While Monster Energy Honda HRC competes for the RallyGP title, Honda HRC has also launched a Rally2 division that will debut at this week’s BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal. The new program consists of Preston Campbell and Martim Ventura, both of whom will ride the recently released Honda CRF450RX Rally.

Having just celebrated his 26th birthday on Friday, Campbell has been a rising star back home in America. The son of Baja legend and Dakar veteran Johnny Campbell, he is a multi-time AMA District 37 champion in enduro, desert racing, and hare & hounmd who has also competed at the ISDE. He is also the twice reigning Mint 400 Motorcycle Race winner, winning both alongside Monster Energy HRC rider Ricky Brabec, and won the Vegas to Reno in 2024.

In March, he won the Sonora Rally in his first time ever competing in a rally raid. As a Road to Dakar leg and former W2RC round, Sonora helped bolster his already loaded achievements to the point where he was easily accepted for his Dakar debut in 2026.

His family-run JCR Honda is Honda’s de facto American off-road motorcycle factory team. Campbell and SCORE Pro Moto Unlimited points leader Tyler Lynn finished second at this year’s Vegas to Reno under the JCR banner.

Ventura was previously affiliated with Husqvarna, enjoying much success in domestic and international rallies. The Portuguese rider finished third in the 2024 FIM Bajas World Cup’s Junior Trophy, scoring three victories at the Baja Portalegre 500, Baja TT Sharish Gin, and Hungarian Baja.

With his successes in European forests, he has also been increasing his desert rally résumé to prepare for Dakar. Most notably, Ventura dominated the Carta Rallye in April.

While Rally Raid Portugal is Campbell’s W2RC debut, Ventura had entered the inaugural edition in 2024 but retired.

The Honda CRF450RX Rally, in essence, is Honda’s rally replica bike. It made its debut at Dakar with Jacob Argubright, who finished 22nd in Rally2, while Honda Racing Corporation supplies factory kit parts for it in partnership with RedMoto.

Featured image credit: Honda HRC