The Sonora Rally Carries On… In May
Amidst Heightened Safety Precautions, the Organizers Make Changes to Maintain Its Quality
Although hope is on the horizon, 2021 still lives with uncertainty. Because of all the unknowns presented by COVID-19 and the resources needed to safely put on a race of this kind, the Sonora Rally (aka SR) organizers felt it best to delay their premiere North American event to May 9th to 14th. This has also pushed back opening entries to February 5th – which will be accessible at www.SonoraRally.com with further information regarding updates. Apologizing for any inconvenience caused by these last-minute changes to the schedule, the organizers have everyone’s best interests in mind: “The safety of our racers, volunteers and of course the local population who support the rally are our number one priority. We are working on a COVID-19 protocol with the state and will keep you updated as info becomes available.”
For those new to rally raid or just looking to sharpen their skills before taking the coming Dakar-style trials in Sonora, Mexico, Sunday, May 9th, 2021 will host their famed navigation & tactics course, the same day as Tech and Registration. At this time, teams can also sign up for their photo package with WESTx1000, who will require a photo of the riders/drivers holding their helmets next to their respective vehicle (trust this is worthwhile step in the process).
Despite continual chaos around the globe, January offered plenty of positive moments to lighten the load a bit for motorsports fans. At the 43rd Annual Dakar Rally, a cherished partner of the Yokohama Sonora Rally – presented by Method Race Wheels – although SR champion, HRC Honda rider Ricky Brabec, didn’t nab a second title to follow his historic victory last year as the first-ever American at the top of the podium (accompanied by his comrade Casey Currie in the UTV class), he did however accomplish a one-two finish for Honda. 1987 was the last time a Honda has been in First Place, courtesy of Kevin Benavides, and Second, thanks to Brabec. Having a slow start in week one, Brabec pulled it together and nearly took it all in the end – gracefully stepping back for his teammate (like it or not).
A similarly extraordinary performance came from Sonora Rally 2018 winner Skyler Howes who followed his 2020 Dakar finish at 9th place, as a privateer, with 5th overall among the elite group of factory athletes in the Top 10. With BAS DAKAR KTM Rally supporting his efforts in 2021, Howes is still regarded as a privateer, making his achievements all the more exceptional! It was at that fateful ‘18 Sonora Rally when Skyler won the Road to Dakar granting him free entry to the coming Dakar in Peru. And he’s not the only one to take advantage of such opportunities – by motorbike or even UTV.
Not every rider or driver might find the same sort of success as Howes, but they wouldn’t know without pulling up to the starting line… It has been thanks to programs like the Road to Dakar and even the Rallye du Maroc contest which has given grassroots racers the chance to compete in World Championships which might otherwise be unapproachable for any number of reasons. These prizes continue to offer incentives to competitors carving a name for themselves in the rally circuit, if not, helping to build a growing passion in North America. It’s the Sonora Rally’s intention to cultivate this trend into a lifestyle.
Yokohama Sonora Rally Schedule:
Friday, February 5th – Entries Open
Sunday, May 9th – Tech & Inspection; Navigation School
Monday May 10th – Stage 1
Friday, May 14th – (Final) Stage 5; Awards Ceremony
Source & Header photo: Sonora Rally