and he finished the stage in fourth, securing the runner-up spot on the overall Rally 2 podium, just behind fellow Portuguese rider Bruno Santos. The result was a standout performance for Ventura, highlighted by his strong pace in the latter stages of the rally.
Preston Campbell, meanwhile, faced a week of adapting to the wet, slippery terrain, a stark contrast to the open desert tracks he’s accustomed to in California. Despite the challenges, the 2026 Dakar Rally Rally 2 runner-up tackled the stages with determination, finishing seventh today and securing seventh overall, 26 minutes behind the leader.
With these results, Ventura moves up to second in the World Rally-Raid Championship Rally 2 standings, just five points behind Toni Mulec. Campbell holds fourth place, ten points off the top spot. Together, their performances help Honda maintain first place in the manufacturer standings.
Both riders will carry the experience from Rally-Raid Portugal into the next round of the championship in Argentina, running from 24th – 29th May, as they continue their first full season in the World Rally-Raid Championship.
Ruben Faria – General Manager : « Rally 2 wasn’t easy, but in the end it was a positive result for the team. We missed the overall victory with Martim by just 1’04. He lost some time on the first day and arrived slightly injured, nothing major, but enough to affect him early on. Step by step, he gained confidence throughout the rally and ultimately secured second place overall. The Honda CRF450 RX RALLY performed exceptionally well and now his focus shifts to Desafío Ruta 40.
« For Preston, this is not his preferred type of terrain. He’s not used to these conditions, especially with the rain, which is very different from what he experiences back home. However, he improved day by day and delivered a strong performance in the final stage. From a championship perspective, it’s also a positive result. Desafío Ruta 40 will suit him better, as it’s more desert-style terrain.
« Overall, we are very happy with both riders and with the performance of the bike. We’re confident that at the Desafío Ruta 40 we will be fighting for the win. »
Martim Ventura #84 – Stage: 4th Overall: 2nd : « I wanted more from this week, I had some issues before the race, but I managed to do quite a good job. There’s more races to come, the championship looks good and I just have to keep working. I love the work we have to do for the races, so let’s go.
Preston Campbell #85 – Stage: 7th Overall: 7th : « I’m happy to be at the finish. It was a difficult week, just trying really hard to adapt to the rain and the mud and the slick roads. I did my best. I was hoping for a better outcome at the beginning of the week, but happy to make it to the finish and excited for the next round in Argentina. »
Rally 2 Result – Stage 5
1. Santos Bruno (POR) – BS Frutas Patricia Pilar, 01:06:27
2. Simão Micael (POR) – Xraids Experience, + 00:11
3. Theric Neels (FRA) – Kove Factory Racing, + 00:31
4. Ventura Martim (POR) – Honda HRC, + 00:40
5. Mulec Toni (SLO) – BAS World KTM Racing Team, + 01:58
6. Pellicer Alfredo (SPA) – Xraids Experience, + 03:01
7. Campbell Preston (USA) – Honda HRC, + 03:16
8. Zoldos Thomas (FRA) – Aub’Moto, + 03:38
9. Knuiman Jeremy (NDL) – Xraids Experience, + 04:00
10. Escofet Marti (SPA) – Joyride Race Service, + 05:18
Rider Standings
Rally 2 Provisional Standings After Stage 5
1. Santos Bruno (POR) – BS Frutas Patricia Pilar, 11:22:39
2. Ventura Martim (POR) – Honda HRC, + 01:04
3. Theric Neels (FRA) – Kove Factory Racing, + 05:57
4. Simão Micael (POR) – Xraids Experience, + 14:25
5. Mulec Toni (SLO) – BAS World KTM Racing Team, + 18:24
6. Pellicer Alfredo (SPA) – Xraids Experience, + 18:56
7. Campbell Preston (USA) – Honda HRC, + 24:06
8. Knuiman Jeremy (NDL) – Xraids Experience, + 41:31
9. Zoldos Thomas (FRA) – Aub’Moto, + 01:11:58
10. Escofet Marti (SPA) – Joyride Race Service, + 01:12:40